Lao PDR Government Spending
Government expenditure as % of GDP GC.XPN.TOTL.GD.ZS
Lao PDR's government spending was 8.62% in 2025, ranked 110th globally. This represents a 16.4% decrease from 2024. Data from World Bank, covering 2008–2025.
Overview
Lao PDR's government spending stood at 8.62% in 2025, a decline of +1.70% from 2022. Based on recent trends, this figure is projected to reach 8.62% by 2025. Lao PDR ranked 110th globally.
Lao PDR’s government spending as a share of GDP has fallen sharply over the 16‑year series, slipping from a high of 16.81 percent in 2013 to a trough of 8.62 percent in 2025, the lowest level recorded in the dataset and ranking the country 110th globally. The decline represents a contraction of more than half of the 2013 peak and a reduction of 2.16 percentage points from the earliest observation in 2008, when spending stood at 10.78 percent. By contrast, peer Madagascar still allocates 10.81 percent of GDP to the public sector, while the United Arab Emirates records a markedly lower 3.42 percent, underscoring the divergent fiscal approaches within the region. The sustained downward trajectory suggests that without a reversal in fiscal policy or a resurgence in revenue capacity, Lao PDR’s government spending share is likely to remain near the 2025 trough in the near term.
Data & projection
| Year | Government Spending | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025* trend | 8.62% | - | - |
| 2025 | 8.62% | −1.70% | #110 |
| 2022 | 10.32% | −0.45% | #3 |
| 2021 | 10.76% | −0.68% | #7 |
| 2020 | 11.45% | −1.00% | #5 |
| 2019 | 12.45% | +0.14% | #11 |
| 2018 | 12.31% | −0.03% | #14 |
| 2017 | 12.34% | −1.53% | #14 |
| 2016 | 13.87% | −1.02% | #19 |
| 2015 | 14.89% | −0.59% | #23 |
| 2014 | 15.49% | −1.33% | #29 |
| 2013 | 16.81% | +5.83% | #32 |
| 2012 | 10.98% | +0.24% | #10 |
| 2011 | 10.74% | −0.28% | #9 |
| 2010 | 11.03% | −0.49% | #11 |
| 2009 | 11.52% | +0.73% | #11 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Lao PDR matched the Export Boom Cycle pattern in 2023. Historically, 71% of countries showing this pattern (546 out of 768) saw government spending improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
Lao PDR's government spending was 8.62% in 2025. Ranked 110th globally. This represents a 16.4% decrease from the previous year.
Lao PDR's government spending peaked at 16.81% in 2013.
The lowest government spending in Lao PDR was 8.62% in 2025.
Lao PDR ranks 110th globally in government spending as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is GC.XPN.TOTL.GD.ZS. Data sourced from World Bank.
Lao PDR's government spending is projected to reach 8.62% by 2025 based on trend extrapolation.
The government spending of Lao PDR in 2025 was 8.62%. This ranks 110th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_lao-pdr_government-spending,
title = {Lao PDR Government Spending},
url = {https://historysaid.com/lao-pdr/government-spending/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}