Employee compensation as share of government spending in India
India: Employee compensation as share of government spending was 12.1% in 2022. ▼ Falling
Latest (2022)
12.1%
World rank
132nd
of 155 countries
All-time high
23.4%
in 1974
All-time low
7.1%
in 2007
Years of data
46
1974–2022
Employee compensation as share of government spending in India, 1974–2022
Source: International Monetary Fund (IMF) Government Finance Statistics, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in % of expense.
Analysis
In 2022, employee compensation as share of government spending in India stood at 12.1%.
The figure is up 39.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, employee compensation as share of government spending in India peaked at 23.4% in 1974 and was at its lowest, 7.1%, in 2007.
India ranks 132nd of 155 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 46 years of available data.
Employee compensation as share of government spending in India, year by year
| Year | % of expense | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1974 | 23.4% | — |
| 1975 | 21.5% | -7.8% |
| 1976 | 18.8% | -12.7% |
| 1977 | 17.4% | -7.4% |
| 1978 | 15.9% | -8.6% |
| 1979 | 14.2% | -10.5% |
| 1980 | 14.3% | +0.2% |
| 1981 | 14.2% | -0.6% |
| 1982 | 13.9% | -1.8% |
| 1983 | 13.8% | -1.0% |
| 1984 | 13.5% | -2.0% |
| 1985 | 12.5% | -7.9% |
| 1986 | 13.2% | +5.9% |
| 1987 | 13.1% | -0.3% |
| 1988 | 12.6% | -3.7% |
| 1989 | 11.5% | -8.9% |
| 1990 | 11.2% | -3.0% |
| 1991 | 10.9% | -2.5% |
| 1992 | 11.0% | +0.7% |
| 1993 | 10.1% | -8.2% |
| 1994 | 9.7% | -4.0% |
| 1995 | 9.9% | +2.7% |
| 1996 | 10.0% | +0.3% |
| 1997 | 11.8% | +18.2% |
| 1998 | 11.5% | -2.2% |
| 1999 | 10.9% | -5.1% |
| 2000 | 10.3% | -6.0% |
| 2001 | 9.2% | -10.1% |
| 2002 | 9.7% | +5.2% |
| 2003 | 9.0% | -7.4% |
| 2004 | 8.9% | -1.4% |
| 2005 | 8.4% | -5.0% |
| 2006 | 7.6% | -9.5% |
| 2007 | 7.1% | -7.4% |
| 2008 | 8.6% | +21.5% |
| 2009 | 10.6% | +23.8% |
| 2010 | 8.9% | -16.5% |
| 2011 | 8.8% | -0.5% |
| 2012 | 8.6% | -2.4% |
| 2013 | 8.1% | -5.8% |
| 2014 | 9.7% | +19.0% |
| 2015 | 8.4% | -12.9% |
| 2016 | 9.6% | +14.3% |
| 2017 | 9.5% | -1.8% |
| 2018 | 9.0% | -4.6% |
| 2022 | 12.1% | +33.7% |
India compared with similar countries
- India's 12.1% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 31.8%, 38% of the median. (36 countries reporting)
- India's 12.1% is below the median for South Asia, which is 19.6%, 61% of the median. (6 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 18.5% | 14.2% | 23.4% | 6 |
| 1980s | 13.3% | 11.5% | 14.3% | 10 |
| 1990s | 10.7% | 9.7% | 11.8% | 10 |
| 2000s | 8.9% | 7.1% | 10.6% | 10 |
| 2010s | 9.0% | 8.1% | 9.7% | 9 |
| 2020s | 12.1% | 12.1% | 12.1% | 1 |
Countries ranked near India
More work & labour data for India
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual -0.5076 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth -0.5076 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth -0.5078 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate -1.12 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 1.47 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 876,613 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 782,365 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 743,542 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 761,710 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 1.51 million 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is employee compensation as share of government spending in India?
- Employee compensation as share of government spending in India was 12.1% in 2022, 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 India?
- The highest recorded value was 23.4% in 1974.
- What is the lowest employee compensation as share of government spending recorded in India?
- The lowest recorded value was 7.1% in 2007.
- How does India rank for employee compensation as share of government spending?
- India ranks 132nd out of 155 countries with data for 2022.
- Is employee compensation as share of government spending rising or falling in India?
- Over the last ten years it is up 39.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this India 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.