Proportion of total government spending on essential services, social in China

China: Proportion of total government spending on essential services, social was 26.2% in 2024. ▲ Rising

Latest (2024)
26.2%
Change on year
up 1.0%
World rank
51st
of 114 countries
All-time high
27.1%
in 2014
All-time low
1.0%
in 2003
Years of data
25
2000–2024

Proportion of total government spending on essential services, social in China, 2000–2024

01020302000201220242000: 3.32001: 32002: 3.62003: 0.9562004: 1.12005: 8.32006: 17.12007: 12.92008: 18.32009: 19.62010: 19.72011: 242012: 25.12013: 25.92014: 27.12015: 222016: 22.62017: 22.72018: 26.32019: 25.52020: 24.42021: 25.82022: 25.22023: 25.92024: 26.2

Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.

Analysis

The most recent figure for proportion of total government spending on essential services, social in China is 26.2%, measured in 2024.

That represents a change of up 1.0% on the previous year and down 3.3% over ten years.

Over the whole period, proportion of total government spending on essential services, social in China peaked at 27.1% in 2014 and was at its lowest, 1.0%, in 2003.

China ranks 51st of 114 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 25 years of available data.

Proportion of total government spending on essential services, social in China, year by year

Annual values for Proportion of total government spending on essential services, social protection (%) in China, 2000 to 2024.
Year Value Change
2000 3.3%
2001 3.0% -9.9%
2002 3.6% +23.2%
2003 1.0% -73.8%
2004 1.1% +12.1%
2005 8.3% +670.7%
2006 17.1% +107.6%
2007 12.9% -24.5%
2008 18.3% +41.7%
2009 19.6% +7.2%
2010 19.7% +0.3%
2011 24.0% +21.9%
2012 25.1% +4.5%
2013 25.9% +3.3%
2014 27.1% +4.5%
2015 22.0% -18.8%
2016 22.6% +3.0%
2017 22.7% +0.3%
2018 26.3% +15.7%
2019 25.5% -3.0%
2020 24.4% -4.4%
2021 25.8% +5.8%
2022 25.2% -2.1%
2023 25.9% +2.8%
2024 26.2% +1.0%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 8.8% 1.0% 19.6% 10
2010s 24.1% 19.7% 27.1% 10
2020s 25.5% 24.4% 26.2% 5

Countries ranked near China

  1. 48 Israel 26.9% compare
  2. 49 Malta 26.7% compare
  3. 50 Uzbekistan 26.6% compare
  4. 52 Sri Lanka 26.1% compare
  5. 53 Costa Rica 25.8% compare
  6. 54 Armenia 25.2% compare

See the full ranking of 125 places →

More poverty & inequality data for China

All data for China →

Frequently asked questions

What is proportion of total government spending on essential services, social in China?
Proportion of total government spending on essential services, social in China was 26.2% in 2024, according to United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
What is the highest proportion of total government spending on essential services, social recorded in China?
The highest recorded value was 27.1% in 2014.
What is the lowest proportion of total government spending on essential services, social recorded in China?
The lowest recorded value was 1.0% in 2003.
How does China rank for proportion of total government spending on essential services, social?
China ranks 51st out of 114 countries with data for 2024.
Is proportion of total government spending on essential services, social rising or falling in China?
Over the last ten years it is down 3.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this China 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, social protection (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Proportion of total government spending on essential services, social in China. Statizoid, drawing on United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database. Retrieved 04 September 2026, from https://poverty.statizoid.com/stat/proportion-of-total-government-spending-on-essential-services-social-protection-percent/china/

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About this data

Indicator
Proportion of total government spending on essential services, social protection (%)
Source
United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database
Licence
UN SDG Global Database (open, attribution requested)
Coverage
125 places, 2,283 data points, 2000–2025
Last refreshed