Government expenditure and consumption; functions, transactions, sectors

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Functions of general government Institutional sectors Government expenditure and consumption (million euros)
Total General government 75,275
Central government 31,173
The State 18,470
Other central government 12,703
Local government 40,581
Social security funds 3,521
1. General public services General government 7,666
Central government 4,765
The State 3,394
Other central government 1,371
Local government 2,901
Social security funds 0
1.1 Executive and legislative organs, .. General government 3,960
Central government 2,262
The State 2,262
Other central government 0
Local government 1,698
Social security funds 0
1.2 Foreign economic aid General government 207
Central government 207
The State 186
Other central government 21
Local government 0
Social security funds 0
1.3 General services General government 2,427
Central government 1,264
The State 895
Other central government 369
Local government 1,163
Social security funds 0
1.4 Basic research General government 959
Central government 959
The State 2
Other central government 957
Local government 0
Social security funds 0
1.5 R&D general public services General government 9
Central government 9
The State 0
Other central government 9
Local government 0
Social security funds 0
1.6 General public services n.e.c. General government 23
Central government 0
The State 0
Other central government 0
Local government 23
Social security funds 0
1.7 Public debt transactions General government 81
Central government 64
The State 49
Other central government 15
Local government 17
Social security funds 0
1.8 Transfers of a general character b.. General government
Central government
The State
Other central government
Local government
Social security funds
2. Defence General government 4,989
Central government 4,989
The State 4,989
Other central government 0
Local government 0
Social security funds 0
2.1 Military defence General government 4,757
Central government 4,757
The State 4,757
Other central government 0
Local government 0
Social security funds 0
2.2 Civil defence General government 0
Central government 0
The State 0
Other central government 0
Local government 0
Social security funds 0
2.3 Foreign military aid General government 121
Central government 121
The State 121
Other central government 0
Local government 0
Social security funds 0
2.4 R&D Defence General government 14
Central government 14
The State 14
Other central government 0
Local government 0
Social security funds 0
2.5 Defence n.e.c. General government 97
Central government 97
The State 97
Other central government 0
Local government 0
Social security funds 0
3. Public order and safety General government 6,883
Central government 5,508
The State 3,043
Other central government 2,465
Source: CBS.
Explanation of symbols

Table explanation


This table contains information on expenditure and consumption broken down into functions of the general government sector. The terms and definitions used are in accordance with the framework of National Accounts. National Accounts are based on the international definitions of the European System of Accounts (ESA 2010). The Classification of the Functions of Government (COFOG 1999) is used for the classification of the functions. The second level function determines whether consumption of government is collective or individual. Small temporary differences with publications of National Accounts may occur due to the fact that government finance statistics are sometimes more up to date.

Data available from:
Yearly figures from 1995.

Status of the figures:
The figures for the period 1995-2023 are final. The figures for 2024 are provisional.

Changes as of 18 November 2025:
The annual figures for 2023 are now final due to updated source data.

In the context of the revision policy of National accounts, annual figures for the time series have been revised. This has led to the following improvements for transaction D62 Social benefits:
- A correction has been made to the figures for 2022 for the Work and Care Act (WAZO) benefits related to the expanded partner leave.
- The function of the Work and Care Act (WAZO) scheme has changed from 10.1 (Sickness and disability) to 10.4 (Family and children) for years 2002-2024.
- The function of the cross-border health care covered by both the Compulsory Health Insurance Act (ZFW-vp) and the Health Care Insurance Act (Zvw) has changed from 7.2 (Outpatient services) to 7.3 (Hospital services) for years 1995-2024.
- Most of the social benefits paid out by the Supplementary Fund (Tf) are now recorded within function 10.1 (Sickness and disability), instead of function 10.5 (Unemployment) for years 1995-2024.
- The assistance to older and partially disabled unemployed via the IOAW- and IOAZ- schemes at the level of local government has changed from function 10.7 (Social exclusion n.e.c.) to 10.5 (Unemployment) for years 1995-2024.

When will new figures be published?
New figures will be published in the second half of the year. Provisional figures will become final and final figures can be revised at the same time. More information on the revision policy of National Accounts can be found under 'relevant articles' under paragraph 3.

Description topics

Government expenditure and consumption
Government expenditure and final consumption expenditure.

Government expenditure consists of intermediate consumption, compensation of employees, interest, social benefits, social transfers in kind via market producers, paid subsidies, other current expenditure and capital expenditure.

Government final consumption expenditure is equal to the the total of their output plus the expenditure on products supplied to households via market producers minus the sales of goods and services. The output of government is equal to the sum of its costs of production: Compensation of employees, intermediate consumption, consumption of fixed capital, and taxes on production paid net of subsidies on production received.