Government expense
Government expense (% of GDP)
Link with national income+0.44partly income-linked
Links that hold up16of 158 pairs tested
Unit% of GDPhigher is neither better nor worse
SourceWDICC BY 4.0
What this measures. Total central government spending, as a share of GDP: buying, payments to people, subsidies and interest together. From the IMF's Government Finance Statistics. It is the fuller measure of government size, but it covers fewer countries. It counts central government only, so a country with large state and local budgets looks low. About forty fewer countries report it than report government consumption. No "better" direction is set.
How it has moved
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Every country, every year
One row per country and one column per year, sorted by the most recent value. Hover over any cell to see the figure. The country names link to each country’s page.
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Links that hold up
r is how closely two measures rise and fall together across countries, from −1 (opposite) to +1 (in step), where 0 means no link. These pairs are ranked by the link after adjusting for national income, which means comparing countries with the same GDP per person. Each pair passed three checks. The link held after that adjustment. It was unlikely to be chance (q of 0.05 or less), even allowing for countries in the same region being alike and for the many pairs tested. And the two are not just two measures of the same thing. Very small q values are written in short form: 8.0e-5 means 0.000080.
| Measure | Before adjusting | After adjusting | q | Countries | Tracks income? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Government expense and Old-age spendingWhere Government expense is higher, Old-age spending tends to be higher: a moderate link that holds when only countries with similar income are compared. Old-age spending by country | +0.68 | +0.69 | 0.016 | 42 | independent |
| Government expense and Public social spendingWhere Government expense is higher, Public social spending tends to be higher: a moderate link that holds when only countries with similar income are compared. Public social spending by country | +0.58 | +0.64 | 0.029 | 42 | moderate |
| Government expense and RedistributionWhere Government expense is higher, Redistribution tends to be higher: a moderate link that holds when only countries with similar income are compared. Redistribution by country | +0.58 | +0.63 | 0.002 | 44 | moderate |
| Government expense and Retirement age, menWhere Government expense is higher, Retirement age, men tends to be lower: a moderate link that holds when only countries with similar income are compared. Retirement age, men by country | -0.60 | -0.58 | 0.015 | 47 | independent |
| Government expense and Health spendingWhere Government expense is higher, Health spending tends to be higher: a moderate link that holds when only countries with similar income are compared. Health spending by country | +0.60 | +0.57 | 0.020 | 150 | independent |
| Government expense and Government spending per capitaWhere Government expense is higher, Government spending per capita tends to be higher: a moderate link that holds when only countries with similar income are compared. Government spending per capita by country | +0.26 | +0.56 | 0.021 | 42 | proxy |
| Government expense and Education spendingWhere Government expense is higher, Education spending tends to be higher: a moderate link that holds when only countries with similar income are compared. Education spending by country | +0.51 | +0.53 | 0.040 | 146 | independent |
| Government expense and Tax revenueWhere Government expense is higher, Tax revenue tends to be higher: a moderate link that holds when only countries with similar income are compared. Tax revenue by country | +0.55 | +0.50 | 0.010 | 149 | moderate |
| Government expense and Voice and accountabilityWhere Government expense is higher, Voice and accountability tends to be higher: a moderate link that holds when only countries with similar income are compared. Voice and accountability by country | +0.51 | +0.44 | 0.003 | 151 | moderate |
| Government expense and Tobacco useWhere Government expense is higher, Tobacco use tends to be higher: a weak link that holds when only countries with similar income are compared. Tobacco use by country | +0.41 | +0.40 | 0.035 | 135 | independent |
| Government expense and Road traffic deathsWhere Government expense is higher, Road traffic deaths tends to be lower: a weak link that holds when only countries with similar income are compared. Road traffic deaths by country | -0.50 | -0.39 | 0.023 | 148 | high |
| Government expense and Male labor participationWhere Government expense is higher, Male labor participation tends to be lower: a weak link that holds when only countries with similar income are compared. Male labor participation by country | -0.36 | -0.37 | 0.022 | 144 | independent |
| Government expense and Rule of lawWhere Government expense is higher, Rule of law tends to be higher: a weak link that holds when only countries with similar income are compared. Rule of law by country | +0.43 | +0.34 | 0.036 | 151 | high |
| Government expense and Suicide rateWhere Government expense is higher, Suicide rate tends to be higher: a weak link that holds when only countries with similar income are compared. Suicide rate by country | +0.37 | +0.33 | 0.029 | 145 | independent |
| Government expense and Pre-trial detainee shareWhere Government expense is higher, Pre-trial detainee share tends to be lower: a weak link that holds when only countries with similar income are compared. Pre-trial detainee share by country | -0.32 | -0.29 | 0.016 | 135 | independent |
| Government expense and Hours workedWhere Government expense is higher, Hours worked tends to be lower: a weak link that holds when only countries with similar income are compared. Hours worked by country | -0.16 | -0.29 | 0.024 | 38 | high |
Links that don’t count as findings
These go together strongly, but they are built from the same numbers or measure the same thing. So they are bound to match, or their match shows that the measures agree, not something about the world.
| Measure | Before adjusting | After adjusting | q | Countries | Tracks income? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Government expense and Government consumptionTwo ways of measuring the same thing, so their agreement tells you about measurement, not about the world. Government consumption by country | +0.74 | +0.77 | 0.003 | 140 | independent |
How much the other measures account for
The 71 most widely reported measures boil down to a few broad patterns. This table shows how much of the differences between countries on this measure those patterns account for, adding one pattern at a time. The patterns are rebuilt without this measure, and without anything built from the same numbers or measuring the same thing. So it never predicts itself under another name. The figures use the 113 countries reporting all of them, and 71 candidate measures.
This shows how much it moves with the others. It does not explain anything. Measures that move together end up on the same pattern whether or not anything connects them. And the countries here are the best-documented ones. A high figure means this measure is largely predictable from the others, not that they produce it.
| Patterns used | Share of this measure accounted for | Added by this pattern |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 21% | — |
| 2 | 28% | +7% |
| 3 | 38% | +10% |
| 4 | 40% | +2% |
| 5 | 40% | +0% |
| 6 | 45% | +4% |
How it differs by category
This compares the measure across groups of countries, such as those sharing a main religion, instead of against another number. The figure is the share of the differences between countries on this measure that lies between the groups, on a scale from 0 to 1. It is shown before and after adjusting for national income.
The “between groups” figure runs from 0 (the groups are no different) to 1 (the groups explain all the differences between countries). Groups have no up or down, so this says how much the groups differ, never which way. For that, read the group averages. The figure also tends to rise when there are more groups. So to judge whether it could be chance (q), we shuffle the same labels among the same countries many times and see how often a figure this big turns up. Then we allow for the fact that many measures are checked at once, since with enough checks a few big figures turn up by luck alone. Groups with fewer than 12 countries are left out. And countries that share a label share a lot else. Adjusting for income rules out one third factor, but leaves language, region, legal tradition and history untouched.
| Grouped by | Between groups | After income | q | Groups at each end |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Last European coloniser | 0.29 | 0.26 | 0.145 | largest: United Kingdom 26.7% · smallest: France 15.6% % of GDP |
| Largest religious group | 0.25 | 0.21 | 0.036 | largest: Christians 28.6% · smallest: Muslims 21.4% % of GDP |
Every other pair
Everything else this measure was tested against, apart from the links that hold up and the pairs built from the same numbers. Sorted by the link after adjusting. Search by name; every column sorts. A small adjusted figure is a result too. It says the two do not move together once income is set aside.
141 of 141
| Government expense and Informal employmentComparing only countries with similar income it is still -0.46, but that could easily be chance once we allow for countries in the same region being alike. Informal employment by country | -0.52 | -0.46 | 0.156 | 118 | proxy |
| Government expense and Political rights (FH)Comparing only countries with similar income it is still -0.44, but that could easily be chance once we allow for countries in the same region being alike. Political rights (FH) by country | -0.51 | -0.44 | 0.146 | 149 | moderate |
| Government expense and Free and fair electionsLinked across countries, but mostly as richer countries differ from poorer ones: comparing only countries with similar income, what remains (+0.42) could easily be chance. Free and fair elections by country | +0.58 | +0.42 | 0.053 | 136 | high |
| Government expense and Governance scoreLinked across countries, but mostly as richer countries differ from poorer ones: comparing only countries with similar income, what remains (+0.40) could easily be chance. Governance score by country | +0.56 | +0.40 | 0.093 | 138 | moderate |
| Government expense and Civil liberties (FH)Could easily be chance once only countries with similar income are compared. Civil liberties (FH) by country | -0.48 | -0.40 | 0.145 | 149 | moderate |
| Government expense and Family benefits spendingCould easily be chance once only countries with similar income are compared. Family benefits spending by country | +0.38 | +0.39 | 0.188 | 42 | independent |
| Government expense and Gender wage gapCould easily be chance once only countries with similar income are compared. Gender wage gap by country | -0.37 | -0.38 | 0.055 | 38 | independent |
| Government expense and Electoral democracyLinked across countries, but mostly as richer countries differ from poorer ones: comparing only countries with similar income, what remains (+0.38) could easily be chance. Electoral democracy by country | +0.54 | +0.38 | 0.097 | 136 | moderate |
| Government expense and Participatory democracyLinked across countries, but mostly as richer countries differ from poorer ones: comparing only countries with similar income, what remains (+0.38) could easily be chance. Participatory democracy by country | +0.54 | +0.38 | 0.106 | 136 | moderate |
| Government expense and Liberal democracyLinked across countries, but mostly as richer countries differ from poorer ones: comparing only countries with similar income, what remains (+0.37) could easily be chance. Liberal democracy by country | +0.54 | +0.37 | 0.131 | 136 | moderate |
| Government expense and Slum share of urban populationCould easily be chance once only countries with similar income are compared. Slum share of urban population by country | -0.46 | -0.37 | 0.081 | 144 | high |
| Government expense and Out-of-pocket health spendingCould easily be chance once only countries with similar income are compared. Out-of-pocket health spending by country | -0.41 | -0.36 | 0.066 | 150 | moderate |
| Government expense and Retirement age, womenCould easily be chance once only countries with similar income are compared. Retirement age, women by country | -0.35 | -0.36 | 0.395 | 47 | independent |
| Government expense and Secondary enrollmentCould easily be chance once only countries with similar income are compared. Secondary enrollment by country | +0.43 | +0.35 | 0.094 | 146 | high |
| Government expense and Education scoreCould easily be chance once only countries with similar income are compared. Education score by country | +0.43 | +0.35 | 0.094 | 151 | proxy |
| Government expense and Regime typeLinked across countries, but mostly as richer countries differ from poorer ones: comparing only countries with similar income, what remains (+0.34) could easily be chance. Regime type by country | +0.51 | +0.34 | 0.102 | 136 | moderate |
| Government expense and Women's political empowermentLinked across countries, but mostly as richer countries differ from poorer ones: comparing only countries with similar income, what remains (+0.34) could easily be chance. Women's political empowerment by country | +0.51 | +0.34 | 0.157 | 136 | moderate |
| Government expense and Inequality-adjusted HDICould easily be chance once only countries with similar income are compared. Inequality-adjusted HDI by country | +0.39 | +0.34 | 0.126 | 139 | proxy |
| Government expense and Military spendingCould easily be chance once only countries with similar income are compared. Military spending by country | +0.32 | +0.33 | 0.385 | 129 | independent |
| Government expense and Freedom of associationCould easily be chance once only countries with similar income are compared. Freedom of association by country | +0.45 | +0.32 | 0.065 | 136 | moderate |
| Government expense and Adult obesityCould easily be chance once only countries with similar income are compared. Adult obesity by country | +0.36 | +0.32 | 0.388 | 149 | moderate |
| Government expense and HDICould easily be chance once only countries with similar income are compared. HDI by country | +0.36 | +0.31 | 0.101 | 150 | proxy |
| Government expense and Political civil libertiesCould easily be chance once only countries with similar income are compared. Political civil liberties by country | +0.44 | +0.31 | 0.092 | 136 | moderate |
| Government expense and Population growthCould easily be chance once only countries with similar income are compared. Population growth by country | -0.40 | -0.31 | 0.082 | 151 | moderate |
| Government expense and PISA readingCould easily be chance once only countries with similar income are compared. PISA reading by country | +0.34 | +0.31 | 0.122 | 79 | high |
| Government expense and Infrastructure scoreCould easily be chance once only countries with similar income are compared. Infrastructure score by country | +0.38 | +0.31 | 0.068 | 151 | proxy |
| Government expense and Political stabilityCould easily be chance once only countries with similar income are compared. Political stability by country | +0.40 | +0.30 | 0.204 | 151 | moderate |
| Government expense and PISA scienceCould easily be chance once only countries with similar income are compared. PISA science by country | +0.34 | +0.30 | 0.262 | 79 | high |
| Government expense and Gender Inequality IndexLinked across countries, but mostly as richer countries differ from poorer ones: comparing only countries with similar income, what remains (-0.29) could easily be chance. Gender Inequality Index by country | -0.54 | -0.29 | 0.055 | 138 | proxy |
| Government expense and Freedom of expressionCould easily be chance once only countries with similar income are compared. Freedom of expression by country | +0.41 | +0.29 | 0.137 | 136 | moderate |
| Government expense and Political corruptionLinked across countries, but mostly as richer countries differ from poorer ones: comparing only countries with similar income, what remains (-0.29) could easily be chance. Political corruption by country | -0.51 | -0.29 | 0.143 | 136 | high |
| Government expense and Married by 18Could easily be chance once only countries with similar income are compared. Married by 18 by country | -0.37 | -0.29 | 0.274 | 106 | moderate |
| Government expense and PISA mathsCould easily be chance once only countries with similar income are compared. PISA maths by country | +0.33 | +0.28 | 0.368 | 79 | high |
| Government expense and Adult literacyCould easily be chance once only countries with similar income are compared. Adult literacy by country | +0.34 | +0.28 | 0.139 | 103 | high |
| Government expense and Women's age at first marriageCould easily be chance once only countries with similar income are compared. Women's age at first marriage by country | +0.19 | +0.28 | 0.280 | 40 | moderate |
| Government expense and Expected schoolingCould easily be chance once only countries with similar income are compared. Expected schooling by country | +0.40 | +0.28 | 0.097 | 150 | proxy |
| Government expense and Skilled birth attendanceCould easily be chance once only countries with similar income are compared. Skilled birth attendance by country | +0.41 | +0.28 | 0.262 | 139 | high |
| Government expense and Median ageCould easily be chance once only countries with similar income are compared. Median age by country | +0.38 | +0.28 | 0.190 | 151 | proxy |
| Government expense and Self-reported happinessAlmost no link either way. Self-reported happiness by country | -0.07 | -0.27 | 0.122 | 90 | moderate |
| Government expense and Population 65+Could easily be chance once only countries with similar income are compared. Population 65+ by country | +0.39 | +0.27 | 0.532 | 151 | high |
| Government expense and Internet usersCould easily be chance once only countries with similar income are compared. Internet users by country | +0.37 | +0.26 | 0.188 | 151 | proxy |
| Government expense and Control of corruptionCould easily be chance once only countries with similar income are compared. Control of corruption by country | +0.38 | +0.26 | 0.070 | 151 | high |
| Government expense and Premature NCD mortalityAlmost no link either way. Premature NCD mortality by country | -0.08 | +0.26 | 0.071 | 145 | high |
| Government expense and Christian shareCould easily be chance once only countries with similar income are compared. Christian share by country | +0.23 | +0.25 | 0.354 | 146 | independent |
| Government expense and Mean years of schoolingCould easily be chance once only countries with similar income are compared. Mean years of schooling by country | +0.38 | +0.25 | 0.392 | 150 | proxy |
| Government expense and Civil society participationCould easily be chance once only countries with similar income are compared. Civil society participation by country | +0.35 | +0.25 | 0.114 | 136 | independent |
| Government expense and Birth rateCould easily be chance once only countries with similar income are compared. Birth rate by country | -0.37 | -0.25 | 0.461 | 151 | proxy |
| Government expense and One-person householdsCould easily be chance once only countries with similar income are compared. One-person households by country | +0.44 | +0.25 | 0.209 | 118 | high |
| Government expense and Compulsory schoolingCould easily be chance once only countries with similar income are compared. Compulsory schooling by country | +0.32 | +0.24 | 0.143 | 142 | moderate |
| Government expense and Employment in agricultureCould easily be chance once only countries with similar income are compared. Employment in agriculture by country | -0.49 | -0.24 | 0.183 | 144 | proxy |
| Government expense and Anaemia in womenCould easily be chance once only countries with similar income are compared. Anaemia in women by country | -0.36 | -0.24 | 0.128 | 149 | high |
| Government expense and Electricity accessCould easily be chance once only countries with similar income are compared. Electricity access by country | +0.36 | +0.24 | 0.243 | 151 | high |
| Government expense and Vulnerable employmentCould easily be chance once only countries with similar income are compared. Vulnerable employment by country | -0.48 | -0.23 | 0.148 | 144 | proxy |
| Government expense and Tuberculosis incidenceAlmost no link either way. Tuberculosis incidence by country | +0.03 | +0.23 | 0.176 | 151 | high |
| Government expense and Women in managementCould easily be chance once only countries with similar income are compared. Women in management by country | +0.29 | +0.23 | 0.227 | 129 | moderate |
| Government expense and DTP3 immunisationCould easily be chance once only countries with similar income are compared. DTP3 immunisation by country | +0.34 | +0.23 | 0.162 | 150 | moderate |
| Government expense and Under-5 mortalityCould easily be chance once only countries with similar income are compared. Under-5 mortality by country | -0.37 | -0.22 | 0.353 | 150 | proxy |
| Government expense and Hospital bedsCould easily be chance once only countries with similar income are compared. Hospital beds by country | +0.33 | +0.22 | 0.102 | 140 | high |
| Government expense and Adolescent fertilityCould easily be chance once only countries with similar income are compared. Adolescent fertility by country | -0.35 | -0.21 | 0.381 | 151 | proxy |
| Government expense and Basic water accessCould easily be chance once only countries with similar income are compared. Basic water access by country | +0.35 | +0.21 | 0.373 | 150 | proxy |
| Government expense and Youth not in work or studyAlmost no link either way. Youth not in work or study by country | +0.00 | +0.21 | 0.389 | 141 | high |
| Government expense and Unemployment benefit spendingCould easily be chance once only countries with similar income are compared. Unemployment benefit spending by country | +0.14 | +0.21 | 0.412 | 39 | moderate |
| Government expense and Confidence in religious institutionsCould easily be chance once only countries with similar income are compared. Confidence in religious institutions by country | -0.44 | -0.20 | 0.090 | 90 | moderate |
| Government expense and Tertiary enrollmentCould easily be chance once only countries with similar income are compared. Tertiary enrollment by country | +0.36 | +0.20 | 0.263 | 140 | high |
| Government expense and Infant mortalityCould easily be chance once only countries with similar income are compared. Infant mortality by country | -0.35 | -0.20 | 0.252 | 150 | proxy |
| Government expense and Birth registrationCould easily be chance once only countries with similar income are compared. Birth registration by country | +0.35 | +0.19 | 0.172 | 138 | proxy |
| Government expense and Gini indexCould easily be chance once only countries with similar income are compared. Gini index by country | -0.28 | -0.19 | 0.227 | 135 | moderate |
| Government expense and Children with one parentCould easily be chance once only countries with similar income are compared. Children with one parent by country | -0.21 | -0.19 | 0.452 | 38 | independent |
| Government expense and Primary completionCould easily be chance once only countries with similar income are compared. Primary completion by country | +0.39 | +0.19 | 0.304 | 134 | proxy |
| Government expense and Equality scoreCould easily be chance once only countries with similar income are compared. Equality score by country | +0.34 | +0.19 | 0.179 | 135 | high |
| Government expense and Market-income GiniAlmost no link either way. Market-income Gini by country | +0.10 | +0.19 | 0.124 | 44 | moderate |
| Government expense and Corporate tax rateAlmost no link either way. Corporate tax rate by country | +0.04 | +0.18 | 0.450 | 72 | moderate |
| Government expense and Active labour market spendingCould easily be chance once only countries with similar income are compared. Active labour market spending by country | +0.18 | +0.18 | 0.531 | 42 | moderate |
| Government expense and Armed conflict presentCould easily be chance once only countries with similar income are compared. Armed conflict present by country | -0.28 | -0.18 | 0.501 | 150 | moderate |
| Government expense and Population 0-14Could easily be chance once only countries with similar income are compared. Population 0-14 by country | -0.33 | -0.18 | 0.648 | 151 | proxy |
| Government expense and Religion very importantCould easily be chance once only countries with similar income are compared. Religion very important by country | -0.46 | -0.17 | 0.433 | 90 | high |
| Government expense and Trade opennessCould easily be chance once only countries with similar income are compared. Trade openness by country | +0.26 | +0.17 | 0.333 | 141 | moderate |
| Government expense and Corruption Perceptions IndexCould easily be chance once only countries with similar income are compared. Corruption Perceptions Index by country | +0.44 | +0.17 | 0.304 | 139 | high |
| Government expense and Labour scoreAlmost no link either way. Labour score by country | +0.08 | -0.17 | 0.400 | 148 | high |
| Government expense and Gender Development IndexCould easily be chance once only countries with similar income are compared. Gender Development Index by country | +0.30 | +0.17 | 0.545 | 146 | high |
| Government expense and Pupil-teacher ratioCould easily be chance once only countries with similar income are compared. Pupil-teacher ratio by country | -0.33 | -0.17 | 0.372 | 142 | proxy |
| Government expense and Muslim shareCould easily be chance once only countries with similar income are compared. Muslim share by country | -0.23 | -0.17 | 0.288 | 146 | independent |
| Government expense and Fertility rateCould easily be chance once only countries with similar income are compared. Fertility rate by country | -0.33 | -0.17 | 0.626 | 151 | proxy |
| Government expense and Out of school, primaryCould easily be chance once only countries with similar income are compared. Out of school, primary by country | -0.27 | -0.17 | 0.320 | 146 | moderate |
| Government expense and PhysiciansCould easily be chance once only countries with similar income are compared. Physicians by country | +0.33 | +0.16 | 0.328 | 150 | proxy |
| Government expense and GDP growthCould easily be chance once only countries with similar income are compared. GDP growth by country | -0.23 | -0.16 | 0.328 | 151 | moderate |
| Government expense and Religious attendanceCould easily be chance once only countries with similar income are compared. Religious attendance by country | -0.43 | -0.16 | 0.083 | 90 | high |
| Government expense and Trust in governmentAlmost no link either way. Trust in government by country | -0.07 | -0.15 | 0.525 | 46 | moderate |
| Government expense and HIV prevalenceAlmost no link either way. HIV prevalence by country | +0.01 | +0.15 | 0.650 | 120 | moderate |
| Government expense and Divorce rate (UN)Could easily be chance once only countries with similar income are compared. Divorce rate (UN) by country | +0.15 | +0.15 | 0.277 | 76 | independent |
| Government expense and Health scoreAlmost no link either way. Health score by country | -0.03 | -0.15 | 0.594 | 150 | moderate |
| Government expense and UrbanizationCould easily be chance once only countries with similar income are compared. Urbanization by country | +0.30 | +0.15 | 0.450 | 151 | high |
| Government expense and Fixed broadbandCould easily be chance once only countries with similar income are compared. Fixed broadband by country | +0.32 | +0.15 | 0.534 | 151 | proxy |
| Government expense and Child stuntingCould easily be chance once only countries with similar income are compared. Child stunting by country | -0.28 | -0.15 | 0.085 | 123 | proxy |
| Government expense and UndernourishmentCould easily be chance once only countries with similar income are compared. Undernourishment by country | -0.38 | -0.15 | 0.295 | 132 | proxy |
| Government expense and Public order spendingCould easily be chance once only countries with similar income are compared. Public order spending by country | +0.20 | +0.14 | 0.625 | 37 | high |
| Government expense and UnemploymentAlmost no link either way. Unemployment by country | +0.07 | +0.13 | 0.241 | 144 | independent |
| Government expense and Refugees originatingAlmost no link either way. Refugees originating by country | +0.03 | +0.13 | 0.618 | 149 | moderate |
| Government expense and Health coverage indexCould easily be chance once only countries with similar income are compared. Health coverage index by country | +0.32 | +0.13 | 0.682 | 150 | proxy |
| Government expense and Conflict deathsAlmost no link either way. Conflict deaths by country | +0.07 | +0.12 | 0.574 | 150 | moderate |
| Government expense and ResearchersCould easily be chance once only countries with similar income are compared. Researchers by country | +0.40 | +0.12 | 0.413 | 112 | proxy |
| Government expense and InflationCould easily be chance once only countries with similar income are compared. Inflation by country | -0.15 | -0.12 | 0.252 | 149 | independent |
| Government expense and CO2 per capitaCould easily be chance once only countries with similar income are compared. CO2 per capita by country | +0.21 | +0.12 | 0.531 | 148 | proxy |
| Government expense and Food insecurityCould easily be chance once only countries with similar income are compared. Food insecurity by country | -0.31 | -0.12 | 0.341 | 129 | proxy |
| Government expense and Basic sanitationCould easily be chance once only countries with similar income are compared. Basic sanitation by country | +0.29 | +0.11 | 0.572 | 150 | high |
| Government expense and Women in a unionCould easily be chance once only countries with similar income are compared. Women in a union by country | -0.22 | -0.11 | 0.286 | 148 | moderate |
| Government expense and Divorce rateCould easily be chance once only countries with similar income are compared. Divorce rate by country | -0.10 | -0.11 | 0.205 | 44 | independent |
| Government expense and Extreme poverty rateCould easily be chance once only countries with similar income are compared. Extreme poverty rate by country | -0.30 | -0.11 | 0.444 | 135 | proxy |
| Government expense and Single-parent householdsCould easily be chance once only countries with similar income are compared. Single-parent households by country | -0.10 | -0.10 | 0.447 | 118 | independent |
| Government expense and Religiously unaffiliatedCould easily be chance once only countries with similar income are compared. Religiously unaffiliated by country | +0.27 | +0.10 | 0.413 | 146 | moderate |
| Government expense and Regulatory qualityCould easily be chance once only countries with similar income are compared. Regulatory quality by country | +0.29 | +0.09 | 0.554 | 151 | proxy |
| Government expense and Frequent prayerCould easily be chance once only countries with similar income are compared. Frequent prayer by country | -0.35 | -0.09 | 0.604 | 65 | high |
| Government expense and Government effectivenessCould easily be chance once only countries with similar income are compared. Government effectiveness by country | +0.29 | +0.09 | 0.498 | 151 | proxy |
| Government expense and Primary enrollmentAlmost no link either way. Primary enrollment by country | +0.08 | +0.08 | 0.625 | 150 | independent |
| Government expense and Alcohol consumptionCould easily be chance once only countries with similar income are compared. Alcohol consumption by country | +0.23 | +0.08 | 0.767 | 146 | moderate |
| Government expense and Recycling rateAlmost no link either way. Recycling rate by country | +0.01 | +0.08 | 0.785 | 35 | moderate |
| Government expense and Maternal mortalityCould easily be chance once only countries with similar income are compared. Maternal mortality by country | -0.27 | -0.08 | 0.722 | 150 | proxy |
| Government expense and Female labor participationAlmost no link either way. Female labor participation by country | -0.03 | -0.07 | 0.413 | 144 | independent |
| Government expense and Migrant share of populationCould easily be chance once only countries with similar income are compared. Migrant share of population by country | +0.11 | -0.07 | 0.817 | 151 | high |
| Government expense and Interpersonal trustCould easily be chance once only countries with similar income are compared. Interpersonal trust by country | +0.24 | -0.07 | 0.325 | 90 | high |
| Government expense and Forest areaAlmost no link either way. Forest area by country | -0.07 | -0.07 | 0.569 | 150 | independent |
| Government expense and Mobile subscriptionsAlmost no link either way. Mobile subscriptions by country | +0.06 | -0.07 | 0.400 | 151 | moderate |
| Government expense and Life expectancyCould easily be chance once only countries with similar income are compared. Life expectancy by country | +0.22 | -0.07 | 0.779 | 151 | proxy |
| Government expense and Marriage rateAlmost no link either way. Marriage rate by country | +0.07 | +0.06 | 0.820 | 45 | independent |
| Government expense and Wellbeing scoreCould easily be chance once only countries with similar income are compared. Wellbeing score by country | +0.32 | -0.06 | 0.661 | 90 | high |
| Government expense and Aid givenAlmost no link either way. Aid given by country | -0.00 | +0.06 | 0.816 | 45 | high |
| Government expense and Women in parliamentAlmost no link either way. Women in parliament by country | +0.02 | -0.06 | 0.547 | 149 | independent |
| Government expense and Marriage rate (UN)Could easily be chance once only countries with similar income are compared. Marriage rate (UN) by country | -0.18 | -0.06 | 0.886 | 82 | independent |
| Government expense and Protected landCould easily be chance once only countries with similar income are compared. Protected land by country | +0.12 | +0.05 | 0.740 | 149 | independent |
| Government expense and Homicide rateAlmost no link either way. Homicide rate by country | -0.08 | -0.05 | 0.699 | 132 | moderate |
| Government expense and Agricultural landAlmost no link either way. Agricultural land by country | -0.01 | +0.04 | 0.796 | 150 | independent |
| Government expense and Age at childbearingCould easily be chance once only countries with similar income are compared. Age at childbearing by country | +0.18 | +0.04 | 0.849 | 151 | moderate |
| Government expense and Births outside marriageAlmost no link either way. Births outside marriage by country | +0.04 | +0.04 | 0.935 | 42 | independent |
| Government expense and FDI inflowsAlmost no link either way. FDI inflows by country | -0.03 | -0.04 | 0.603 | 151 | independent |
| Government expense and Life satisfactionCould easily be chance once only countries with similar income are compared. Life satisfaction by country | +0.40 | -0.01 | 0.935 | 129 | proxy |
| Government expense and Women ministersAlmost no link either way. Women ministers by country | +0.06 | -0.01 | 0.938 | 149 | independent |
| Government expense and Gender scoreCould easily be chance once only countries with similar income are compared. Gender score by country | +0.13 | +0.01 | 0.958 | 146 | moderate |
| Government expense and Environment scoreCould easily be chance once only countries with similar income are compared. Environment score by country | -0.11 | -0.00 | 0.982 | 149 | moderate |
| Government expense and GDP per capita (PPP)One side of this pair is national income itself, the thing the other figures adjust for. Adjusting income for income leaves nothing, so there is no adjusted figure. The unadjusted link shows how closely the other measure follows income. GDP per capita (PPP) by country | +0.18 | — | — | 151 | proxy |
| Government expense and GNI per capita (PPP)One side of this pair is national income itself, the thing the other figures adjust for. Adjusting income for income leaves nothing, so there is no adjusted figure. The unadjusted link shows how closely the other measure follows income. GNI per capita (PPP) by country | +0.20 | — | — | 151 | proxy |
| Government expense and GDP per capita (market)One side of this pair is national income itself, the thing the other figures adjust for. Adjusting income for income leaves nothing, so there is no adjusted figure. The unadjusted link shows how closely the other measure follows income. GDP per capita (market) by country | +0.17 | — | — | 151 | proxy |