Home Iceland Government Government Spending

Iceland Government Spending

Government expenditure as % of GDP  GC.XPN.TOTL.GD.ZS

32.86% +0.79% (+2.5%)
Year 2025 Rank #46 Global Peak 50.33% (2008) Source World Bank

Iceland Government Spending (1972–2025)

Overview

Iceland's government spending stood at 32.86% in 2025, a rise of +0.79% from 2023. Based on recent trends, this figure is projected to reach 32.86% by 2025. Iceland ranked 46th globally.

Data & projection

Year Government Spending YoY change Rank
2026* trend 32.76% - -
2025* trend 32.86% - -
2025 32.86% +0.79% #46
2023 32.07% −0.49% #52
2022 32.57% −2.10% #72
2021 34.67% −1.69% #87
2020 36.35% +5.66% #95
2019 30.69% +0.31% #91
2018 30.38% −0.65% #92
2017 31.03% −3.97% #98
2016 35.00% +3.12% #114
2015 31.88% −2.11% #102
2014 33.98% −0.42% #106
2013 34.41% −2.19% #98
2012 36.59% −1.43% #106
2011 38.02% +0.53% #104
2010 37.49% −3.98% #98
Show all years (1972-2025)
* Linear trend extrapolation

Detected Pattern

Export Boom Cycle
Current account surplus with strong export growth (>15% YoY), reserve accumulation, and moderate GDP growth. Typical of commodity exporters during price surges.
Reserves YoY +43.3% GDP growth 6.2% C/A balance 9.1%
Occurred 768 times, 546 successful
Reserves YoY
+25.6%
GDP growth
4.0%
C/A balance
14.5%
Reserves YoY
+14.6%
GDP growth
3.7%
C/A balance
2.9%
Reserves YoY
+12.8%
GDP growth
43.8%
C/A balance
16.4%
Reserves YoY
+12.6%
GDP growth
6.0%
C/A balance
0.5%
Reserves YoY
+38.3%
GDP growth
5.0%
C/A balance
1.2%
Reserves YoY
+18.0%
GDP growth
2.9%
C/A balance
3.9%

Analysis

Iceland matched the Export Boom Cycle pattern in 2016. Historically, 71% of countries showing this pattern (546 out of 768) saw government spending improve within 24 months. View full analysis →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Iceland's government spending?

Iceland's government spending was 32.86% in 2025. Ranked 46th globally. This represents a 2.5% increase from the previous year.

What was the highest government spending in Iceland?

Iceland's government spending peaked at 50.33% in 2008.

What was the lowest government spending in Iceland?

The lowest government spending in Iceland was 21.74% in 1977.

How does Iceland rank in government spending?

Iceland ranks 46th globally in government spending as of 2025.

What is the World Bank indicator code for government spending?

The World Bank indicator code is GC.XPN.TOTL.GD.ZS. Data sourced from World Bank.

What is the projected government spending of Iceland in 2025?

Iceland's government spending is projected to reach 32.86% by 2025 based on trend extrapolation.

What is the government spending of Iceland in 2025?

The government spending of Iceland in 2025 was 32.86%. This ranks 46th in the world.

Cite this page

APA
Iceland Government Spending. HistorySaid. Retrieved April 1, 2026, from https://historysaid.com/iceland/government-spending
BibTeX
@misc{historysaid_iceland_government-spending, title = {Iceland Government Spending}, url = {https://historysaid.com/iceland/government-spending}, publisher = {HistorySaid}, year = {2026} }