Government Expenditure in the EU: total government spending by function 1995-2022

Published by
Lorenzo Macchi,
Jan 24, 2025

Total government spending by the member states of the European Union has increased consistently over the period since 1995, rising from around three trillion Euros annually to almost eight trillion in 2022. The COVID-19 pandemic caused a particularly large increase in spending in 2020 and 2021, as governments across the EU spent money on their health services in order to try to contain the pandemic, as well as increasing spending on economic affairs in order to support and stimulate their economies.

Annual total government expenditure in the European Union from 1995 to 2022, by government function (in million euros)

CharacteristicSocial protectionHealthEconomic affairsGeneral public servicesEducationPublic order and safetyDefenceRecreation, culture and religionEnvironmental protectionHousing and community amenities
2022 3,097,997.7 1,220,800.8 931,769.8 955,504.3 746,360 271,582.5 203,644.4 182,157.8 129,889.9 153,986.1
2021 2,984,913 1,181,368.9 917,190.1 873,538.6 703,264.3 253,242.9 184,231.2 171,548.3 119,194.2 127,838.8
2020 2,947,645.8 1,078,285.3 818,822.3 818,179 669,178.4 243,973.7 177,717.1 162,614.4 114,753.7 87,219.6
2019 2,704,710 978,661.6 619,550.8 809,517.9 658,244.7 235,151.9 168,391.3 163,403.6 111,029.4 80,467.3
2018 2,597,560.7 940,398.9 595,340.8 805,733.1 632,429.7 225,612.9 163,056.7 156,805.2 104,716.6 75,666.5
2017 2,539,147.3 906,428 569,761.7 791,744 608,538.7 216,075.6 158,639 149,521.3 98,248.1 69,804.6
2016 2,477,281.8 879,189.7 536,511.9 788,248 590,659.9 209,490.2 153,514.5 142,934.5 95,656.9 70,190.4
2015 2,405,316.8 862,434.1 562,378.7 802,500.5 584,605.3 206,179.4 143,382.3 138,833.4 98,384.4 74,185.1
2014 2,346,948.8 841,289.5 541,969.5 825,341.8 573,467 200,727.4 136,744.1 137,305.2 97,193.6 74,288.7
2013 2,308,916.4 820,579.8 540,217.4 833,769.8 563,477 199,414.2 142,235 135,999.6 97,593.5 75,622.6
2012 2,253,669.1 806,519.8 566,944.3 839,699.4 555,859.6 195,124.2 143,273.4 134,994.2 95,160.8 79,727.8
2011 2,196,884.4 800,035.4 542,322.4 817,372.1 557,619.1 196,588.7 142,209.9 138,058.8 94,933.9 82,061.6
2010 2,168,348.7 789,718.4 603,816.5 777,102.2 552,941.4 194,904.3 144,811.8 138,558.7 91,933.2 86,312.1
Showing entries 1 to 13 (28 entries in total)
Created with Highcharts 7.2.2Expenditure in million eurosSocial protectionHealthEconomic affairsGeneral public servicesEducationPublic order and safetyDefenceRecreation, culture and religionEnvironmental protectionHousing and community amenities1995199619971998199920002001200220032004200520062007200820092010201120122013201420152016201720182019202020212022
02,000,0004,000,0006,000,0008,000,00010,000,000

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Release date

March 2024

Region

Europe, EU

Survey time period

1995 to 2022

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