Employee compensation as share of government spending in Colombia
Colombia: Employee compensation as share of government spending was 9.8% in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Employee compensation as share of government spending in Colombia, 1998–2023
Source: International Monetary Fund (IMF) Government Finance Statistics, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in % of expense.
Analysis
Colombia recorded 9.8% for employee compensation as share of government spending in 2023.
That represents a change of up 3.8% on the previous year and up 25.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, employee compensation as share of government spending in Colombia peaked at 45.0% in 2000 and was at its lowest, 7.8%, in 2013.
That places Colombia 141st out of 155 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Employee compensation as share of government spending in Colombia, year by year
| Year | % of expense | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1998 | 43.4% | — |
| 1999 | 42.2% | -2.6% |
| 2000 | 45.0% | +6.6% |
| 2003 | 20.2% | -55.2% |
| 2008 | 18.4% | -9.0% |
| 2009 | 18.8% | +2.2% |
| 2010 | 18.4% | -2.2% |
| 2011 | 23.0% | +25.4% |
| 2012 | 11.3% | -51.1% |
| 2013 | 7.8% | -30.4% |
| 2014 | 9.6% | +22.8% |
| 2015 | 11.1% | +15.9% |
| 2016 | 10.7% | -3.9% |
| 2017 | 11.4% | +6.3% |
| 2018 | 13.4% | +17.4% |
| 2019 | 10.6% | -20.6% |
| 2020 | 10.7% | +0.6% |
| 2021 | 9.5% | -10.6% |
| 2022 | 9.5% | -0.7% |
| 2023 | 9.8% | +3.8% |
Colombia compared with similar countries
- Colombia's 9.8% is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 26.6%, 37% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Colombia's 9.8% is below the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 32.0%, 31% of the median. (25 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 42.8% | 42.2% | 43.4% | 2 |
| 2000s | 25.6% | 18.4% | 45.0% | 4 |
| 2010s | 12.7% | 7.8% | 23.0% | 10 |
| 2020s | 9.9% | 9.5% | 10.7% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Colombia
More work & labour data for Colombia
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual -0.7218 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth -0.6981 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth -0.7453 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate -1.81 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 0.1417 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 48,629 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 6,104 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 23,624 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 23,456 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 47,081 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is employee compensation as share of government spending in Colombia?
- Employee compensation as share of government spending in Colombia was 9.8% in 2023, according to International Monetary Fund (IMF) Government Finance Statistics, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest employee compensation as share of government spending recorded in Colombia?
- The highest recorded value was 45.0% in 2000.
- What is the lowest employee compensation as share of government spending recorded in Colombia?
- The lowest recorded value was 7.8% in 2013.
- How does Colombia rank for employee compensation as share of government spending?
- Colombia ranks 141st out of 155 countries with data for 2023.
- Is employee compensation as share of government spending rising or falling in Colombia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 25.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Colombia data come from?
- The figures come from International Monetary Fund (IMF) Government Finance Statistics, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Employee compensation as share of government spending. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Employee compensation includes wages, in-kind payments, and government contributions to social insurance schemes such as social security and pensions.