Our World
in Data
Oxford Martin School logoUniversity of Oxford logoGlobal Change Data Lab logo
Data

Government spending per capita

OECD

What you should know about this indicator

  • General government expenditure includes goods and services consumed in a production process, compensation of employees, subsidies, property income, social benefits, capital transfers and investments, and other current expenditures.
  • This data refers to general government, which includes central, state, and local governments and social security funds.

How is this data described by its producer - OECD?

General government expenditures data are from the OECD National Accounts Statistics (database), which are based on the System of National Accounts (SNA), a set of internationally agreed concepts, definitions, classifications and rules for national accounting. the 2008 SNA framework has been implemented by all OECD countries. In SNA terminology, general government consists of central, state and local governments and social security funds. Expenditures encompass intermediate consumption, compensation of employees, subsidies, property income (including interest spending), social benefits, other current expenditures (mainly current transfers) and capital expenditures (capital transfers and investments). Gross domestic product (GDP) is the standard measure of the value of the goods and services produced by a country during a period. Government expenditures per capita were calculated by converting total government expenditures to USD using the OECD/ Eurostat purchasing power parities (PPP) for GDP and dividing by population of the country. PPP is the number of units of country B’s currency needed to buy the same quantity of goods and services in country A.

Government spending per capita
OECD
The total amount of money the general government spends per capita. This data is adjusted for differences in living costs between countries but not for inflation.
Source
OECD (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data
Last updated
April 1, 2026
Next expected update
April 2027
Date range
2007–2024
Unit
current international-$

Sources and processing

This data is based on the following sources

OECD – Public finance main indicators - Government at a glance, Yearly updates

This dataset represents a selection of indicators as presented in the 2025 edition of the Government at a Glance publication related to the public finance under the System of national accounts (SNA). Government at a Glance provides a dashboard of indicators assembled to help decision makers and the public analyse and benchmark governments across OECD members and partner countries. With a growing emphasis on governance outcomes, this ninth edition presents the latest evidence on public governance tools and resources that can help public administrations address complex, long-term challenges, while allowing progress to be monitored over time. The Structure and indicators section of the Government at a Glance publication, describes its framework and the structure by chapters.

The 2025 edition of Government at a Glance presents a structure around three broad categories:

  1. Trust, security and dignity; prosperity and satisfaction with public services;
  2. Achieving results with good governance practices;
  3. What resources public institutions use and how are they managed.

Further information on Government at a Glance 2025 edition via a dedicated web platform, which includes a Government at a Glance Data dashboard (for a selection of indicators in an interactive format) as well as Country fact sheets (key data by country), can be found at: Government at a Glance website.

Retrieved on
April 1, 2026
Retrieved from
https://data-explorer.oecd.org/
Citation
This is the citation of the original data obtained from the source, prior to any processing or adaptation by Our World in Data. To cite data downloaded from this page, please use the suggested citation given in Reuse This Work below.
OECD (2026). Public finance main indicators - Government at a glance, Yearly updates. OECD Data Explorer, https://data-explorer.oecd.org/.

This dataset represents a selection of indicators as presented in the 2025 edition of the Government at a Glance publication related to the public finance under the System of national accounts (SNA). Government at a Glance provides a dashboard of indicators assembled to help decision makers and the public analyse and benchmark governments across OECD members and partner countries. With a growing emphasis on governance outcomes, this ninth edition presents the latest evidence on public governance tools and resources that can help public administrations address complex, long-term challenges, while allowing progress to be monitored over time. The Structure and indicators section of the Government at a Glance publication, describes its framework and the structure by chapters.

The 2025 edition of Government at a Glance presents a structure around three broad categories:

  1. Trust, security and dignity; prosperity and satisfaction with public services;
  2. Achieving results with good governance practices;
  3. What resources public institutions use and how are they managed.

Further information on Government at a Glance 2025 edition via a dedicated web platform, which includes a Government at a Glance Data dashboard (for a selection of indicators in an interactive format) as well as Country fact sheets (key data by country), can be found at: Government at a Glance website.

Retrieved on
April 1, 2026
Retrieved from
https://data-explorer.oecd.org/
Citation
This is the citation of the original data obtained from the source, prior to any processing or adaptation by Our World in Data. To cite data downloaded from this page, please use the suggested citation given in Reuse This Work below.
OECD (2026). Public finance main indicators - Government at a glance, Yearly updates. OECD Data Explorer, https://data-explorer.oecd.org/.

OECD – Size of public procurement - Government at a glance indicators, Yearly updates

This dataset represents a selection of indicators as presented in the 2025 edition of the Government at a Glance publication related to the public procurement spending as estimated under the System of National Accounts (SNA). Government at a Glance provides a dashboard of indicators assembled to help decision makers and the public analyse and benchmark governments across OECD members and partner countries. With a growing emphasis on governance outcomes, this ninth edition presents the latest evidence on public governance tools and resources that can help public administrations address complex, long-term challenges, while allowing progress to be monitored over time. The Structure and indicators section of the Government at a Glance publication, describes its framework and the structure by chapters.

The 2025 edition of Government at a Glance presents a structure around three broad categories:

  1. Trust, security and dignity; prosperity and satisfaction with public services;
  2. Achieving results with good governance practices;
  3. What resources public institutions use and how are they managed.

Further information on Government at a Glance 2025 edition via a dedicated web platform, which includes a Government at a Glance Data dashboard (for a selection of indicators in an interactive format) as well as Country fact sheets (key data by country), can be found at: Government at a Glance website.

Retrieved on
April 1, 2026
Retrieved from
https://data-explorer.oecd.org/
Citation
This is the citation of the original data obtained from the source, prior to any processing or adaptation by Our World in Data. To cite data downloaded from this page, please use the suggested citation given in Reuse This Work below.
OECD (2026). Size of public procurement - Government at a glance indicators, Yearly updates. OECD Data Explorer, https://data-explorer.oecd.org/.

This dataset represents a selection of indicators as presented in the 2025 edition of the Government at a Glance publication related to the public procurement spending as estimated under the System of National Accounts (SNA). Government at a Glance provides a dashboard of indicators assembled to help decision makers and the public analyse and benchmark governments across OECD members and partner countries. With a growing emphasis on governance outcomes, this ninth edition presents the latest evidence on public governance tools and resources that can help public administrations address complex, long-term challenges, while allowing progress to be monitored over time. The Structure and indicators section of the Government at a Glance publication, describes its framework and the structure by chapters.

The 2025 edition of Government at a Glance presents a structure around three broad categories:

  1. Trust, security and dignity; prosperity and satisfaction with public services;
  2. Achieving results with good governance practices;
  3. What resources public institutions use and how are they managed.

Further information on Government at a Glance 2025 edition via a dedicated web platform, which includes a Government at a Glance Data dashboard (for a selection of indicators in an interactive format) as well as Country fact sheets (key data by country), can be found at: Government at a Glance website.

Retrieved on
April 1, 2026
Retrieved from
https://data-explorer.oecd.org/
Citation
This is the citation of the original data obtained from the source, prior to any processing or adaptation by Our World in Data. To cite data downloaded from this page, please use the suggested citation given in Reuse This Work below.
OECD (2026). Size of public procurement - Government at a glance indicators, Yearly updates. OECD Data Explorer, https://data-explorer.oecd.org/.

OECD – Public finance by economic transaction - Government at a glance indicators, Yearly updates

This dataset represents a selection of indicators as presented in the 2025 edition of the Government at a Glance publication related to government revenue and expenditure disaggregation by economic transactions under the System of National Accounts (SNA). Government at a Glance provides a dashboard of indicators assembled to help decision makers and the public analyse and benchmark governments across OECD members and partner countries. With a growing emphasis on governance outcomes, this ninth edition presents the latest evidence on public governance tools and resources that can help public administrations address complex, long-term challenges, while allowing progress to be monitored over time. The Structure and indicators section of the Government at a Glance publication, describes its framework and the structure by chapters.

The 2025 edition of Government at a Glance presents a structure around three broad categories:

  1. Trust, security and dignity; prosperity and satisfaction with public services;
  2. Achieving results with good governance practices;
  3. What resources public institutions use and how are they managed.

Further information on Government at a Glance 2025 edition via a dedicated web platform, which includes a Government at a Glance Data dashboard (for a selection of indicators in an interactive format) as well as Country fact sheets (key data by country), can be found at: Government at a Glance website.

Retrieved on
April 1, 2026
Retrieved from
https://data-explorer.oecd.org/
Citation
This is the citation of the original data obtained from the source, prior to any processing or adaptation by Our World in Data. To cite data downloaded from this page, please use the suggested citation given in Reuse This Work below.
OECD (2026). Public finance by economic transaction - Government at a glance indicators, Yearly updates. OECD Data Explorer, https://data-explorer.oecd.org/.

This dataset represents a selection of indicators as presented in the 2025 edition of the Government at a Glance publication related to government revenue and expenditure disaggregation by economic transactions under the System of National Accounts (SNA). Government at a Glance provides a dashboard of indicators assembled to help decision makers and the public analyse and benchmark governments across OECD members and partner countries. With a growing emphasis on governance outcomes, this ninth edition presents the latest evidence on public governance tools and resources that can help public administrations address complex, long-term challenges, while allowing progress to be monitored over time. The Structure and indicators section of the Government at a Glance publication, describes its framework and the structure by chapters.

The 2025 edition of Government at a Glance presents a structure around three broad categories:

  1. Trust, security and dignity; prosperity and satisfaction with public services;
  2. Achieving results with good governance practices;
  3. What resources public institutions use and how are they managed.

Further information on Government at a Glance 2025 edition via a dedicated web platform, which includes a Government at a Glance Data dashboard (for a selection of indicators in an interactive format) as well as Country fact sheets (key data by country), can be found at: Government at a Glance website.

Retrieved on
April 1, 2026
Retrieved from
https://data-explorer.oecd.org/
Citation
This is the citation of the original data obtained from the source, prior to any processing or adaptation by Our World in Data. To cite data downloaded from this page, please use the suggested citation given in Reuse This Work below.
OECD (2026). Public finance by economic transaction - Government at a glance indicators, Yearly updates. OECD Data Explorer, https://data-explorer.oecd.org/.

OECD – Public finance by function - Government at a glance indicators, Yearly updates

This dataset represents a selection of indicators as presented in the 2025 edition of the Government at a Glance publication related to expenditures disaggregated according to the Classification of the Functions of Government (COFOG) under the System of National Accounts (SNA). Government at a Glance provides a dashboard of indicators assembled to help decision makers and the public analyse and benchmark governments across OECD members and partner countries. With a growing emphasis on governance outcomes, this ninth edition presents the latest evidence on public governance tools and resources that can help public administrations address complex, long-term challenges, while allowing progress to be monitored over time. The Structure and indicators section of the Government at a Glance publication, describes its framework and the structure by chapters.

The 2025 edition of Government at a Glance presents a structure around three broad categories:

  1. Trust, security and dignity; prosperity and satisfaction with public services;
  2. Achieving results with good governance practices;
  3. What resources public institutions use and how are they managed.

Further information on Government at a Glance 2025 edition via a dedicated web platform, which includes a Government at a Glance Data dashboard (for a selection of indicators in an interactive format) as well as Country fact sheets (key data by country), can be found at: Government at a Glance website.

Retrieved on
April 1, 2026
Retrieved from
https://data-explorer.oecd.org/
Citation
This is the citation of the original data obtained from the source, prior to any processing or adaptation by Our World in Data. To cite data downloaded from this page, please use the suggested citation given in Reuse This Work below.
OECD (2026). Public finance by function - Government at a glance indicators, Yearly updates. OECD Data Explorer, https://data-explorer.oecd.org/.

This dataset represents a selection of indicators as presented in the 2025 edition of the Government at a Glance publication related to expenditures disaggregated according to the Classification of the Functions of Government (COFOG) under the System of National Accounts (SNA). Government at a Glance provides a dashboard of indicators assembled to help decision makers and the public analyse and benchmark governments across OECD members and partner countries. With a growing emphasis on governance outcomes, this ninth edition presents the latest evidence on public governance tools and resources that can help public administrations address complex, long-term challenges, while allowing progress to be monitored over time. The Structure and indicators section of the Government at a Glance publication, describes its framework and the structure by chapters.

The 2025 edition of Government at a Glance presents a structure around three broad categories:

  1. Trust, security and dignity; prosperity and satisfaction with public services;
  2. Achieving results with good governance practices;
  3. What resources public institutions use and how are they managed.

Further information on Government at a Glance 2025 edition via a dedicated web platform, which includes a Government at a Glance Data dashboard (for a selection of indicators in an interactive format) as well as Country fact sheets (key data by country), can be found at: Government at a Glance website.

Retrieved on
April 1, 2026
Retrieved from
https://data-explorer.oecd.org/
Citation
This is the citation of the original data obtained from the source, prior to any processing or adaptation by Our World in Data. To cite data downloaded from this page, please use the suggested citation given in Reuse This Work below.
OECD (2026). Public finance by function - Government at a glance indicators, Yearly updates. OECD Data Explorer, https://data-explorer.oecd.org/.

How we process data at Our World in Data

All data and visualizations on Our World in Data rely on data sourced from one or several original data providers. Preparing this original data involves several processing steps. Depending on the data, this can include standardizing country names and world region definitions, converting units, calculating derived indicators such as per capita measures, as well as adding or adapting metadata such as the name or the description given to an indicator.

At the link below you can find a detailed description of the structure of our data pipeline, including links to all the code used to prepare data across Our World in Data.

Read about our data pipeline

Reuse this work

  • All data produced by third-party providers and made available by Our World in Data are subject to the license terms from the original providers. Our work would not be possible without the data providers we rely on, so we ask you to always cite them appropriately (see below). This is crucial to allow data providers to continue doing their work, enhancing, maintaining and updating valuable data.
  • All data, visualizations, and code produced by Our World in Data are completely open access under the Creative Commons BY license. You have the permission to use, distribute, and reproduce these in any medium, provided the source and authors are credited.

Citations

How to cite this page

To cite this page overall, including any descriptions, FAQs or explanations of the data authored by Our World in Data, please use the following citation:

“Data Page: Government spending per capita”, part of the following publication: Esteban Ortiz-Ospina, Bertha Rohenkohl, Pablo Arriagada, and Max Roser (2016) - “Government Spending”. Data adapted from OECD. Retrieved from https://archive.ourworldindata.org/20260401-135616/grapher/total-gov-expenditure-percapita-oecd.html [online resource] (archived on April 1, 2026).

How to cite this data

In-line citationIf you have limited space (e.g. in data visualizations), you can use this abbreviated in-line citation:

OECD (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data

Full citation

OECD (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. “Government spending per capita – OECD” [dataset]. OECD, “Public finance main indicators - Government at a glance, Yearly updates”; OECD, “Size of public procurement - Government at a glance indicators, Yearly updates”; OECD, “Public finance by economic transaction - Government at a glance indicators, Yearly updates”; OECD, “Public finance by function - Government at a glance indicators, Yearly updates” [original data]. Retrieved April 1, 2026 from https://archive.ourworldindata.org/20260401-135616/grapher/total-gov-expenditure-percapita-oecd.html (archived on April 1, 2026).

Download

Quick download

You can download the visualization as an image or download the chart data.