Iraq Government Spending
Government expenditure as % of GDP GC.XPN.TOTL.GD.ZS
Iraq's government spending was 27.61% in 2019, ranked 76th globally. This represents a 12.8% increase from 2018. Data from World Bank, covering 2014–2019.
Overview
Iraq's government spending stood at 27.61% in 2019, a rise of +3.13% from 2018. Iraq ranked 76th globally.
Iraq’s government‑spending share of GDP rose steadily from 25.71 % in 2014 to a peak of 27.61 % in 2019, the highest level recorded in the six‑year series and the 76th highest among World Bank‑listed economies. The trough in the series occurred a year earlier, when spending fell to 24.48 % of GDP in 2018, suggesting a brief contraction before the subsequent rebound. Iraq’s 2019 figure of 27.61 % sits close to the levels of peers such as Saudi Arabia (26.71 %) and Jordan (26.25 %), indicating a comparable fiscal stance within the region, while slightly lower than Samoa (27.81 %) and Vanuatu (27.84 %). The upward trajectory reflects continued public‑investment priorities despite security and oil‑price volatility. If oil revenues remain robust and fiscal reforms are implemented, the government‑spending ratio is likely to maintain its recent upward trend, though a sharp decline in commodity prices could reverse the momentum.
Data & projection
| Year | Government Spending | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 27.61% | +3.13% | #76 |
| 2018 | 24.48% | −1.49% | #69 |
| 2017 | 25.97% | −0.59% | #78 |
| 2016 | 26.56% | −0.47% | #78 |
| 2015 | 27.03% | +1.32% | #82 |
| 2014 | 25.71% | – | #72 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Iraq matched the Export Boom Cycle pattern in 2022. Historically, 71% of countries showing this pattern (546 out of 768) saw government spending improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
Iraq's government spending was 27.61% in 2019. Ranked 76th globally. This represents a 12.8% increase from the previous year.
Iraq's government spending peaked at 27.61% in 2019.
The lowest government spending in Iraq was 24.48% in 2018.
Iraq ranks 76th globally in government spending as of 2019.
The World Bank indicator code is GC.XPN.TOTL.GD.ZS. Data sourced from World Bank.
The government spending of Iraq in 2019 was 27.61%. This ranks 76th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_iraq_government-spending,
title = {Iraq Government Spending},
url = {https://historysaid.com/iraq/government-spending/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}