Social protection spending as share of total government spending in Hungary
Hungary: Social protection spending as share of total government spending was 24.9% in 2023. ▼ Falling
Social protection spending as share of total government spending in Hungary, 2007–2023
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 Hungary is 24.9%, measured in 2023. That is the lowest value across all 17 years on record.
The figure is down 7.2% on the previous year and down 24.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, social protection spending as share of total government spending in Hungary peaked at 35.7% in 2009 and was at its lowest, 24.9%, in 2023.
That places Hungary 35th out of 37 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 17 years of available data.
Social protection spending as share of total government spending in Hungary, year by year
| Year | % of government expenditure | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2007 | 34.5% | — |
| 2008 | 35.6% | +3.4% |
| 2009 | 35.7% | +0.2% |
| 2010 | 35.3% | -1.2% |
| 2011 | 34.4% | -2.6% |
| 2012 | 33.8% | -1.7% |
| 2013 | 32.8% | -2.9% |
| 2014 | 30.6% | -6.7% |
| 2015 | 28.9% | -5.4% |
| 2016 | 30.3% | +4.9% |
| 2017 | 29.3% | -3.4% |
| 2018 | 28.4% | -3.1% |
| 2019 | 27.4% | -3.3% |
| 2020 | 26.2% | -4.5% |
| 2021 | 27.0% | +2.9% |
| 2022 | 26.8% | -0.6% |
| 2023 | 24.9% | -7.2% |
Hungary compared with similar countries
- Hungary's 24.9% is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 37.5%, 66% of the median. (29 countries reporting)
- Hungary's 24.9% is below the median for high income countries, which is 36.4%, 68% of the median. (36 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 35.3% | 34.5% | 35.7% | 3 |
| 2010s | 31.1% | 27.4% | 35.3% | 10 |
| 2020s | 26.2% | 24.9% | 27.0% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Hungary
- 32 South Korea 26.2% compare
- 33 Costa Rica 26.1% compare
- 34 Colombia 25.1% compare
- 36 Iceland 23.9% compare
- 37 United States 20.2% compare
More reference data data for Hungary
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.5538 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 0.1724 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 2.75 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.5679 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 2.75 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 1.86 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 1.09 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 0.6937 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 12.77 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 3.09 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is social protection spending as share of total government spending in Hungary?
- Social protection spending as share of total government spending in Hungary was 24.9% 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 Hungary?
- The highest recorded value was 35.7% in 2009.
- What is the lowest social protection spending as share of total government spending recorded in Hungary?
- The lowest recorded value was 24.9% in 2023.
- How does Hungary rank for social protection spending as share of total government spending?
- Hungary ranks 35th out of 37 countries with data for 2023.
- Is social protection spending as share of total government spending rising or falling in Hungary?
- Over the last ten years it is down 24.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Hungary 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.