Social protection spending as share of total government spending in Austria
Austria: Social protection spending as share of total government spending was 41.3% in 2024. ▬ Flat
Social protection spending as share of total government spending in Austria, 2007–2024
Source: OECD (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in % of government expenditure.
Analysis
The most recent figure for social protection spending as share of total government spending in Austria is 41.3%, measured in 2024.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 1.6% on the previous year and up 1.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, social protection spending as share of total government spending in Austria peaked at 41.7% in 2016 and was at its lowest, 38.6%, in 2008.
That places Austria 4th out of 37 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top 10%.
Social protection spending as share of total government spending in Austria, year by year
| Year | % of government expenditure | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2007 | 38.8% | — |
| 2008 | 38.6% | -0.5% |
| 2009 | 38.7% | +0.0% |
| 2010 | 39.9% | +3.1% |
| 2011 | 40.0% | +0.5% |
| 2012 | 40.2% | +0.3% |
| 2013 | 40.5% | +0.9% |
| 2014 | 40.8% | +0.8% |
| 2015 | 41.5% | +1.8% |
| 2016 | 41.7% | +0.3% |
| 2017 | 41.6% | -0.2% |
| 2018 | 41.2% | -0.9% |
| 2019 | 41.3% | +0.2% |
| 2020 | 39.8% | -3.6% |
| 2021 | 39.1% | -1.8% |
| 2022 | 40.6% | +4.0% |
| 2023 | 40.6% | -0.0% |
| 2024 | 41.3% | +1.6% |
Austria compared with similar countries
- Austria's 41.3% is above the median for high income countries, which is 36.4%, 1.1× the median. (36 countries reporting)
- Austria's 41.3% is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 37.5%, 1.1× the median. (29 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 38.7% | 38.6% | 38.8% | 3 |
| 2010s | 40.9% | 39.9% | 41.7% | 10 |
| 2020s | 40.3% | 39.1% | 41.3% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Austria
More reference data data for Austria
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.6222 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 0.2597 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 1.55 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.1986 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 1.55 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 2.09 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 1.37 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 1.36 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 7.84 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 1.08 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is social protection spending as share of total government spending in Austria?
- Social protection spending as share of total government spending in Austria was 41.3% in 2024, according to OECD (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest social protection spending as share of total government spending recorded in Austria?
- The highest recorded value was 41.7% in 2016.
- What is the lowest social protection spending as share of total government spending recorded in Austria?
- The lowest recorded value was 38.6% in 2008.
- How does Austria rank for social protection spending as share of total government spending?
- Austria ranks 4th out of 37 countries with data for 2024.
- Is social protection spending as share of total government spending rising or falling in Austria?
- Over the last ten years it is up 1.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Austria data come from?
- The figures come from OECD (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Social protection spending as share of total government spending. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
General government expenditure on social protection. This data is divided by total government expenditure, expressed as a percentage.