Government spending by function in Switzerland

Switzerland: Government spending by function was 39.3% in 2023. ▬ Flat

Latest (2023)
39.3%
Change on year
up 1.1%
World rank
9th
of 37 countries
All-time high
43.2%
in 2020
All-time low
38.4%
in 2009
Years of data
17
2007–2023

Government spending by function in Switzerland, 2007–2023

0102030402007201520232007: 39.3 % of government expenditure2008: 38.5 % of government expenditure2009: 38.4 % of government expenditure2010: 39 % of government expenditure2011: 38.8 % of government expenditure2012: 38.6 % of government expenditure2013: 39.8 % of government expenditure2014: 39.6 % of government expenditure2015: 39.5 % of government expenditure2016: 39.8 % of government expenditure2017: 39.6 % of government expenditure2018: 39.5 % of government expenditure2019: 39.3 % of government expenditure2020: 43.2 % of government expenditure2021: 39.6 % of government expenditure2022: 38.9 % of government expenditure2023: 39.3 % of government expenditure

Source: OECD (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in % of government expenditure.

Analysis

In 2023, government spending by function in Switzerland stood at 39.3%.

Compared with earlier readings it is up 1.1% on the previous year and down 1.3% over ten years.

Over the whole period, government spending by function in Switzerland peaked at 43.2% in 2020 and was at its lowest, 38.4%, in 2009.

That places Switzerland 9th out of 37 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the top quarter.

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 38.7% 38.4% 39.3% 3
2010s 39.3% 38.6% 39.8% 10
2020s 40.2% 38.9% 43.2% 4

Countries ranked near Switzerland

  1. 6 Spain 40.7% compare
  2. 7 Germany 40.6% compare
  3. 8 Japan 39.9% compare
  4. 10 Italy 39.3% compare
  5. 11 Portugal 39.2% compare
  6. 12 Sweden 37.8% compare

See the full ranking of 37 places →

More reference data data for Switzerland

All data for Switzerland →

Frequently asked questions

What is government spending by function in Switzerland?
Government spending by function in Switzerland was 39.3% in 2023, according to OECD (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
What is the highest government spending by function recorded in Switzerland?
The highest recorded value was 43.2% in 2020.
What is the lowest government spending by function recorded in Switzerland?
The lowest recorded value was 38.4% in 2009.
How does Switzerland rank for government spending by function?
Switzerland ranks 9th out of 37 countries with data for 2023.
Is government spending by function rising or falling in Switzerland?
Over the last ten years it is down 1.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
Where does this Switzerland data come from?
The figures come from OECD (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Government spending by function. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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About this data

Indicator
Government spending by function
Unit
% of government expenditure
Source
OECD (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage
37 places, 618 data points, 2007–2024
Last refreshed

General government expenditure on social protection. This data is divided by total government expenditure, expressed as a percentage.