Deficit, Percent of own spending (Central government) in Switzerland
Switzerland: Deficit, Percent of own spending (Central government) was -0.4467 in 2020. ◆ Volatile
Deficit, Percent of own spending in Switzerland, 1990–2020
Source: International Monetary Fund.
Analysis
The most recent figure for deficit, percent of own spending in Switzerland is -0.4467, measured in 2020. That is the lowest value across all 31 years on record.
That represents a change of down 353.8% on the previous year and down 494.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, deficit, percent of own spending in Switzerland peaked at 0.1942 in 2008 and was at its lowest, -0.4467, in 2020.
Switzerland ranks 54th of 66 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Deficit, Percent of own spending (Central government) in Switzerland, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | -0.0274 | — |
| 1991 | -0.1759 | +541.0% |
| 1992 | -0.2023 | +15.0% |
| 1993 | -0.2872 | +41.9% |
| 1994 | -0.2222 | -22.6% |
| 1995 | -0.1946 | -12.4% |
| 1996 | -0.2143 | +10.1% |
| 1997 | -0.1701 | -20.6% |
| 1998 | -0.0818 | -51.9% |
| 1999 | -0.292 | +257.1% |
| 2000 | -0.1036 | -64.5% |
| 2001 | -0.1164 | +12.4% |
| 2002 | -0.3259 | +179.9% |
| 2003 | -0.1119 | -65.7% |
| 2004 | -0.0866 | -22.6% |
| 2005 | 0.0083 | -109.6% |
| 2006 | 0.1269 | +1422.7% |
| 2007 | -0.1397 | -210.1% |
| 2008 | 0.1942 | -239.0% |
| 2009 | 0.0751 | -61.3% |
| 2010 | 0.1131 | +50.6% |
| 2011 | 0.0055 | -95.2% |
| 2012 | 0.0146 | +165.9% |
| 2013 | 0.0307 | +110.7% |
| 2014 | -0.0006 | -102.1% |
| 2015 | 0.0686 | -10761.2% |
| 2016 | 0.0112 | -83.6% |
| 2017 | 0.159 | +1314.1% |
| 2018 | 0.1603 | +0.8% |
| 2019 | 0.176 | +9.8% |
| 2020 | -0.4467 | -353.8% |
Switzerland compared with similar countries
- Switzerland's -0.4467 is below the median for high income countries, which is -0.2946, 1.5× the median. (29 countries reporting)
- Switzerland's -0.4467 is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is -0.2415, 1.8× the median. (33 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Deficit, Percent of own spending (Central government) in Switzerland 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | +10761.2% | -0.0006 | 0.0686 |
| 2006 | +1422.7% | 0.0083 | 0.1269 |
| 2017 | +1314.1% | 0.0112 | 0.159 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | -0.1868 | -0.292 | -0.0274 | 10 |
| 2000s | -0.048 | -0.3259 | 0.1942 | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.0738 | -0.0006 | 0.176 | 10 |
| 2020s | -0.4467 | -0.4467 | -0.4467 | 1 |
Countries ranked near Switzerland
- 51 Brazil -0.4098 compare
- 52 Mexico -0.4124 compare
- 53 El Salvador -0.4397 compare
- 55 South Africa -0.4653 compare
- 56 Colombia -0.4706 compare
- 57 North Macedonia -0.4871 compare
More public sector data for Switzerland
- 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 33.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values (2023)
- Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values), per capita 3.71 SIPRI trend indicator values per person (2023)
- Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values), per unit of GDP 0 SIPRI trend indicator values per US$ of GDP (2023)
- Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values), annual growth rate 120 % change on previous year (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is deficit, percent of own spending in Switzerland?
- Deficit, percent of own spending in Switzerland was -0.4467 in 2020, according to International Monetary Fund.
- What is the highest deficit, percent of own spending recorded in Switzerland?
- The highest recorded value was 0.1942 in 2008.
- What is the lowest deficit, percent of own spending recorded in Switzerland?
- The lowest recorded value was -0.4467 in 2020.
- How does Switzerland rank for deficit, percent of own spending?
- Switzerland ranks 54th out of 66 countries with data for 2020.
- Is deficit, percent of own spending rising or falling in Switzerland?
- Over the last ten years it is down 494.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Switzerland 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.