Social protection spending as share of total government spending in Germany
Germany: Social protection spending as share of total government spending was 40.6% in 2023. ▬ Flat
Social protection spending as share of total government spending in Germany, 2007–2023
Source: OECD (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in % of government expenditure.
Analysis
Germany recorded 40.6% for social protection spending as share of total government spending in 2023.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.4% on the previous year and down 1.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, social protection spending as share of total government spending in Germany peaked at 42.8% in 2016 and was at its lowest, 40.4%, in 2021.
Germany ranks 7th of 37 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
Social protection spending as share of total government spending in Germany, year by year
| Year | % of government expenditure | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2007 | 42.6% | — |
| 2008 | 41.6% | -2.3% |
| 2009 | 42.0% | +1.0% |
| 2010 | 40.8% | -2.9% |
| 2011 | 40.9% | +0.2% |
| 2012 | 41.0% | +0.3% |
| 2013 | 41.1% | +0.3% |
| 2014 | 41.4% | +0.5% |
| 2015 | 42.1% | +1.7% |
| 2016 | 42.8% | +1.7% |
| 2017 | 42.7% | -0.1% |
| 2018 | 42.3% | -1.1% |
| 2019 | 42.2% | -0.2% |
| 2020 | 41.9% | -0.8% |
| 2021 | 40.4% | -3.5% |
| 2022 | 40.8% | +0.9% |
| 2023 | 40.6% | -0.4% |
Germany compared with similar countries
- Germany's 40.6% is above the median for high income countries, which is 36.4%, 1.1× the median. (36 countries reporting)
- Germany's 40.6% 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 | 42.1% | 41.6% | 42.6% | 3 |
| 2010s | 41.7% | 40.8% | 42.8% | 10 |
| 2020s | 40.9% | 40.4% | 41.9% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Germany
More reference data data for Germany
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 4.6 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 1.7 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 16.93 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 1.94 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 16.93 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 15.41 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 9.96 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 8.87 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 80.38 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 10.56 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is social protection spending as share of total government spending in Germany?
- Social protection spending as share of total government spending in Germany was 40.6% in 2023, 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 Germany?
- The highest recorded value was 42.8% in 2016.
- What is the lowest social protection spending as share of total government spending recorded in Germany?
- The lowest recorded value was 40.4% in 2021.
- How does Germany rank for social protection spending as share of total government spending?
- Germany ranks 7th out of 37 countries with data for 2023.
- Is social protection spending as share of total government spending rising or falling in Germany?
- Over the last ten years it is down 1.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Germany 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.