Iran, Islamic Republic of Government Spending
Government expenditure as % of GDP GC.XPN.TOTL.GD.ZS
Iran, Islamic Republic of's government spending was 19.64% in 2009, ranked 38th globally. This represents a 7.6% increase from 2008. Data from World Bank, covering 1972–2009.
Overview
Iran, Islamic Republic of's government spending stood at 19.64% in 2009, a rise of +1.39% from 2008. Iran, Islamic Republic of ranked 38th globally.
Iran’s government spending as a share of GDP has hovered around the middle of the global distribution, registering 19.64 in 2009, which placed the country 38th worldwide. The series, spanning 38 years from 1972, shows a pronounced swing from an early peak of 34.07 in 1975 to a deep trough of 13.20 in 1991, reflecting the combined impact of the oil‑price shock of the 1970s, the revolutionary upheaval and the Iran‑Iraq war, followed by post‑war reconstruction and fiscal consolidation. Since the early 1990s, spending has gradually risen, stabilising in the high‑teens and remaining close to peers such as Canada (18.85) and Bahrain (19.76). The modest upward trajectory suggests that future fiscal dynamics will hinge on oil revenue volatility, sanctions regimes and any structural reforms aimed at diversifying revenue sources; a sustained increase in non‑oil fiscal capacity could lift the spending ratio above its recent level.
Data & projection
| Year | Government Spending | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | 19.64% | +1.39% | #38 |
| 2008 | 18.25% | +1.43% | #33 |
| 2007 | 16.83% | −3.89% | #26 |
| 2006 | 20.72% | +1.30% | #43 |
| 2005 | 19.42% | +2.77% | #33 |
| 2004 | 16.65% | −0.52% | #27 |
| 2003 | 17.18% | −0.31% | #26 |
| 2002 | 17.49% | −0.06% | #23 |
| 2001 | 17.55% | +1.96% | #24 |
| 2000 | 15.59% | −0.99% | #19 |
| 1999 | 16.58% | −1.59% | #18 |
| 1998 | 18.17% | +2.25% | #25 |
| 1997 | 15.92% | +0.31% | #18 |
| 1996 | 15.61% | +0.73% | #15 |
| 1995 | 14.88% | −0.66% | #16 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Iran, Islamic Republic of matched the Stagflation Risk pattern in 2019. Historically, 38% of countries showing this pattern (117 out of 307) saw government spending improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
Iran, Islamic Republic of's government spending was 19.64% in 2009. Ranked 38th globally. This represents a 7.6% increase from the previous year.
Iran, Islamic Republic of's government spending peaked at 34.07% in 1975.
The lowest government spending in Iran, Islamic Republic of was 13.20% in 1991.
Iran, Islamic Republic of ranks 38th globally in government spending as of 2009.
The World Bank indicator code is GC.XPN.TOTL.GD.ZS. Data sourced from World Bank.
The government spending of Iran, Islamic Republic of in 2009 was 19.64%. This ranks 38th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_iran-islamic-republic-of_government-spending,
title = {Iran, Islamic Republic of Government Spending},
url = {https://historysaid.com/iran-islamic-republic-of/government-spending/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}