Proportion of total government spending on essential services in New Zealand

New Zealand: Proportion of total government spending on essential services was 61.4% in 2024. ▼ Falling

Latest (2024)
61.4%
Change on year
down 1.3%
World rank
27th
of 114 countries
All-time high
74.0%
in 2004
All-time low
57.9%
in 2020
Years of data
21
2000–2024

Proportion of total government spending on essential services in New Zealand, 2000–2024

0204060802000201220242000: 71.92004: 742005: 72.52006: 70.62007: 67.22009: 65.42010: 65.12011: 66.92012: 652013: 64.62014: 65.12015: 65.42016: 64.92017: 64.52018: 63.12019: 63.12020: 57.92021: 62.32022: 62.32023: 62.22024: 61.4

Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.

Analysis

The most recent figure for proportion of total government spending on essential services in New Zealand is 61.4%, measured in 2024.

Compared with earlier readings it is down 1.3% on the previous year and down 5.6% over ten years.

Over the whole period, proportion of total government spending on essential services in New Zealand peaked at 74.0% in 2004 and was at its lowest, 57.9%, in 2020.

That places New Zealand 27th out of 114 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top quarter.

The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 21 years of available data.

Proportion of total government spending on essential services in New Zealand, year by year

Annual values for Proportion of total government spending on essential services (%) in New Zealand, 2000 to 2024.
Year Value Change
2000 71.9%
2004 74.0% +2.9%
2005 72.5% -2.0%
2006 70.6% -2.7%
2007 67.2% -4.7%
2009 65.4% -2.7%
2010 65.1% -0.6%
2011 66.9% +2.8%
2012 65.0% -3.0%
2013 64.6% -0.5%
2014 65.1% +0.7%
2015 65.4% +0.5%
2016 64.9% -0.7%
2017 64.5% -0.7%
2018 63.1% -2.2%
2019 63.1% +0.0%
2020 57.9% -8.3%
2021 62.3% +7.6%
2022 62.3% +0.0%
2023 62.2% -0.1%
2024 61.4% -1.3%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 70.3% 65.4% 74.0% 6
2010s 64.8% 63.1% 66.9% 10
2020s 61.2% 57.9% 62.3% 5

Countries ranked near New Zealand

  1. 24 United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 61.8% compare
  2. 25 Andorra 61.6% compare
  3. 26 Switzerland 61.6% compare
  4. 28 Czechia 61.4% compare
  5. 29 Poland 61.0% compare
  6. 30 Australia 60.9% compare

See the full ranking of 125 places →

More infrastructure data for New Zealand

All data for New Zealand →

Frequently asked questions

What is proportion of total government spending on essential services in New Zealand?
Proportion of total government spending on essential services in New Zealand was 61.4% in 2024, according to United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
What is the highest proportion of total government spending on essential services recorded in New Zealand?
The highest recorded value was 74.0% in 2004.
What is the lowest proportion of total government spending on essential services recorded in New Zealand?
The lowest recorded value was 57.9% in 2020.
How does New Zealand rank for proportion of total government spending on essential services?
New Zealand ranks 27th out of 114 countries with data for 2024.
Is proportion of total government spending on essential services rising or falling in New Zealand?
Over the last ten years it is down 5.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
Where does this New Zealand data come from?
The figures come from United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database, published as part of Proportion of total government spending on essential services (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Proportion of total government spending on essential services in New Zealand. Statizoid, drawing on United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database. Retrieved 03 September 2026, from https://infrastructure.statizoid.com/stat/proportion-of-total-government-spending-on-essential-services-percent/new-zealand/

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About this data

Indicator
Proportion of total government spending on essential services (%)
Source
United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database
Licence
UN SDG Global Database (open, attribution requested)
Coverage
125 places, 2,281 data points, 2000–2024
Last refreshed