Venezuela Government Spending to GDP

General government expenditure as a percentage of GDP.

Government Spending to GDP in Venezuela increased to 17.58 percent of GDP in 2024 from 13.12 percent of GDP in 2023.

17.6%
▲ +4.5 pp2024 · previous 13.1%Annual · percent of GDP · Source: IMF — Public Finances in Modern History

Venezuela Government Spending to GDP — History

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Venezuela Government Spending to GDP — analysis in simple words

Latest reading

Government Spending to GDP in Venezuela increased to 17.58 percent of GDP in 2024 from 13.12 percent of GDP in 2023.

Over the last three years it rose twice and fell once.

Recent trend

A year earlier (2023) it was 13.1%, so the latest figure is 4.5 percentage points higher.

Over the past five years the average was 14.0%, with a range from 11.2% to 17.6%. The latest value is above that five-year average.

Historical context

This data series starts in 1920 and has 105 annual observations. The latest reading is higher than 41% of all of them.

The highest value on record is 42.2% (1994) and the lowest is 7.1% (1922). The long-run average is 21.2%.

Compared with other countries

Among 151 economies with recent data, Venezuela ranks 137th from the top. The median across all these economies is 30.3%, so Venezuela is below the typical country.

Within Latin America & Caribbean (33 economies with data) it ranks 31st; the regional median is 27.1%.

Statistics

Latest
17.6%2024
Previous
13.1%
5-year average
14.0%
Long-run average
21.2%since 1920
All-time high
42.2%1994
All-time low
7.1%1922
Observations
105Annual

Recent Data

PeriodValueChange
202417.6%▲ +4.5 pp
202313.1%▼ −2.0 pp
202215.1%▲ +2.0 pp
202113.1%▲ +2.0 pp
202011.2%▼ −9.9 pp
201921.0%▼ −16.8 pp
201837.9%▲ +16.1 pp
201721.8%▲ +2.1 pp
201619.7%▼ −3.3 pp
201522.9%▼ −8.7 pp
201431.6%▼ −4.8 pp
201336.5%▼ −1.6 pp
201238.0%▼ −1.4 pp
201139.4%▲ +8.3 pp
201031.1%▼ −2.2 pp
200933.3%▼ −1.6 pp
200834.9%▼ −1.1 pp
200735.9%▼ −3.3 pp
200639.3%▲ +5.7 pp
200533.5%▲ +1.6 pp
200431.9%▼ −0.3 pp
200332.2%▲ +1.2 pp
200231.0%▼ −0.9 pp
200131.9%▲ +3.6 pp
200028.3%▲ +2.2 pp
199926.1%▼ −2.7 pp
199828.8%▼ −2.2 pp
199731.0%▲ +3.3 pp
199627.7%▼ −5.1 pp
199532.9%

Government Spending to GDP — Venezuela vs Peers

Latest available reading for each economy (periods may differ). Venezuela highlighted.

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More Venezuela indicators

Understanding Government Spending to GDP — a simple guide

What it measures

General government expenditure as a percentage of GDP.

How it is calculated

Total government expenditure ÷ GDP × 100.

Simple example

28% means government spending equals 28% of GDP.

▲ When it is high or rising

A large public sector role in the economy.

▼ When it is low or falling

A smaller public sector role.

Why it matters for the economy and markets

The ratio shows the size of the public sector in the economy.

How to read it

Read with revenue: the gap between the two is the fiscal balance.

Data source

IMF — Public Finances in Modern History (series exp), annual data from 1920 to 2024. Values are shown exactly as published by the source and may be revised later.

How to use the chart

Use the 5Y / 10Y / 25Y / Max buttons to change the time range, or drag the slider under the chart. Hover (or tap) on the line to see the exact value for any period. Dashed lines and hatched bars are IMF projections, not actual data. The “Download CSV” button gives you the full data series.

Frequently asked questions

What is the current government spending to gdp of Venezuela?
Venezuela government spending to gdp was 17.6% in 2024, compared with 13.1% in the previous period, according to IMF — Public Finances in Modern History.
What is the highest and lowest government spending to gdp of Venezuela?
Since 1920, the highest reading was 42.2% (1994) and the lowest was 7.1% (1922).
What does government spending to gdp measure?
General government expenditure as a percentage of GDP.

Data are sourced from official international organisations (IMF, World Bank, BIS) and national authorities, and are shown for educational and informational purposes only. They are not investment advice and no recommendation is made. Figures may be revised by the source; IMF figures for the current and future years are projections. This page was last updated on Saturday, October 17, 2026.