Primary government spending as a share of original budget in Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia: Primary government spending as a share of original budget was 114.5% in 2023. ▼ Falling

Latest (2023)
114.5%
Change on year
down 3.4%
World rank
15th
of 166 countries
All-time high
142.5%
in 2011
All-time low
95.8%
in 2019
Years of data
17
2007–2023

Primary government spending as a share of original budget in Saudi Arabia, 2007–2023

0501001502007201520232007: 122.7 %2008: 126.8 %2009: 125.6 %2010: 121.1 %2011: 142.5 %2012: 132.9 %2013: 121.3 %2014: 133.4 %2015: 116.4 %2016: 98.9 %2017: 104.5 %2018: 110.4 %2019: 95.8 %2020: 105.5 %2021: 102.5 %2022: 118.5 %2023: 114.5 %

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

Analysis

The most recent figure for primary government spending as a share of original budget in Saudi Arabia is 114.5%, measured in 2023.

Compared with earlier readings it is down 3.4% on the previous year and down 5.7% over ten years.

Over the whole period, primary government spending as a share of original budget in Saudi Arabia peaked at 142.5% in 2011 and was at its lowest, 95.8%, in 2019.

Saudi Arabia ranks 15th of 166 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.

The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 17 years of available data.

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

Annual values for Primary government spending as a share of original budget in Saudi Arabia, 2007 to 2023.
Year % Change
2007 122.7%
2008 126.8% +3.4%
2009 125.6% -1.0%
2010 121.1% -3.6%
2011 142.5% +17.7%
2012 132.9% -6.7%
2013 121.3% -8.7%
2014 133.4% +10.0%
2015 116.4% -12.7%
2016 98.9% -15.1%
2017 104.5% +5.7%
2018 110.4% +5.6%
2019 95.8% -13.2%
2020 105.5% +10.1%
2021 102.5% -2.8%
2022 118.5% +15.6%
2023 114.5% -3.4%

Saudi Arabia compared with similar countries

  • Saudi Arabia's 114.5% is above the median for high income countries, which is 103.6%, 1.1× the median. (44 countries reporting)
  • Saudi Arabia's 114.5% is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 97.3%, 1.2× the median. (15 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 125.0% 122.7% 126.8% 3
2010s 117.7% 95.8% 142.5% 10
2020s 110.2% 102.5% 118.5% 4

Countries ranked near Saudi Arabia

  1. 12 Czechia 117.4% compare
  2. 13 Rwanda 117.1% compare
  3. 14 Lithuania 115.6% compare
  4. 16 Montenegro 114.1% compare
  5. 17 Mauritius 113.9% compare
  6. 18 South Sudan 113.7% compare

See the full ranking of 166 places →

More reference data data for Saudi Arabia

All data for Saudi Arabia →

Frequently asked questions

What is primary government spending as a share of original budget in Saudi Arabia?
Primary government spending as a share of original budget in Saudi Arabia was 114.5% in 2023, 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 Saudi Arabia?
The highest recorded value was 142.5% in 2011.
What is the lowest primary government spending as a share of original budget recorded in Saudi Arabia?
The lowest recorded value was 95.8% in 2019.
How does Saudi Arabia rank for primary government spending as a share of original budget?
Saudi Arabia ranks 15th out of 166 countries with data for 2023.
Is primary government spending as a share of original budget rising or falling in Saudi Arabia?
Over the last ten years it is down 5.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
Where does this Saudi Arabia 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 Saudi Arabia. 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/saudi-arabia/

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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 (%).