Primary government spending as a share of original budget in Nigeria

Nigeria: Primary government spending as a share of original budget was 37.8% in 2024. ▼ Falling

Latest (2024)
37.8%
Change on year
down 59.3%
World rank
165th
of 166 countries
All-time high
106.2%
in 2019
All-time low
37.8%
in 2024
Years of data
15
2008–2024

Primary government spending as a share of original budget in Nigeria, 2008–2024

02550751002008201620242008: 90.4 %2009: 92.7 %2010: 78.3 %2011: 95.9 %2012: 87.8 %2013: 91.2 %2014: 87.5 %2015: 105.1 %2016: 80.5 %2017: 87.4 %2018: 86.6 %2019: 106.2 %2020: 98.7 %2023: 92.8 %2024: 37.8 %

Source: World Bank – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.

Analysis

Nigeria recorded 37.8% for primary government spending as a share of original budget in 2024. That is the lowest value across all 15 years on record.

That represents a change of down 59.3% on the previous year and down 56.9% over ten years.

Over the whole period, primary government spending as a share of original budget in Nigeria peaked at 106.2% in 2019 and was at its lowest, 37.8%, in 2024.

That places Nigeria 165th out of 166 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the bottom quarter.

The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 15 years of available data.

Primary government spending as a share of original budget in Nigeria, year by year

Annual values for Primary government spending as a share of original budget in Nigeria, 2008 to 2024.
Year % Change
2008 90.4%
2009 92.7% +2.5%
2010 78.3% -15.5%
2011 95.9% +22.5%
2012 87.8% -8.5%
2013 91.2% +3.9%
2014 87.5% -4.0%
2015 105.1% +20.1%
2016 80.5% -23.4%
2017 87.4% +8.7%
2018 86.6% -0.9%
2019 106.2% +22.6%
2020 98.7% -7.0%
2023 92.8% -6.0%
2024 37.8% -59.3%

Nigeria compared with similar countries

  • Nigeria's 37.8% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 96.7%, 39% of the median. (45 countries reporting)
  • Nigeria's 37.8% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 98.1%, 38% of the median. (45 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 91.6% 90.4% 92.7% 2
2010s 90.7% 78.3% 106.2% 10
2020s 76.4% 37.8% 98.7% 3

Countries ranked near Nigeria

  1. 162 Madagascar 60.6% compare
  2. 163 Ghana 54.9% compare
  3. 164 Cameroon 42.6% compare
  4. 166 Kiribati 0.8% compare

See the full ranking of 166 places →

More reference data data for Nigeria

All data for Nigeria →

Frequently asked questions

What is primary government spending as a share of original budget in Nigeria?
Primary government spending as a share of original budget in Nigeria was 37.8% in 2024, according to World Bank – processed by Our World in Data.
What is the highest primary government spending as a share of original budget recorded in Nigeria?
The highest recorded value was 106.2% in 2019.
What is the lowest primary government spending as a share of original budget recorded in Nigeria?
The lowest recorded value was 37.8% in 2024.
How does Nigeria rank for primary government spending as a share of original budget?
Nigeria ranks 165th out of 166 countries with data for 2024.
Is primary government spending as a share of original budget rising or falling in Nigeria?
Over the last ten years it is down 56.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
Where does this Nigeria data come from?
The figures come from World Bank – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Primary government spending as a share of original budget. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Primary government spending as a share of original budget in Nigeria. Statizoid, drawing on World Bank – processed by Our World in Data. Retrieved 23 September 2026, from https://reference.statizoid.com/stat/govt-expenditure-share-budget/nigeria/

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About this data

Indicator
Primary government spending as a share of original budget
Unit
%
Source
World Bank – processed by Our World in Data
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage
166 places, 2,464 data points, 2004–2025
Last refreshed

Primary government expenditures as a proportion of original approved budget (%).