Nicaragua Government Spending
Government expenditure as % of GDP GC.XPN.TOTL.GD.ZS
Nicaragua's government spending was 16.58% in 2025, ranked 98th globally. This represents a 1.8% increase from 2024. Data from World Bank, covering 1990–2025.
Overview
Nicaragua's government spending stood at 16.58% in 2025, a rise of +0.29% from 2023. Based on recent trends, this figure is projected to reach 16.58% by 2025. Nicaragua ranked 98th globally.
Nicaragua’s government spending as a share of gross domestic product has contracted dramatically since the early 1990s, falling from an all‑time peak of 65.23 % in 1990 to a historic trough of 10.80 % in 1996, before stabilising at a modest 16.58 % in 2025, a level that places the country 98th in the world. This long‑term decline reflects successive fiscal consolidations, reduced public investment, and a shift toward a more market‑oriented budgetary framework during the post‑Cold‑War era. The current share is close to that of Paraguay (16.32 %) and Togo (16.79 %), suggesting Nicaragua now operates within a fiscal envelope typical of lower‑middle‑income economies rather than the high‑spending patterns of the early 1990s. The 35‑year coverage of the data shows that, despite occasional rebounds, the trajectory has been downward‑sloping. Continued diversification of the tax base and incremental increases in social‑sector allocations could moderate the decline and nudge the ratio upward in the coming decade.
Data & projection
| Year | Government Spending | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026* trend | 16.57% | - | - |
| 2025* trend | 16.58% | - | - |
| 2025 | 16.58% | +0.29% | #98 |
| 2023 | 16.28% | −0.41% | #9 |
| 2022 | 16.69% | −0.49% | #17 |
| 2021 | 17.18% | +0.76% | #25 |
| 2020 | 16.42% | −0.04% | #20 |
| 2019 | 16.45% | −0.40% | #32 |
| 2018 | 16.85% | +0.32% | #37 |
| 2017 | 16.52% | +0.13% | #33 |
| 2016 | 16.39% | +0.47% | #31 |
| 2015 | 15.92% | +0.50% | #30 |
| 2014 | 15.43% | +0.34% | #28 |
| 2013 | 15.09% | −0.14% | #25 |
| 2012 | 15.23% | +0.25% | #26 |
| 2011 | 14.98% | −0.02% | #25 |
| 2010 | 14.99% | −0.50% | #22 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Nicaragua matched the Export Boom Cycle pattern in 2024. Historically, 71% of countries showing this pattern (546 out of 768) saw government spending improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
Nicaragua's government spending was 16.58% in 2025. Ranked 98th globally. This represents a 1.8% increase from the previous year.
Nicaragua's government spending peaked at 65.23% in 1990.
The lowest government spending in Nicaragua was 10.80% in 1996.
Nicaragua ranks 98th globally in government spending as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is GC.XPN.TOTL.GD.ZS. Data sourced from World Bank.
Nicaragua's government spending is projected to reach 16.58% by 2025 based on trend extrapolation.
The government spending of Nicaragua in 2025 was 16.58%. This ranks 98th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_nicaragua_government-spending,
title = {Nicaragua Government Spending},
url = {https://historysaid.com/nicaragua/government-spending/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}