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

Italy: Proportion of total government spending on essential services, social was 39.3% in 2023. ▲ Rising

Latest (2023)
39.3%
Change on year
up 0.8%
World rank
12th
of 127 countries
All-time high
44.0%
in 2020
All-time low
34.8%
in 2002
Years of data
24
2000–2023

Proportion of total government spending on essential services, social in Italy, 2000–2023

0102030402000201120232000: 36.1 %2001: 35.1 %2002: 34.8 %2003: 36.2 %2004: 36.6 %2005: 36.4 %2006: 36.1 %2007: 37.2 %2008: 37.5 %2009: 38.6 %2010: 39.5 %2011: 39.8 %2012: 40 %2013: 40.9 %2014: 41.5 %2015: 42.2 %2016: 42.4 %2017: 42.2 %2018: 42.6 %2019: 43.4 %2020: 44 %2021: 40.3 %2022: 39 %2023: 39.3 %

Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database. Measured in %.

Analysis

Italy recorded 39.3% for proportion of total government spending on essential services, social in 2023.

Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.8% on the previous year and down 4.0% over ten years.

Over the whole period, proportion of total government spending on essential services, social in Italy peaked at 44.0% in 2020 and was at its lowest, 34.8%, in 2002.

Italy ranks 12th of 127 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 24 years of available data.

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

Annual values for Proportion of total government spending on essential services, social protection (%) in Italy, 2000 to 2023.
Year % Change
2000 36.1%
2001 35.1% -3.0%
2002 34.8% -0.6%
2003 36.2% +4.0%
2004 36.6% +1.0%
2005 36.4% -0.5%
2006 36.1% -0.7%
2007 37.2% +3.0%
2008 37.5% +0.9%
2009 38.6% +2.7%
2010 39.5% +2.4%
2011 39.8% +0.7%
2012 40.0% +0.6%
2013 40.9% +2.2%
2014 41.5% +1.4%
2015 42.2% +1.7%
2016 42.4% +0.5%
2017 42.2% -0.3%
2018 42.6% +1.0%
2019 43.4% +1.7%
2020 44.0% +1.4%
2021 40.3% -8.3%
2022 39.0% -3.3%
2023 39.3% +0.8%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 36.5% 34.8% 38.6% 10
2010s 41.4% 39.5% 43.4% 10
2020s 40.6% 39.0% 44.0% 4

Countries ranked near Italy

  1. 9 France 41.0% compare
  2. 10 Japan 40.4% compare
  3. 11 Switzerland 39.4% compare
  4. 13 Portugal 39.2% compare
  5. 14 Poland 38.4% compare
  6. 15 Republic of Moldova 38.2% compare
  7. 15 Republic of Moldova 38.2% compare

See the full ranking of 131 places →

More poverty & inequality data for Italy

All data for Italy →

Frequently asked questions

What is proportion of total government spending on essential services, social in Italy?
Proportion of total government spending on essential services, social in Italy was 39.3% in 2023, according to United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
What is the highest proportion of total government spending on essential services, social recorded in Italy?
The highest recorded value was 44.0% in 2020.
What is the lowest proportion of total government spending on essential services, social recorded in Italy?
The lowest recorded value was 34.8% in 2002.
How does Italy rank for proportion of total government spending on essential services, social?
Italy ranks 12th out of 127 countries with data for 2023.
Is proportion of total government spending on essential services, social rising or falling in Italy?
Over the last ten years it is down 4.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this Italy 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 Italy. Statizoid, drawing on United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database. Retrieved 05 September 2026, from https://poverty.statizoid.com/stat/proportion-of-total-government-spending-on-essential-services-social-protection-percent/italy/

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About this data

Indicator
Proportion of total government spending on essential services, social protection (%)
Unit
%
Source
United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database
Licence
UN SDG Global Database (open, attribution requested)
Coverage
131 places, 2,404 data points, 2000–2025
Last refreshed