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Within the European Union, the most common government function which the governments of member states spend money on is social protection, followed by health services and economic affairs. The most notable trend over the preceding decades has been the compression of spending on general public services, which fell from almost 20 percent of total spending in the late 1990s and early 2000s, to less than ten percent in the 2020s.

At the same time, spending on health has increased from around ten percent, to over 15 percent during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and 2021. Economic affairs experienced a surge in spending during the pandemic, as governments stepped in to provide economic support and subsidies to industries and sectors which were adversely affected by the pandemic, such as the food and accommodation sectors.

Share of annual government expenditure in the European Union from 1995 to 2022, by function

Characteristic	Social protection	Health	Economic affairs	General public services	Education	Public order and safety	Defence	Recreation, culture and religion	Environmental protection	Housing and community amenities
2022	39.2%	15.5%	11.8%	12.1%	9.5%	3.4%	2.6%	2.3%	1.6%	2%
2021	39.7%	15.7%	12.2%	11.6%	9.4%	3.4%	2.5%	2.3%	1.6%	1.7%
2020	41.4%	15.1%	11.5%	11.5%	9.4%	3.4%	2.5%	2.3%	1.6%	1.2%
2019	41.4%	15%	9.5%	12.4%	10.1%	3.6%	2.6%	2.5%	1.7%	1.2%
2018	41.2%	14.9%	9.5%	12.8%	10%	3.6%	2.6%	2.5%	1.7%	1.2%
2017	41.6%	14.8%	9.3%	13%	10%	3.5%	2.6%	2.4%	1.6%	1.1%
2016	41.7%	14.8%	9%	13.3%	9.9%	3.5%	2.6%	2.4%	1.6%	1.2%
2015	40.9%	14.7%	9.6%	13.7%	9.9%	3.5%	2.4%	2.4%	1.7%	1.3%
2014	40.6%	14.6%	9.4%	14.3%	9.9%	3.5%	2.4%	2.4%	1.7%	1.3%
2013	40.4%	14.4%	9.4%	14.6%	9.9%	3.5%	2.5%	2.4%	1.7%	1.3%
2012	39.7%	14.2%	10%	14.8%	9.8%	3.4%	2.5%	2.4%	1.7%	1.4%
2011	39.5%	14.4%	9.7%	14.7%	10%	3.5%	2.6%	2.5%	1.7%	1.5%
2010	39.1%	14.2%	10.9%	14%	10%	3.5%	2.6%	2.5%	1.7%	1.6%
2009	39.1%	14.3%	10%	14.3%	10%	3.5%	2.7%	2.5%	1.7%	1.8%
2008	38.4%	14.3%	9.8%	15%	10.2%	3.6%	2.7%	2.6%	1.7%	1.7%
2007	38.7%	14.3%	9.5%	15%	10.3%	3.6%	2.7%	2.6%	1.7%	1.8%
2006	38.8%	14.2%	9.8%	14.7%	10.3%	3.5%	2.8%	2.5%	1.7%	1.7%
2005	38.9%	14%	9.6%	15%	10.3%	3.5%	2.8%	2.5%	1.6%	1.7%
2004	38.9%	13.8%	9.6%	15.2%	10.3%	3.5%	2.8%	2.5%	1.6%	1.8%
2003	38.8%	13.6%	9.5%	15.4%	10.4%	3.5%	2.9%	2.4%	1.6%	1.9%
2002	38.2%	13.4%	9.6%	16%	10.4%	3.5%	2.9%	2.5%	1.6%	1.9%
2001	38.1%	13.2%	9.7%	16.5%	10.2%	3.4%	2.9%	2.4%	1.6%	1.8%
2000	38.3%	12.9%	9.8%	16.8%	10.1%	3.4%	2.9%	2.3%	1.5%	1.9%
1999	39.1%	12.4%	9.5%	17%	10.1%	3.4%	3%	2.3%	1.5%	1.8%
1998	38.7%	12.2%	9.5%	17.8%	10%	3.4%	3.1%	2.2%	1.4%	1.8%
1997	38.8%	11.9%	9.1%	18.5%	9.9%	3.3%	3.2%	2.1%	1.4%	1.7%
1996	38.3%	11.8%	9.6%	18.8%	9.8%	3.2%	3.2%	2.1%	1.5%	1.7%
1995	36.6%	11.1%	13.6%	17.9%	9.2%	3%	3.1%	2%	1.5%	2.1%