Lebanon Government Spending
Government expenditure as % of GDP GC.XPN.TOTL.GD.ZS
Lebanon's government spending was 6.30% in 2021, ranked 2nd globally. This represents a 57.9% decrease from 2020. Data from World Bank, covering 1998–2021.
Overview
Lebanon's government spending stood at 6.30% in 2021, a decline of +8.65% from 2020. Lebanon ranked 2nd globally.
Lebanon’s government spending as a share of GDP has fallen dramatically over the 24‑year series, sliding from an all‑time peak of 31.71 % in 2006 to a trough of 6.30 % in 2021, the lowest level among all economies and ranking second globally for the latest year. The steep decline reflects successive fiscal consolidations, a protracted financial crisis and the impact of the 2020 Beirut port explosion, which together eroded revenue bases and forced severe cuts in public outlays. By contrast, the United Arab Emirates recorded a modest 4.26 % of GDP in government spending, underscoring the divergence between Lebanon’s recent contraction and the relatively restrained fiscal stance of a Gulf peer. Bangladesh’s 8.32 % and the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s 8.65 % illustrate that even countries with lower income levels maintain higher spending ratios than Lebanon today. If political stability improves and external financing resumes, the downward trajectory could reverse, allowing public expenditure to rise again toward pre‑crisis levels.
Data & projection
| Year | Government Spending | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 6.30% | −8.65% | #2 |
| 2020 | 14.94% | −14.24% | #16 |
| 2019 | 29.19% | −0.16% | #85 |
| 2018 | 29.35% | +3.36% | #89 |
| 2017 | 25.98% | +0.14% | #80 |
| 2016 | 25.85% | +2.95% | #75 |
| 2015 | 22.90% | −3.05% | #61 |
| 2014 | 25.95% | −0.75% | #74 |
| 2013 | 26.69% | −0.11% | #72 |
| 2012 | 26.80% | +0.40% | #73 |
| 2011 | 26.40% | +0.55% | #71 |
| 2010 | 25.84% | −2.94% | #66 |
| 2009 | 28.79% | −1.76% | #66 |
| 2008 | 30.55% | −1.02% | #71 |
| 2007 | 31.57% | −0.14% | #75 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Lebanon matched the Currency Crisis Pattern pattern in 2023. Historically, 27% of countries showing this pattern (35 out of 128) saw government spending improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
Lebanon's government spending was 6.30% in 2021. Ranked 2nd globally. This represents a 57.9% decrease from the previous year.
Lebanon's government spending peaked at 31.71% in 2006.
The lowest government spending in Lebanon was 6.30% in 2021.
Lebanon ranks 2nd globally in government spending as of 2021.
The World Bank indicator code is GC.XPN.TOTL.GD.ZS. Data sourced from World Bank.
The government spending of Lebanon in 2021 was 6.30%. This ranks 2nd in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_lebanon_government-spending,
title = {Lebanon Government Spending},
url = {https://historysaid.com/lebanon/government-spending/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}