1.6.2 Size of Government 2: General Government Expenditure among OECD Countries (2009-2021)

Full Title: Size of Government 2: General Government Expenditure among OECD Countries (2015-2021) [Article No. 1.6.2]

日本語タイトル：政府の規模２：一般政府歳出：OECD各国（2009-2021）[記事 No. 1.6.2]

Posted on August 24, 2026.

[Figures]

Figure General government expenditure as a % of GDP: OECD Countries (2009-2021)

Figure 一般政府歳出の対GDP比率（%）：OECD各国 (2009-2021)

Panel A: Low-level Countries

Panel B: Middle-level Countries

Panel C: High-level Countries

Notes: (1) The categorization of “Low-level,” “Middle-level,” and “High-level” is based on 2021 figures. (2) General government consists of the central government, local governments, and social security funds.

（注）(1) “Low-level,” “Middle-level,” “High-level” のカテゴリー分けは2021年の値に基づいている．(2) 一般政府は中央政府，地方政府（自治体），社会保障基金から構成される．

Source: By Yoshida using OECD “Government at a Glance (annual editions)” data.

[Facts]

1. 東アジアの国である韓国と日本は通時的に政府歳出水準が低い．アメリカと日本の政府歳出規模の水準は比較的似通っている．
2. アングロサクソン系の国々（イギリス，カナダ）でも，政府歳出水準は日本より高い．
3. 北欧の国々（ノルウェー，スウェーデン，フィンランド，デンマーク）の政府歳出水準は相対的に高い．
4. 西欧の国々（フランス，ベルギー，オーストリア，ドイツ），南欧の国々（ギリシア，イタリア，スペイン）の政府歳出水準は高い．特にフランスの足元の値は極めて高い．

1. South Korea and Japan, both East Asian countries, have consistently had low levels of government expenditure. The levels of government expenditure in the United States and Japan are relatively similar.
2. Even in Anglo-Saxon countries (the United Kingdom, Canada), the government expenditure levels are higher than that in Japan.
3. Government expenditure levels of the Nordic countries (Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Denmark) are relatively high.
4. Government expenditure levels are high in Western European countries (France, Belgium, Austria, Germany) and Southern European countries (Greece, Italy, Spain). France’s latest level is particularly high.

[Discussion]

1. 著者の知見からは，多くの日本人は「日本は大きな政府の国だ」と思っていると推量する．しかし，事実はこの認識に反して，政府歳出規模の点からは，日本は先進国中相対的に小さな政府の国の一つである．ここで，[記事 No. 1.6.1]で説明した政府における就業者数の事実を併せて考えると，日本や韓国は先進国中，最も小さな政府の国々と判断することができる．
2. 一方，北欧の国々は[記事 No. 1.6.1]の内容を併せて考えた場合，大きな政府の国々に判断することができる．この事実は一般的な理解と整合的であると考えられる．
3. 西欧や南欧の国々は[記事 No. 1.6.1]の内容を併せて考えた場合，政府における就業者数水準に比して，政府歳出規模が大きい国々と言うことができる．
4. 2015年以降のアイルランドの値の急激な減少の主要因は世界金融危機期の経済不況からの自国経済の立ち直りにあると考えられる．
5. 日本は相対的には政府歳出水準が低いとはいえ，近年その値は上昇傾向にある．そして，この上昇の主要因として高齢化伸展による社会保障支出の増加が考えられる．しかしながら，社会保障費の増加は事実だとしても，高齢化率をベンチマークとして社会保障支出を考えた場合，日本の社会保障支出の質は他の主要国と比べて決して高くないことに注意されたい．この事実は厚生労働省（2020）『厚生労働白書』図表1-9-10「高齢化率と社会保障の給付規模の国際比較」（p.124）（URL：https://www.mhlw.go.jp/stf/wp/hakusyo/kousei/19/index.html, accessed on August 23, 2026）を観ると理解し易い．

1. Based on the author’s knowledge, it can be inferred that many Japanese people believe “Japan is a large-government country.” However, contrary to this perception, in terms of the ratio of government expenditure to GDP, Japan is one of the relatively low government-size countries among developed countries. Considered alongside the facts regarding the number of government employees explained in [Article No. 1.6.1], it can be concluded that Japan and South Korea are ones of the countries with the smallest governments among developed countries.
2. On the other hand, considering also the content of [Article No. 1.6.1], the Nordic countries can be classified as large government-size countries. This finding appears consistent with general understanding.
3. Considering also the content of [Article No. 1.6.1], the countries of Western and Southern Europe can be described as having a large scale of government expenditure relative to the number of government employees.
4. The sharp decline in Ireland’s figures since 2015 is thought to be primarily due to the country’s economic recovery from the economic depression during the global financial crisis.
5. Although Japan’s government spending is at a relatively low level, it has been on an upward trend in recent years. The primary factor behind this increase is expected to be the rise in social security outlays due to the aging population. However, while it is true that social security spending is increasing, it should be noted that when social security spending is considered in relation to the aging rate, the level of social security spending in Japan is by no means high compared to other major countries. This fact is easily understood by referring to Figure 1-9-10, “International Comparison of the Aging Rate and the Scale of Social Security Benefits” (p. 124) in the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare (2020), *White Paper on Health, Labor and Welfare* (URL: https://www.mhlw.go.jp/stf/wp/hakusyo/kousei/19/index.html, accessed August 23, 2026).