Proportion of total government spending on essential services, social protection (%) by country
Countries reporting
127
Highest
50.5%
Argentina
Lowest
0.0%
Pakistan
Median
25.0%
Years covered
26
2000–2025
Data points
2,411
What the numbers show
Proportion of total government spending on essential services, social protection (%) is currently reported for 127 countries. The highest value is 50.5% in Argentina; the lowest is 0.0% in Pakistan.
The median across all reporting countries is 25.0%, and the mean is 22.2%.
The gap between the highest and lowest reporting country is a factor of about 1,082.
Over the past decade 76 countries rose and 49 fell. The largest increase was in Ethiopia (up 16,445.3%), and the largest decrease in Uganda (down 98.3%).
Proportion of total government spending on essential … social: full country ranking
| # | Country | Latest | Year | 10-year change | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Argentina | 50.5% | 2024 | up 29.2% | rising |
| 2 | Finland | 46.1% | 2023 | up 6.5% | rising |
| 3 | Luxembourg | 42.6% | 2024 | down 1.3% | rising |
| 4 | Spain | 41.8% | 2024 | up 3.8% | rising |
| 5 | San Marino | 41.6% | 2024 | up 1.0% | rising |
| 6 | Denmark | 41.5% | 2024 | down 3.4% | flat |
| 7 | Austria | 41.3% | 2024 | up 1.2% | flat |
| 8 | Germany | 41.3% | 2024 | down 0.3% | flat |
| 9 | France | 41.0% | 2023 | down 1.8% | rising |
| 10 | Japan | 40.4% | 2023 | down 1.4% | rising |
| 11 | Switzerland | 39.4% | 2024 | down 0.4% | flat |
| 12 | Italy | 39.3% | 2023 | down 4.0% | rising |
| 13 | Portugal | 39.2% | 2023 | up 0.3% | rising |
| 14 | Poland | 38.4% | 2022 | up 5.8% | flat |
| 15 | Moldova | 38.2% | 2023 | up 16.4% | rising |
| 15 | Republic of Moldova | 38.2% | 2023 | up 16.4% | rising |
| 17 | Sweden | 37.8% | 2024 | down 8.0% | falling |
| 18 | Belgium | 37.7% | 2023 | up 5.6% | rising |
| 19 | Lithuania | 37.6% | 2023 | up 7.2% | rising |
| 20 | Netherlands (Kingdom of the) | 37.6% | 2023 | up 1.5% | rising |
| 21 | Norway | 37.6% | 2024 | down 4.6% | flat |
| 22 | Serbia | 37.5% | 2012 | up 7.8% | flat |
| 23 | Greece | 37.4% | 2023 | up 20.1% | rising |
| 24 | Iran (Islamic Republic of) | 37.3% | 2009 | up 59.5% | rising |
| 25 | Slovenia | 36.5% | 2023 | up 7.0% | flat |
| 26 | Slovakia | 36.4% | 2023 | up 0.6% | rising |
| 27 | Cyprus | 36.1% | 2023 | up 2.1% | rising |
| 28 | Brazil | 36.1% | 2024 | up 6.0% | rising |
| 29 | Bulgaria | 35.6% | 2023 | down 0.5% | rising |
| 30 | Ireland | 35.5% | 2023 | down 3.8% | rising |
| 31 | Mauritius | 35.1% | 2024 | up 53.6% | rising |
| 32 | Russia | 34.1% | 2020 | up 8.1% | rising |
| 32 | Russian Federation | 34.1% | 2020 | up 8.1% | rising |
| 34 | Lebanon | 33.3% | 2024 | up 11,771.3% | volatile |
| 35 | United Kingdom | 32.9% | 2023 | down 12.6% | falling |
| 35 | United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland | 32.9% | 2023 | down 12.6% | falling |
| 37 | Uruguay | 32.1% | 2006 | down 47.2% | volatile |
| 38 | Belarus | 31.5% | 2024 | down 10.0% | falling |
| 39 | Romania | 31.4% | 2023 | down 3.0% | rising |
| 40 | Estonia | 31.2% | 2023 | up 4.2% | rising |
| 41 | Albania | 31.2% | 2024 | down 1.1% | rising |
| 42 | Latvia | 31.0% | 2023 | up 3.6% | flat |
| 43 | New Zealand | 30.8% | 2025 | up 1.0% | falling |
| 44 | Andorra | 30.7% | 2024 | up 21.3% | rising |
| 45 | Czechia | 30.7% | 2023 | down 5.5% | rising |
| 46 | Canada | 30.5% | 2024 | up 4.7% | rising |
| 47 | Egypt | 29.0% | 2015 | up 20.3% | rising |
| 48 | Tunisia | 28.8% | 2012 | up 42.6% | rising |
| 49 | Croatia | 28.7% | 2022 | down 7.8% | falling |
| 50 | Chile | 28.5% | 2024 | up 5.8% | falling |
| 51 | Turkey | 27.8% | 2024 | down 0.5% | rising |
| 51 | Türkiye | 27.8% | 2024 | down 0.5% | rising |
| 53 | Trinidad and Tobago | 27.0% | 2019 | up 90.2% | rising |
| 54 | Australia | 27.0% | 2022 | up 1.3% | falling |
| 55 | Israel | 26.9% | 2024 | down 1.0% | rising |
| 56 | Malta | 26.7% | 2023 | down 18.7% | falling |
| 57 | Uzbekistan | 26.6% | 2023 | down 10.6% | falling |
| 58 | China | 26.2% | 2024 | down 3.3% | rising |
| 59 | Sri Lanka | 26.1% | 2016 | up 113.1% | volatile |
| 60 | Costa Rica | 25.8% | 2023 | up 22.2% | rising |
| 61 | Armenia | 25.2% | 2024 | down 9.1% | falling |
| 62 | Kyrgyzstan | 25.2% | 2024 | down 15.6% | rising |
| 63 | Mongolia | 25.2% | 2024 | down 31.3% | rising |
| 64 | Hungary | 25.0% | 2023 | down 23.8% | falling |
| 65 | Kosovo | 24.6% | 2023 | up 8.4% | rising |
| 66 | Iceland | 23.9% | 2023 | up 11.9% | rising |
| 67 | Kazakhstan | 23.6% | 2023 | up 14.0% | flat |
| 68 | Azerbaijan | 23.4% | 2023 | up 12.8% | rising |
| 69 | Georgia | 22.2% | 2024 | down 11.7% | falling |
| 70 | South Korea | 21.9% | 2010 | up 29.5% | rising |
| 70 | Republic of Korea | 21.9% | 2010 | up 29.5% | rising |
| 72 | Madagascar | 20.9% | 2024 | up 53.8% | volatile |
| 73 | Yemen | 20.3% | 2012 | up 4,160.7% | volatile |
| 74 | United States | 20.2% | 2023 | down 2.3% | rising |
| 75 | Ukraine | 19.7% | 2023 | down 58.9% | falling |
| 76 | Jordan | 19.6% | 2023 | down 14.8% | rising |
| 77 | Thailand | 19.1% | 2024 | up 65.1% | rising |
| 78 | Ecuador | 17.0% | 2022 | up 55.6% | rising |
| 79 | Guatemala | 16.9% | 2024 | up 5.0% | volatile |
| 80 | Kiribati | 16.8% | 2023 | up 4,579.2% | volatile |
| 81 | Cabo Verde | 16.4% | 2020 | up 121.3% | rising |
| 82 | Kuwait | 16.3% | 2015 | up 8.2% | rising |
| 83 | Dominican Republic | 15.4% | 2024 | up 81.1% | rising |
| 84 | Nepal | 14.4% | 2023 | up 268.4% | rising |
| 85 | Philippines | 14.1% | 2024 | up 27.1% | rising |
| 86 | Tajikistan | 14.0% | 2024 | — | falling |
| 87 | South Africa | 13.0% | 2024 | up 24.7% | rising |
| 88 | Bolivia (Plurinational State of) | 12.5% | 2007 | down 40.3% | falling |
| 89 | El Salvador | 12.3% | 2024 | down 17.2% | flat |
| 90 | Panama | 12.0% | 2021 | up 39.0% | rising |
| 91 | Bahrain | 11.9% | 2020 | up 126.6% | rising |
| 92 | Namibia | 11.9% | 2023 | up 102.5% | rising |
| 93 | Seychelles | 11.7% | 2014 | down 23.8% | falling |
| 94 | Cook Islands | 9.7% | 2022 | up 8.8% | rising |
| 95 | Samoa | 9.0% | 2023 | up 103.5% | rising |
| 96 | Maldives | 9.0% | 2011 | up 161.9% | rising |
| 97 | Bahamas | 7.9% | 2024 | up 29.9% | rising |
| 98 | Nauru | 7.7% | 2024 | down 14.6% | rising |
| 98 | Naoero | 7.7% | 2024 | down 14.6% | rising |
| 100 | Indonesia | 7.6% | 2024 | up 518.2% | volatile |
| 101 | Nigeria | 7.0% | 2013 | up 120.5% | volatile |
| 102 | Bangladesh | 6.3% | 2016 | up 138.1% | rising |
| 103 | Ethiopia | 6.2% | 2024 | up 16,445.3% | volatile |
| 104 | State of Palestine | 6.0% | 2021 | down 49.8% | rising |
| 105 | Zambia | 5.6% | 2024 | up 1,351.2% | volatile |
| 106 | Kenya | 5.5% | 2023 | up 74.7% | volatile |
| 107 | Nicaragua | 5.4% | 2024 | up 61.3% | rising |
| 108 | Myanmar | 4.6% | 2019 | up 113.9% | rising |
| 109 | Singapore | 4.3% | 2024 | down 60.7% | volatile |
| 110 | Oman | 4.2% | 2013 | up 34.2% | rising |
| 111 | Afghanistan | 4.1% | 2017 | up 16.8% | rising |
| 112 | Botswana | 3.7% | 2023 | down 25.9% | falling |
| 113 | Angola | 2.4% | 2021 | down 90.7% | volatile |
| 114 | Jamaica | 2.3% | 2015 | up 75.5% | rising |
| 115 | Marshall Islands | 2.3% | 2019 | — | volatile |
| 116 | Burkina Faso | 2.3% | 2023 | up 570.0% | volatile |
| 117 | Micronesia (Federated States of) | 1.9% | 2020 | down 30.6% | falling |
| 118 | Liberia | 1.6% | 2013 | up 244.0% | rising |
| 119 | Papua New Guinea | 1.2% | 2023 | up 676.9% | volatile |
| 120 | Solomon Islands | 1.1% | 2020 | down 16.1% | flat |
| 121 | Qatar | 0.7% | 2010 | up 265.5% | volatile |
| 122 | Mozambique | 0.6% | 2024 | down 84.3% | volatile |
| 123 | Palau | 0.6% | 2019 | down 29.4% | volatile |
| 124 | Congo | 0.5% | 2012 | up 24.0% | rising |
| 125 | Somalia | 0.3% | 2024 | down 9.0% | volatile |
| 126 | Uganda | 0.1% | 2024 | down 98.3% | volatile |
| 127 | Pakistan | 0.0% | 2015 | down 76.4% | volatile |
Regions and income groups
Aggregates are excluded from the country ranking above so that a region can never outrank a country.