Employee compensation as share of government spending in Spain
Spain: Employee compensation as share of government spending was 5.9% in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Employee compensation as share of government spending in Spain, 1972–2023
Source: International Monetary Fund (IMF) Government Finance Statistics, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in % of expense.
Analysis
The most recent figure for employee compensation as share of government spending in Spain is 5.9%, measured in 2023.
The figure is down 0.6% on the previous year and down 13.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, employee compensation as share of government spending in Spain peaked at 34.1% in 1977 and was at its lowest, 5.9%, in 2021.
Spain ranks 152nd of 155 countries on this measure, 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 Spain, year by year
| Year | % of expense | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1972 | 32.4% | — |
| 1973 | 32.0% | -1.2% |
| 1974 | 31.9% | -0.3% |
| 1975 | 32.0% | +0.2% |
| 1976 | 33.7% | +5.4% |
| 1977 | 34.1% | +1.1% |
| 1978 | 32.7% | -4.1% |
| 1979 | 32.4% | -0.8% |
| 1980 | 33.4% | +2.9% |
| 1981 | 32.1% | -3.7% |
| 1982 | 28.4% | -11.5% |
| 1983 | 26.8% | -6.0% |
| 1984 | 24.7% | -7.5% |
| 1985 | 18.8% | -24.0% |
| 1986 | 17.6% | -6.2% |
| 1987 | 20.2% | +14.3% |
| 1988 | 20.4% | +1.5% |
| 1989 | 20.4% | +0.0% |
| 1990 | 14.2% | -30.3% |
| 1991 | 13.3% | -6.4% |
| 1992 | 12.7% | -5.0% |
| 1993 | 12.1% | -4.3% |
| 1994 | 11.3% | -7.1% |
| 2004 | 7.7% | -31.6% |
| 2005 | 7.9% | +3.3% |
| 2006 | 7.9% | -0.8% |
| 2007 | 7.8% | -1.3% |
| 2008 | 7.7% | -0.8% |
| 2009 | 7.4% | -4.0% |
| 2010 | 7.6% | +2.1% |
| 2011 | 7.5% | -0.2% |
| 2012 | 6.1% | -19.7% |
| 2013 | 6.9% | +13.3% |
| 2014 | 6.9% | +0.0% |
| 2015 | 7.1% | +3.0% |
| 2016 | 6.9% | -2.5% |
| 2017 | 6.8% | -1.8% |
| 2018 | 6.6% | -2.2% |
| 2019 | 6.6% | -0.5% |
| 2020 | 6.0% | -9.5% |
| 2021 | 5.9% | -1.2% |
| 2022 | 6.0% | +1.5% |
| 2023 | 5.9% | -0.6% |
Spain compared with similar countries
- Spain's 5.9% is below the median for high income countries, which is 18.9%, 31% of the median. (56 countries reporting)
- Spain's 5.9% is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 16.4%, 36% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Employee compensation as share of government spending in Spain 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | -31.6% | 11.3% | 7.7% |
| 1990 | -30.3% | 20.4% | 14.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 32.7% | 31.9% | 34.1% | 8 |
| 1980s | 24.3% | 17.6% | 33.4% | 10 |
| 1990s | 12.7% | 11.3% | 14.2% | 5 |
| 2000s | 7.7% | 7.4% | 7.9% | 6 |
| 2010s | 6.9% | 6.1% | 7.6% | 10 |
| 2020s | 5.9% | 5.9% | 6.0% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Spain
More work & labour data for Spain
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual -0.527 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth -0.5576 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth -0.4982 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate -2.05 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate -0.1207 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 39,073 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 5,322 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 17,076 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 16,051 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 33,128 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is employee compensation as share of government spending in Spain?
- Employee compensation as share of government spending in Spain was 5.9% 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 Spain?
- The highest recorded value was 34.1% in 1977.
- What is the lowest employee compensation as share of government spending recorded in Spain?
- The lowest recorded value was 5.9% in 2021.
- How does Spain rank for employee compensation as share of government spending?
- Spain ranks 152nd out of 155 countries with data for 2023.
- Is employee compensation as share of government spending rising or falling in Spain?
- Over the last ten years it is down 13.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Spain 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.