Panama Government Spending
Government expenditure as % of GDP GC.XPN.TOTL.GD.ZS
Panama's government spending was 17.14% in 2021, ranked 24th globally. This represents a 11.0% decrease from 2020. Data from World Bank, covering 2014–2021.
Overview
Panama's government spending stood at 17.14% in 2021, a decline of +2.13% from 2020. Panama ranked 24th globally.
Panama's government spending has experienced significant fluctuations over the past eight years, with a notable increase in 2020 when the figure peaked at 19.27. This represents a sharp rise from the trough of 12.91 in 2014, indicating a substantial expansion in public expenditure. By 2021, government spending had moderated to 17.14, ranking Panama 24th globally. A comparison with peer countries reveals that Panama's spending is marginally lower than that of Kazakhstan, which shares a similar ranking of 17.12. Nicaragua, a country with similar economic characteristics, has a slightly higher spending ratio of 17.18. The recent decline in government spending suggests a potential shift towards fiscal consolidation, which could be driven by external factors such as changes in global commodity prices or shifts in economic policies. A sustained increase in government revenue or a significant decline in public expenditure could alter the trajectory of Panama's government spending, but for now, the trend appears to be stabilizing.
Data & projection
| Year | Government Spending | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 17.14% | −2.13% | #24 |
| 2020 | 19.27% | +4.23% | #30 |
| 2019 | 15.04% | +1.45% | #25 |
| 2018 | 13.59% | −0.35% | #17 |
| 2017 | 13.94% | +0.25% | #20 |
| 2016 | 13.70% | −0.30% | #18 |
| 2015 | 14.00% | +1.09% | #20 |
| 2014 | 12.91% | – | #17 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Panama matched the Export Boom Cycle pattern in 1994. Historically, 71% of countries showing this pattern (546 out of 768) saw government spending improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
Panama's government spending was 17.14% in 2021. Ranked 24th globally. This represents a 11.0% decrease from the previous year.
Panama's government spending peaked at 19.27% in 2020.
The lowest government spending in Panama was 12.91% in 2014.
Panama ranks 24th 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 Panama in 2021 was 17.14%. This ranks 24th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_panama_government-spending,
title = {Panama Government Spending},
url = {https://historysaid.com/panama/government-spending/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}