Government spending per capita in Australia
Australia: Government spending per capita was 29,639 current international-$ in 2024. ▲ Rising
Government spending per capita in Australia, 2007–2024
Source: OECD (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in current international-$.
Analysis
Australia recorded 29,639 current international-$ for government spending per capita in 2024. That is the highest value across all 18 years on record.
The figure is up 2.4% on the previous year and up 69.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, government spending per capita in Australia peaked at 29,639 current international-$ in 2024 and was at its lowest, 13,721 current international-$, in 2007.
Australia ranks 16th of 43 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 18 years of available data.
Government spending per capita in Australia, year by year
| Year | current international-$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2007 | 13,721 current international-$ | — |
| 2008 | 14,812 current international-$ | +8.0% |
| 2009 | 15,932 current international-$ | +7.6% |
| 2010 | 15,770 current international-$ | -1.0% |
| 2011 | 16,497 current international-$ | +4.6% |
| 2012 | 15,908 current international-$ | -3.6% |
| 2013 | 17,443 current international-$ | +9.7% |
| 2014 | 17,462 current international-$ | +0.1% |
| 2015 | 17,672 current international-$ | +1.2% |
| 2016 | 18,409 current international-$ | +4.2% |
| 2017 | 18,709 current international-$ | +1.6% |
| 2018 | 19,475 current international-$ | +4.1% |
| 2019 | 22,301 current international-$ | +14.5% |
| 2020 | 25,018 current international-$ | +12.2% |
| 2021 | 25,734 current international-$ | +2.9% |
| 2022 | 27,083 current international-$ | +5.2% |
| 2023 | 28,941 current international-$ | +6.9% |
| 2024 | 29,639 current international-$ | +2.4% |
Australia compared with similar countries
- Australia's 29,639 current international-$ is above the median for high income countries, which is 26,582 current international-$, 1.1× the median. (38 countries reporting)
- Australia's 29,639 current international-$ is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 21,401 current international-$, 1.4× the median. (5 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 14,822 current international-$ | 13,721 current international-$ | 15,932 current international-$ | 3 |
| 2010s | 17,965 current international-$ | 15,770 current international-$ | 22,301 current international-$ | 10 |
| 2020s | 27,283 current international-$ | 25,018 current international-$ | 29,639 current international-$ | 5 |
Countries ranked near Australia
- 13 Switzerland 32,409 current international-$ compare
- 14 Ireland 31,581 current international-$ compare
- 15 Italy 31,377 current international-$ compare
- 17 Canada 29,521 current international-$ compare
- 18 United Kingdom 29,093 current international-$ compare
- 19 Slovenia 26,764 current international-$ compare
More reference data data for Australia
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 1.21 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 28.02 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 38.41 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 2.55 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 38.41 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 4.07 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 6.14 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 118.71 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 170.29 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 13.9 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is government spending per capita in Australia?
- Government spending per capita in Australia was 29,639 current international-$ in 2024, according to OECD (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest government spending per capita recorded in Australia?
- The highest recorded value was 29,639 current international-$ in 2024.
- What is the lowest government spending per capita recorded in Australia?
- The lowest recorded value was 13,721 current international-$ in 2007.
- How does Australia rank for government spending per capita?
- Australia ranks 16th out of 43 countries with data for 2024.
- Is government spending per capita rising or falling in Australia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 69.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Australia data come from?
- The figures come from OECD (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Government spending per capita. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Total amount of money the general government spends per capita. This data is adjusted for differences in living costs between countries but not for inflation.