Countries with the Highest Government Spending (% of GDP)

About This Dataset

The countries where government spending makes up the largest share of the economy, measured as general government expenditure as a percentage of GDP in 2024, according to IMF data. High ratios typically reflect comprehensive welfare states funding healthcare, pensions, education and unemployment support.

✨ AI Insight

France has the highest government spending relative to its economy, at 57.2% of GDP, narrowly ahead of Finland (56.8%). Belgium (55.2%) and Austria (53.4%) follow, and Italy (50.6%) is the only other country above 50%. All ten of the biggest spenders are European, underlining how the continent's social-democratic model - with extensive public services and large transfer systems - drives up state spending. Below the top five, a tight band runs from Croatia (48.7%) and Hungary (48.7%) through Greece (48.6%), Sweden (48.2%) and Germany (48.2%), all clustered near 48%. The concentration of Western and Central European welfare states at the top contrasts sharply with lower-spending economies elsewhere, where governments consume a much smaller share of national output.

Source: International Monetary Fund (IMF)

Key Findings

Auto-computed highlights from this dataset

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France leads with 57 in All Time.

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Average value in All Time: 52 · median: 50.

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Gap in All Time: France is 1.2× larger than Germany.