Expenditure decentralization (ratio of own spending to general) in Japan
Japan: Expenditure decentralization (ratio of own spending to general) was 0.1768 in 2020. ▼ Falling
Expenditure decentralization (ratio of own spending to general) in Japan, 1994–2020
Source: International Monetary Fund.
Analysis
The most recent figure for expenditure decentralization (ratio of own spending to general) in Japan is 0.1768, measured in 2020.
The figure is up 22.2% on the previous year and up 9.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, expenditure decentralization (ratio of own spending to general) in Japan peaked at 0.295 in 1998 and was at its lowest, 0.1438, in 2018.
That places Japan 61st out of 65 countries with data for 2020, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 27 years of available data.
Expenditure decentralization (ratio of own spending to general) in Japan, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1994 | 0.2052 | — |
| 1995 | 0.2028 | -1.2% |
| 1996 | 0.2015 | -0.6% |
| 1997 | 0.1944 | -3.5% |
| 1998 | 0.295 | +51.8% |
| 1999 | 0.2124 | -28.0% |
| 2000 | 0.2128 | +0.2% |
| 2001 | 0.1917 | -9.9% |
| 2002 | 0.1897 | -1.0% |
| 2003 | 0.1884 | -0.7% |
| 2004 | 0.1734 | -8.0% |
| 2005 | 0.1692 | -2.4% |
| 2006 | 0.171 | +1.0% |
| 2007 | 0.1699 | -0.6% |
| 2008 | 0.1825 | +7.4% |
| 2009 | 0.1745 | -4.4% |
| 2010 | 0.161 | -7.7% |
| 2011 | 0.1636 | +1.6% |
| 2012 | 0.1581 | -3.4% |
| 2013 | 0.1602 | +1.3% |
| 2014 | 0.1547 | -3.4% |
| 2015 | 0.1515 | -2.1% |
| 2016 | 0.1471 | -2.9% |
| 2017 | 0.1448 | -1.6% |
| 2018 | 0.1438 | -0.7% |
| 2019 | 0.1447 | +0.7% |
| 2020 | 0.1768 | +22.2% |
Japan compared with similar countries
- Japan's 0.1768 is below the median for high income countries, which is 0.475, 37% of the median. (29 countries reporting)
- Japan's 0.1768 is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 0.6322, 28% of the median. (10 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Expenditure decentralization (ratio of own spending to general) in Japan 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | +51.8% | 0.1944 | 0.295 |
| 1999 | -28.0% | 0.295 | 0.2124 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 0.2186 | 0.1944 | 0.295 | 6 |
| 2000s | 0.1823 | 0.1692 | 0.2128 | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.153 | 0.1438 | 0.1636 | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.1768 | 0.1768 | 0.1768 | 1 |
Countries ranked near Japan
- 58 Moldova 0.31 compare
- 59 Netherlands 0.2862 compare
- 60 Spain 0.1943 compare
- 62 United Arab Emirates 0.1598 compare
- 63 Belgium 0.1519 compare
- 64 Switzerland 0.1495 compare
More public sector data for Japan
- 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 1.72 billion SIPRI trend indicator values (2025)
- Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values), per capita 7.88 SIPRI trend indicator values per person (2024)
- Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values), per unit of GDP 0.0002 SIPRI trend indicator values per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values), annual growth rate 2.09 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is expenditure decentralization (ratio of own spending to general) in Japan?
- Expenditure decentralization (ratio of own spending to general) in Japan was 0.1768 in 2020, according to International Monetary Fund.
- What is the highest expenditure decentralization (ratio of own spending to general) recorded in Japan?
- The highest recorded value was 0.295 in 1998.
- What is the lowest expenditure decentralization (ratio of own spending to general) recorded in Japan?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.1438 in 2018.
- How does Japan rank for expenditure decentralization (ratio of own spending to general)?
- Japan ranks 61st out of 65 countries with data for 2020.
- Is expenditure decentralization (ratio of own spending to general) rising or falling in Japan?
- Over the last ten years it is up 9.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Japan data come from?
- The figures come from International Monetary Fund, published as part of Expenditure decentralization (ratio of own spending to general government spending), Percent (Central government). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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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.