Expense in Australia

Australia: Expense was 644.60 billion current LCU in 2022. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2022)
644.60 billion current LCU
Change on year
down 5.3%
World rank
68th
of 157 countries
All-time high
680.67 billion current LCU
in 2021
All-time low
8.04 billion current LCU
in 1972
Years of data
51
1972–2022

Expense in Australia, 1972–2022

0200.0B400.0B600.0B197219972022

Source: Government Finance Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF). Measured in current LCU.

Analysis

The most recent figure for expense in Australia is 644.60 billion current LCU, measured in 2022.

Compared with earlier readings it is down 5.3% on the previous year and up 64.4% over ten years.

Over the whole period, expense in Australia peaked at 680.67 billion current LCU in 2021 and was at its lowest, 8.04 billion current LCU, in 1972.

Australia ranks 68th of 157 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.

Expense in Australia, year by year

Annual values for Expense (current LCU) in Australia, 1972 to 2022.
Year current LCU Change
1972 8.04 billion current LCU
1973 9.20 billion current LCU +14.3%
1974 10.95 billion current LCU +19.1%
1975 15.16 billion current LCU +38.4%
1976 19.71 billion current LCU +30.0%
1977 22.72 billion current LCU +15.3%
1978 25.74 billion current LCU +13.3%
1979 28.15 billion current LCU +9.3%
1980 31.45 billion current LCU +11.7%
1981 35.90 billion current LCU +14.1%
1982 40.96 billion current LCU +14.1%
1983 48.44 billion current LCU +18.3%
1984 56.57 billion current LCU +16.8%
1985 62.23 billion current LCU +10.0%
1986 68.16 billion current LCU +9.5%
1987 73.58 billion current LCU +7.9%
1988 78.54 billion current LCU +6.7%
1989 81.70 billion current LCU +4.0%
1990 88.29 billion current LCU +8.1%
1991 96.21 billion current LCU +9.0%
1992 103.44 billion current LCU +7.5%
1993 110.92 billion current LCU +7.2%
1994 117.08 billion current LCU +5.6%
1995 125.88 billion current LCU +7.5%
1996 129.93 billion current LCU +3.2%
1997 132.52 billion current LCU +2.0%
1998 125.67 billion current LCU -5.2%
1999 152.35 billion current LCU +21.2%
2000 159.23 billion current LCU +4.5%
2001 185.19 billion current LCU +16.3%
2002 199.38 billion current LCU +7.7%
2003 206.44 billion current LCU +3.5%
2004 221.26 billion current LCU +7.2%
2005 236.49 billion current LCU +6.9%
2006 248.89 billion current LCU +5.2%
2007 266.23 billion current LCU +7.0%
2008 286.92 billion current LCU +7.8%
2009 333.86 billion current LCU +16.4%
2010 348.32 billion current LCU +4.3%
2011 368.78 billion current LCU +5.9%
2012 391.98 billion current LCU +6.3%
2013 397.85 billion current LCU +1.5%
2014 419.95 billion current LCU +5.6%
2015 434.69 billion current LCU +3.5%
2016 447.37 billion current LCU +2.9%
2017 468.13 billion current LCU +4.6%
2018 483.16 billion current LCU +3.2%
2019 509.74 billion current LCU +5.5%
2020 599.56 billion current LCU +17.6%
2021 680.67 billion current LCU +13.5%
2022 644.60 billion current LCU -5.3%

Australia compared with similar countries

  • Australia's 644.60 billion current LCU is above the median for high income countries, which is 134.42 billion current LCU, 4.8× the median. (57 countries reporting)
  • Australia's 644.60 billion current LCU is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 94.75 billion current LCU, 6.8× the median. (26 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1970s 17.46 billion current LCU 8.04 billion current LCU 28.15 billion current LCU 8
1980s 57.75 billion current LCU 31.45 billion current LCU 81.70 billion current LCU 10
1990s 118.23 billion current LCU 88.29 billion current LCU 152.35 billion current LCU 10
2000s 234.39 billion current LCU 159.23 billion current LCU 333.86 billion current LCU 10
2010s 427.00 billion current LCU 348.32 billion current LCU 509.74 billion current LCU 10
2020s 641.61 billion current LCU 599.56 billion current LCU 680.67 billion current LCU 3

Countries ranked near Australia

  1. 65 Nepal 846.22 billion current LCU compare
  2. 66 Egypt 738.80 billion current LCU compare
  3. 67 Israel 703.20 billion current LCU compare
  4. 69 Albania 601.38 billion current LCU compare
  5. 70 Jamaica 586.73 billion current LCU compare
  6. 71 Canada 565.06 billion current LCU compare

See the full ranking of 157 places →

More public sector data for Australia

All data for Australia →

Frequently asked questions

What is expense in Australia?
Expense in Australia was 644.60 billion current LCU in 2022, according to Government Finance Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF).
What is the highest expense recorded in Australia?
The highest recorded value was 680.67 billion current LCU in 2021.
What is the lowest expense recorded in Australia?
The lowest recorded value was 8.04 billion current LCU in 1972.
How does Australia rank for expense?
Australia ranks 68th out of 157 countries with data for 2022.
Is expense rising or falling in Australia?
Over the last ten years it is up 64.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this Australia data come from?
The figures come from Government Finance Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF), published as part of Expense (current LCU). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Expense in Australia. Statizoid, drawing on Government Finance Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF). Retrieved 23 September 2026, from https://public-sector.statizoid.com/stat/expense-current-lcu/australia/

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About this data

Indicator
Expense (current LCU)
Unit
current LCU
Source
Government Finance Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF)
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
157 places, 4,452 data points, 1972–2024
Last refreshed

Expense is a decrease in net worth resulting from a transaction. This indicator is expressed in current prices, meaning no adjustment has been made to account for price changes over time. This series is expressed in local currency units.