Papua New Guinea Government Spending
Government expenditure as % of GDP GC.XPN.TOTL.GD.ZS
Papua New Guinea's government spending was 20.29% in 2025, ranked 84th globally. This represents a 0.1% decrease from 2024. Data from World Bank, covering 1990–2025.
Overview
Papua New Guinea's government spending stood at 20.29% in 2025, a decline of +0.03% from 2023. Based on recent trends, this figure is projected to reach 20.29% by 2025. Papua New Guinea ranked 84th globally.
Papua New Guinea's government spending has exhibited significant fluctuations over the past two and a half decades, with an all-time peak of 31.15 in 1990 and a trough of 16.58 in 2017. The country's government spending as a percentage of GDP has been steadily decreasing since the mid-1990s, with a notable decline in the 2010s. In recent years, Papua New Guinea's government spending has hovered around 20%, currently standing at 20.29 as of 2025. This is comparable to that of Argentina, which has a government spending percentage of 20.32. In contrast, Armenia's government spending has been steadily increasing since the 2000s, standing at 20.27 in 2025. A continued decline in government spending could be detrimental to Papua New Guinea's economic development, particularly in areas such as infrastructure and public services. However, a surge in commodity prices or a significant increase in foreign investment could potentially alter this trajectory and stimulate government spending.
Data & projection
| Year | Government Spending | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026* trend | 20.39% | - | - |
| 2025* trend | 20.29% | - | - |
| 2025 | 20.29% | −0.03% | #84 |
| 2023 | 20.32% | +0.87% | #25 |
| 2022 | 19.45% | −0.39% | #26 |
| 2021 | 19.83% | −1.06% | #34 |
| 2020 | 20.90% | +1.75% | #35 |
| 2019 | 19.14% | +0.83% | #43 |
| 2018 | 18.31% | +1.73% | #42 |
| 2017 | 16.58% | −1.80% | #34 |
| 2016 | 18.39% | −1.84% | #45 |
| 2015 | 20.23% | −1.52% | #48 |
| 2014 | 21.75% | −0.34% | #53 |
| 2002 | 22.09% | −4.83% | #43 |
| 2001 | 26.92% | −3.12% | #53 |
| 2000 | 30.05% | +0.72% | #56 |
| 1999 | 29.33% | +5.25% | #58 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Papua New Guinea 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
Papua New Guinea's government spending was 20.29% in 2025. Ranked 84th globally. This represents a 0.1% decrease from the previous year.
Papua New Guinea's government spending peaked at 31.15% in 1990.
The lowest government spending in Papua New Guinea was 16.58% in 2017.
Papua New Guinea ranks 84th globally in government spending as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is GC.XPN.TOTL.GD.ZS. Data sourced from World Bank.
Papua New Guinea's government spending is projected to reach 20.29% by 2025 based on trend extrapolation.
The government spending of Papua New Guinea in 2025 was 20.29%. This ranks 84th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_papua-new-guinea_government-spending,
title = {Papua New Guinea Government Spending},
url = {https://historysaid.com/papua-new-guinea/government-spending/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}