Data / Government balance / Australia

Government balance in Australia

Government balance in Australia was -4% of GDP in 2024, according to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. That is down 1.6 pts from 2023. That is the 24th highest of 38 countries in 2024.

2024, % of GDP-4
Change on 2023-1.6 pts
Rank24th of 38Countries ranked
Series high1.91999
Series low-8.12020

Government balance in Australia, 1970 to 2024

-10-7.5-5-2.502.5197019781986199420022010201820241970: -1.5 % of GDP1971: -1.5 % of GDP1972: -2 % of GDP1973: -0.8 % of GDP1974: -3.4 % of GDP1975: -4.3 % of GDP1976: -4.2 % of GDP1977: -5.1 % of GDP1978: -4.8 % of GDP1979: -3.1 % of GDP1980: -3.3 % of GDP1981: -3.7 % of GDP1982: -5.7 % of GDP1983: -6.1 % of GDP1984: -5.8 % of GDP1985: -5.2 % of GDP1986: -3.5 % of GDP1987: -1.8 % of GDP1988: -1.2 % of GDP1989: -2.3 % of GDP1990: -3.3 % of GDP1991: -5.6 % of GDP1992: -5.9 % of GDP1993: -4.3 % of GDP1994: -4.3 % of GDP1995: -3.1 % of GDP1996: -1.3 % of GDP1997: 0.2 % of GDP1998: 0.6 % of GDP1999: 1.9 % of GDP2000: -1.3 % of GDP2001: -0.8 % of GDP2002: 0.7 % of GDP2003: 0.8 % of GDP2004: 0.9 % of GDP2005: 1.6 % of GDP2006: 1.6 % of GDP2007: 0.6 % of GDP2008: -3.8 % of GDP2009: -5.6 % of GDP2010: -4.6 % of GDP2011: -4.6 % of GDP2012: -2.8 % of GDP2013: -2.8 % of GDP2014: -2.2 % of GDP2015: -2.2 % of GDP2016: -1.6 % of GDP2017: -1.2 % of GDP2018: -1.3 % of GDP2019: -6.8 % of GDP2020: -8.1 % of GDP2021: -4.3 % of GDP2022: -1.7 % of GDP2023: -2.3 % of GDP2024: -4 % of GDP
% of GDP. Source: OECD, OECD National Accounts at a Glance: net lending (+) or net borrowing (-) of general government, percentage of GDP (DSD_NAAG_VI@DF_NAAG_VI, B9S13). Retrieved 2026-10-12, published 2026-10-12.
All 55 values
Period% of GDP
2024-4
2023-2.3
2022-1.7
2021-4.3
2020-8.1
2019-6.8
2018-1.3
2017-1.2
2016-1.6
2015-2.2
2014-2.2
2013-2.8
2012-2.8
2011-4.6
2010-4.6
2009-5.6
2008-3.8
20070.6
20061.6
20051.6
20040.9
20030.8
20020.7
2001-0.8
2000-1.3
19991.9
19980.6
19970.2
1996-1.3
1995-3.1
1994-4.3
1993-4.3
1992-5.9
1991-5.6
1990-3.3
1989-2.3
1988-1.2
1987-1.8
1986-3.5
1985-5.2
1984-5.8
1983-6.1
1982-5.7
1981-3.7
1980-3.3
1979-3.1
1978-4.8
1977-5.1
1976-4.2
1975-4.3
1974-3.4
1973-0.8
1972-2
1971-1.5
1970-1.5

Rankings

Definition

General government net lending (+) or net borrowing (-) as a percentage of GDP.

How to cite

OECD. OECD National Accounts at a Glance: net lending (+) or net borrowing (-) of general government, percentage of GDP (DSD_NAAG_VI@DF_NAAG_VI, B9S13). https://data-explorer.oecd.org/vis?df[ds]=dsDisseminateFinalDMZ&df[id]=DSD_NAAG_VI%40DF_NAAG_VI&df[ag]=OECD.SDD.NAD. Accessed 2026-10-12. Data reuse terms and downstream attribution: https://www.oecd.org/en/about/terms-conditions.html

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Questions

What is the government balance as a share of GDP in Australia?

Government balance in Australia was -4% of GDP in 2024, according to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. That is down 1.6 pts from 2023. That is the 24th highest of 38 countries in 2024.

Where does this figure come from?

Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. OECD National Accounts at a Glance: net lending (+) or net borrowing (-) of general government, percentage of GDP (DSD_NAAG_VI@DF_NAAG_VI, B9S13). Retrieved by Invokely on 2026-10-12.

What was the highest government balance as a share of GDP in Australia?

1.9% of GDP in 1999, the highest value since 1970 in this series.

Government balance in other countries

Related statistics for Australia

All statistics for Australia