Public social spending as share of GDP in Turkey
Turkey: Public social spending as share of GDP was 10.4% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Public social spending as share of GDP in Turkey, 1980–2024
Source: OECD (2025); OECD (1985); Lindert (2004) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in % of GDP.
Analysis
Turkey recorded 10.4% for public social spending as share of gdp in 2024.
That represents a change of up 3.2% on the previous year and down 11.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, public social spending as share of gdp in Turkey peaked at 13.1% in 2020 and was at its lowest, 1.6%, in 1981.
Turkey ranks 40th of 42 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Public social spending as share of GDP in Turkey, year by year
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 2.2% | — |
| 1981 | 1.6% | -26.6% |
| 1982 | 1.8% | +8.3% |
| 1983 | 1.8% | +3.4% |
| 1984 | 2.2% | +20.3% |
| 1985 | 1.9% | -12.2% |
| 1986 | 2.1% | +7.4% |
| 1987 | 2.2% | +4.4% |
| 1988 | 2.6% | +16.8% |
| 1989 | 3.1% | +20.8% |
| 1990 | 3.8% | +23.0% |
| 1991 | 4.1% | +6.9% |
| 1992 | 4.2% | +2.7% |
| 1993 | 4.0% | -4.6% |
| 1994 | 3.6% | -8.4% |
| 1995 | 3.4% | -7.6% |
| 1996 | 4.6% | +36.0% |
| 1997 | 4.8% | +5.6% |
| 1998 | 5.0% | +3.6% |
| 1999 | 5.7% | +13.9% |
| 2000 | 7.5% | +32.4% |
| 2001 | 8.2% | +8.7% |
| 2002 | 8.8% | +6.9% |
| 2003 | 9.7% | +10.8% |
| 2004 | 10.0% | +2.9% |
| 2005 | 10.0% | -0.1% |
| 2006 | 10.3% | +2.8% |
| 2007 | 10.8% | +5.7% |
| 2008 | 11.0% | +1.8% |
| 2009 | 12.9% | +17.3% |
| 2010 | 12.3% | -5.2% |
| 2011 | 11.8% | -3.9% |
| 2012 | 11.9% | +1.3% |
| 2013 | 11.8% | -1.6% |
| 2014 | 11.7% | -0.8% |
| 2015 | 11.5% | -1.0% |
| 2016 | 12.5% | +8.6% |
| 2017 | 12.0% | -4.3% |
| 2018 | 11.8% | -2.0% |
| 2019 | 12.4% | +5.6% |
| 2020 | 13.1% | +5.9% |
| 2021 | 11.0% | -16.0% |
| 2022 | 8.4% | -23.6% |
| 2023 | 10.0% | +19.0% |
| 2024 | 10.4% | +3.2% |
Turkey compared with similar countries
- Turkey's 10.4% is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 23.0%, 45% of the median. (30 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 2.2% | 1.6% | 3.1% | 10 |
| 1990s | 4.3% | 3.4% | 5.7% | 10 |
| 2000s | 9.9% | 7.5% | 12.9% | 10 |
| 2010s | 12.0% | 11.5% | 12.5% | 10 |
| 2020s | 10.6% | 8.4% | 13.1% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Turkey
More reference data data for Turkey
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.815 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 10.96 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 22.31 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 1.72 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 22.31 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 2.73 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 1.1 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 53.65 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 103 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 9.35 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is public social spending as share of gdp in Turkey?
- Public social spending as share of gdp in Turkey was 10.4% in 2024, according to OECD (2025); OECD (1985); Lindert (2004) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest public social spending as share of gdp recorded in Turkey?
- The highest recorded value was 13.1% in 2020.
- What is the lowest public social spending as share of gdp recorded in Turkey?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.6% in 1981.
- How does Turkey rank for public social spending as share of gdp?
- Turkey ranks 40th out of 42 countries with data for 2024.
- Is public social spending as share of gdp rising or falling in Turkey?
- Over the last ten years it is down 11.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Turkey data come from?
- The figures come from OECD (2025); OECD (1985); Lindert (2004) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Public social spending as share of GDP. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Public social expenditure divided bt gross domestic product, expressed as a percentage.