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Government Spending in the Largest Economies
General government total expenditure, % of GDP, latest year
Plays the chart through its history. Pauses are where a new leader takes first place.
Source: IMF World Economic Outlook. The latest year before the edition, often still an IMF estimate; not a projection. Economies whose GDP in US dollars was above half a trillion in that year, as of the October 2026 edition. General government covers central, state and local government and social security funds. Ireland’s ratio is low partly because multinational profits inflate its GDP.
How large the state is in each big economy, measured by what all levels of government spend against the size of the economy. European governments spend the most; the United States sits in the middle, and Taiwan, Singapore and Indonesia spend the least.
What this chart reads·32 series
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- United States · General Government Expenditure (IMF)as “United States”latest 2025-12-31
- China · General Government Expenditure (IMF)as “China”latest 2025-12-31
- Germany · General Government Expenditure (IMF)as “Germany”latest 2025-12-31
- Japan · General Government Expenditure (IMF)as “Japan”latest 2025-12-31
- United Kingdom · General Government Expenditure (IMF)as “United Kingdom”latest 2025-12-31
- India · General Government Expenditure (IMF)as “India”latest 2025-12-31
- France · General Government Expenditure (IMF)as “France”latest 2025-12-31
- Russia · General Government Expenditure (IMF)as “Russia”latest 2025-12-31
- Italy · General Government Expenditure (IMF)as “Italy”latest 2025-12-31
- Canada · General Government Expenditure (IMF)as “Canada”latest 2025-12-31
- Brazil · General Government Expenditure (IMF)as “Brazil”latest 2025-12-31
- Spain · General Government Expenditure (IMF)as “Spain”latest 2025-12-31
- South Korea · General Government Expenditure (IMF)as “South Korea”latest 2025-12-31
- Australia · General Government Expenditure (IMF)as “Australia”latest 2025-12-31
- Mexico · General Government Expenditure (IMF)as “Mexico”latest 2025-12-31
- Türkiye · General Government Expenditure (IMF)as “Türkiye”latest 2025-12-31
- Indonesia · General Government Expenditure (IMF)as “Indonesia”latest 2025-12-31
- Netherlands · General Government Expenditure (IMF)as “Netherlands”latest 2025-12-31
- Saudi Arabia · General Government Expenditure (IMF)as “Saudi Arabia”latest 2025-12-31
- Switzerland · General Government Expenditure (IMF)as “Switzerland”latest 2025-12-31
- Poland · General Government Expenditure (IMF)as “Poland”latest 2025-12-31
- Taiwan · General Government Expenditure (IMF)as “Taiwan”latest 2025-12-31
- Belgium · General Government Expenditure (IMF)as “Belgium”latest 2025-12-31
- Argentina · General Government Expenditure (IMF)as “Argentina”latest 2025-12-31
- Ireland · General Government Expenditure (IMF)as “Ireland”latest 2025-12-31
- Sweden · General Government Expenditure (IMF)as “Sweden”latest 2025-12-31
- Israel · General Government Expenditure (IMF)as “Israel”latest 2025-12-31
- United Arab Emirates · General Government Expenditure (IMF)as “United Arab Emirates”latest 2025-12-31
- Singapore · General Government Expenditure (IMF)as “Singapore”latest 2025-12-31
- Austria · General Government Expenditure (IMF)as “Austria”latest 2025-12-31
- Thailand · General Government Expenditure (IMF)as “Thailand”latest 2025-12-31
- Norway · General Government Expenditure (IMF)as “Norway”latest 2025-12-31
Sources·32 sources
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United States · General Government Expenditure (IMF). Source: IMF World Economic Outlook Database, October 2026 (the IMF's published database file, WEOOct2026all.xlsx). Figures as published, rounded to at most four decimals. Provided by the IMF "as is" and available free of charge from the IMF; the IMF does not endorse Palanor.
China · General Government Expenditure (IMF). Source: IMF World Economic Outlook Database, October 2026 (the IMF's published database file, WEOOct2026all.xlsx). Figures as published, rounded to at most four decimals. Provided by the IMF "as is" and available free of charge from the IMF; the IMF does not endorse Palanor.
Germany · General Government Expenditure (IMF). Source: IMF World Economic Outlook Database, October 2026 (the IMF's published database file, WEOOct2026all.xlsx). Figures as published, rounded to at most four decimals. Provided by the IMF "as is" and available free of charge from the IMF; the IMF does not endorse Palanor.
Japan · General Government Expenditure (IMF). Source: IMF World Economic Outlook Database, October 2026 (the IMF's published database file, WEOOct2026all.xlsx). Figures as published, rounded to at most four decimals. Provided by the IMF "as is" and available free of charge from the IMF; the IMF does not endorse Palanor.
United Kingdom · General Government Expenditure (IMF). Source: IMF World Economic Outlook Database, October 2026 (the IMF's published database file, WEOOct2026all.xlsx). Figures as published, rounded to at most four decimals. Provided by the IMF "as is" and available free of charge from the IMF; the IMF does not endorse Palanor.
India · General Government Expenditure (IMF). Source: IMF World Economic Outlook Database, October 2026 (the IMF's published database file, WEOOct2026all.xlsx). Figures as published, rounded to at most four decimals. Provided by the IMF "as is" and available free of charge from the IMF; the IMF does not endorse Palanor.
France · General Government Expenditure (IMF). Source: IMF World Economic Outlook Database, October 2026 (the IMF's published database file, WEOOct2026all.xlsx). Figures as published, rounded to at most four decimals. Provided by the IMF "as is" and available free of charge from the IMF; the IMF does not endorse Palanor.
Russia · General Government Expenditure (IMF). Source: IMF World Economic Outlook Database, October 2026 (the IMF's published database file, WEOOct2026all.xlsx). Figures as published, rounded to at most four decimals. Provided by the IMF "as is" and available free of charge from the IMF; the IMF does not endorse Palanor.
Italy · General Government Expenditure (IMF). Source: IMF World Economic Outlook Database, October 2026 (the IMF's published database file, WEOOct2026all.xlsx). Figures as published, rounded to at most four decimals. Provided by the IMF "as is" and available free of charge from the IMF; the IMF does not endorse Palanor.
Canada · General Government Expenditure (IMF). Source: IMF World Economic Outlook Database, October 2026 (the IMF's published database file, WEOOct2026all.xlsx). Figures as published, rounded to at most four decimals. Provided by the IMF "as is" and available free of charge from the IMF; the IMF does not endorse Palanor.
Brazil · General Government Expenditure (IMF). Source: IMF World Economic Outlook Database, October 2026 (the IMF's published database file, WEOOct2026all.xlsx). Figures as published, rounded to at most four decimals. Provided by the IMF "as is" and available free of charge from the IMF; the IMF does not endorse Palanor.
Spain · General Government Expenditure (IMF). Source: IMF World Economic Outlook Database, October 2026 (the IMF's published database file, WEOOct2026all.xlsx). Figures as published, rounded to at most four decimals. Provided by the IMF "as is" and available free of charge from the IMF; the IMF does not endorse Palanor.
South Korea · General Government Expenditure (IMF). Source: IMF World Economic Outlook Database, October 2026 (the IMF's published database file, WEOOct2026all.xlsx). Figures as published, rounded to at most four decimals. Provided by the IMF "as is" and available free of charge from the IMF; the IMF does not endorse Palanor.
Australia · General Government Expenditure (IMF). Source: IMF World Economic Outlook Database, October 2026 (the IMF's published database file, WEOOct2026all.xlsx). Figures as published, rounded to at most four decimals. Provided by the IMF "as is" and available free of charge from the IMF; the IMF does not endorse Palanor.
Mexico · General Government Expenditure (IMF). Source: IMF World Economic Outlook Database, October 2026 (the IMF's published database file, WEOOct2026all.xlsx). Figures as published, rounded to at most four decimals. Provided by the IMF "as is" and available free of charge from the IMF; the IMF does not endorse Palanor.
Türkiye · General Government Expenditure (IMF). Source: IMF World Economic Outlook Database, October 2026 (the IMF's published database file, WEOOct2026all.xlsx). Figures as published, rounded to at most four decimals. Provided by the IMF "as is" and available free of charge from the IMF; the IMF does not endorse Palanor.
Indonesia · General Government Expenditure (IMF). Source: IMF World Economic Outlook Database, October 2026 (the IMF's published database file, WEOOct2026all.xlsx). Figures as published, rounded to at most four decimals. Provided by the IMF "as is" and available free of charge from the IMF; the IMF does not endorse Palanor.
Netherlands · General Government Expenditure (IMF). Source: IMF World Economic Outlook Database, October 2026 (the IMF's published database file, WEOOct2026all.xlsx). Figures as published, rounded to at most four decimals. Provided by the IMF "as is" and available free of charge from the IMF; the IMF does not endorse Palanor.
Saudi Arabia · General Government Expenditure (IMF). Source: IMF World Economic Outlook Database, October 2026 (the IMF's published database file, WEOOct2026all.xlsx). Figures as published, rounded to at most four decimals. Provided by the IMF "as is" and available free of charge from the IMF; the IMF does not endorse Palanor.
Switzerland · General Government Expenditure (IMF). Source: IMF World Economic Outlook Database, October 2026 (the IMF's published database file, WEOOct2026all.xlsx). Figures as published, rounded to at most four decimals. Provided by the IMF "as is" and available free of charge from the IMF; the IMF does not endorse Palanor.
Poland · General Government Expenditure (IMF). Source: IMF World Economic Outlook Database, October 2026 (the IMF's published database file, WEOOct2026all.xlsx). Figures as published, rounded to at most four decimals. Provided by the IMF "as is" and available free of charge from the IMF; the IMF does not endorse Palanor.
Taiwan · General Government Expenditure (IMF). Source: IMF World Economic Outlook Database, October 2026 (the IMF's published database file, WEOOct2026all.xlsx). Figures as published, rounded to at most four decimals. Provided by the IMF "as is" and available free of charge from the IMF; the IMF does not endorse Palanor.
Belgium · General Government Expenditure (IMF). Source: IMF World Economic Outlook Database, October 2026 (the IMF's published database file, WEOOct2026all.xlsx). Figures as published, rounded to at most four decimals. Provided by the IMF "as is" and available free of charge from the IMF; the IMF does not endorse Palanor.
Argentina · General Government Expenditure (IMF). Source: IMF World Economic Outlook Database, October 2026 (the IMF's published database file, WEOOct2026all.xlsx). Figures as published, rounded to at most four decimals. Provided by the IMF "as is" and available free of charge from the IMF; the IMF does not endorse Palanor.
Ireland · General Government Expenditure (IMF). Source: IMF World Economic Outlook Database, October 2026 (the IMF's published database file, WEOOct2026all.xlsx). Figures as published, rounded to at most four decimals. Provided by the IMF "as is" and available free of charge from the IMF; the IMF does not endorse Palanor.
Sweden · General Government Expenditure (IMF). Source: IMF World Economic Outlook Database, October 2026 (the IMF's published database file, WEOOct2026all.xlsx). Figures as published, rounded to at most four decimals. Provided by the IMF "as is" and available free of charge from the IMF; the IMF does not endorse Palanor.
Israel · General Government Expenditure (IMF). Source: IMF World Economic Outlook Database, October 2026 (the IMF's published database file, WEOOct2026all.xlsx). Figures as published, rounded to at most four decimals. Provided by the IMF "as is" and available free of charge from the IMF; the IMF does not endorse Palanor.
United Arab Emirates · General Government Expenditure (IMF). Source: IMF World Economic Outlook Database, October 2026 (the IMF's published database file, WEOOct2026all.xlsx). Figures as published, rounded to at most four decimals. Provided by the IMF "as is" and available free of charge from the IMF; the IMF does not endorse Palanor.
Singapore · General Government Expenditure (IMF). Source: IMF World Economic Outlook Database, October 2026 (the IMF's published database file, WEOOct2026all.xlsx). Figures as published, rounded to at most four decimals. Provided by the IMF "as is" and available free of charge from the IMF; the IMF does not endorse Palanor.
Austria · General Government Expenditure (IMF). Source: IMF World Economic Outlook Database, October 2026 (the IMF's published database file, WEOOct2026all.xlsx). Figures as published, rounded to at most four decimals. Provided by the IMF "as is" and available free of charge from the IMF; the IMF does not endorse Palanor.
Thailand · General Government Expenditure (IMF). Source: IMF World Economic Outlook Database, October 2026 (the IMF's published database file, WEOOct2026all.xlsx). Figures as published, rounded to at most four decimals. Provided by the IMF "as is" and available free of charge from the IMF; the IMF does not endorse Palanor.
Norway · General Government Expenditure (IMF). Source: IMF World Economic Outlook Database, October 2026 (the IMF's published database file, WEOOct2026all.xlsx). Figures as published, rounded to at most four decimals. Provided by the IMF "as is" and available free of charge from the IMF; the IMF does not endorse Palanor.
Charts are drawn from Palanor's signal library and recomputed from source data on every view. Transformations (changes, indexing, year-on-year rates) are Palanor's.