Deficit, Percent of own spending (Central government) in Australia
Australia: Deficit, Percent of own spending (Central government) was -0.2061 in 2020. ◆ Volatile
Deficit, Percent of own spending in Australia, 1990–2020
Source: International Monetary Fund.
Analysis
The most recent figure for deficit, percent of own spending in Australia is -0.2061, measured in 2020.
That represents a change of down 4,805.6% on the previous year and down 0.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, deficit, percent of own spending in Australia peaked at 0.1088 in 2000 and was at its lowest, -0.2101, in 1993.
Australia ranks 23rd of 66 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Deficit, Percent of own spending (Central government) in Australia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 0.1042 | — |
| 1991 | 0.0055 | -94.7% |
| 1992 | -0.1511 | -2839.9% |
| 1993 | -0.2101 | +39.0% |
| 1994 | -0.1962 | -6.6% |
| 1999 | 0.0293 | -115.0% |
| 2000 | 0.1088 | +270.7% |
| 2001 | 0.0451 | -58.6% |
| 2002 | -0.0226 | -150.2% |
| 2003 | 0.0425 | -287.9% |
| 2004 | 0.0425 | -0.0% |
| 2005 | 0.0657 | +54.5% |
| 2006 | 0.0927 | +41.0% |
| 2007 | 0.0888 | -4.2% |
| 2008 | 0.1046 | +17.8% |
| 2009 | -0.1216 | -216.3% |
| 2010 | -0.2046 | +68.3% |
| 2011 | -0.1963 | -4.1% |
| 2012 | -0.1581 | -19.4% |
| 2013 | -0.0755 | -52.2% |
| 2014 | -0.1095 | +45.0% |
| 2015 | -0.1273 | +16.3% |
| 2016 | -0.1137 | -10.7% |
| 2017 | -0.0885 | -22.1% |
| 2018 | -0.0251 | -71.6% |
| 2019 | -0.0042 | -83.3% |
| 2020 | -0.2061 | +4805.6% |
Australia compared with similar countries
- Australia's -0.2061 is above the median for high income countries, which is -0.2946, 70% of the median. (29 countries reporting)
- Australia's -0.2061 is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is -0.2172, 95% of the median. (10 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Deficit, Percent of own spending (Central government) in Australia changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | -4805.6% | -0.0042 | -0.2061 |
| 1992 | -2839.9% | 0.0055 | -0.1511 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | -0.0697 | -0.2101 | 0.1042 | 6 |
| 2000s | 0.0446 | -0.1216 | 0.1088 | 10 |
| 2010s | -0.1103 | -0.2046 | -0.0042 | 10 |
| 2020s | -0.2061 | -0.2061 | -0.2061 | 1 |
Countries ranked near Australia
More public sector data for Australia
- Democracy, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Chief executive of the government is elected, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Elected parliament, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Men's universal right to vote, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Universal right to vote, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Universal right to vote in practice, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Arms imports 826.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values (2025)
- Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values), per capita 36.15 SIPRI trend indicator values per person (2024)
- Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values), per unit of GDP 0.0006 SIPRI trend indicator values per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values), annual growth rate 159.37 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is deficit, percent of own spending in Australia?
- Deficit, percent of own spending in Australia was -0.2061 in 2020, according to International Monetary Fund.
- What is the highest deficit, percent of own spending recorded in Australia?
- The highest recorded value was 0.1088 in 2000.
- What is the lowest deficit, percent of own spending recorded in Australia?
- The lowest recorded value was -0.2101 in 1993.
- How does Australia rank for deficit, percent of own spending?
- Australia ranks 23rd out of 66 countries with data for 2020.
- Is deficit, percent of own spending rising or falling in Australia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 0.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Australia data come from?
- The figures come from International Monetary Fund, published as part of Deficit, Percent of own spending (Central government). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
The Fiscal Decentralization dataset includes fiscal decentralization indicators for a sample of IMF member countries. The following indicators are included in the dataset: Revenue and Expenditure Decentralization Shares; Transfer dependency and Vertical Fiscal Imbalances; Deficit and Debt; Allocation of expenditure (economic classification); Allocation of expenditure (functional classification); Allocation of non-Tax Revenues; and Allocation of Taxes.