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Government spending as a share of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by the member states of the European has consistently exceeded 45 percent over the period since 1995, reaching over 50 percent of annual production in 1995 and 1996, as well as the crisis years of 2009, 2020, and 2021. Government spending as a share of GDP should automatically expand during recessions and crises, as GDP shrinks, while the 'automatic stabilizers' of unemployment insurance and other welfare benefits expand.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, governments in the EU also expanded their spending on health care services and economic affairs, as they attempted to support their domestic healthcare systems, while stimulating economic activity in the private sector through targeted subsidies.

Total government expenditure as a share of Gross Domestic Product in the European Union from 1995 to 2021, 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
2021	20.5%	8.1%	6.3%	6%	4.8%	1.7%	1.3%	1.2%	0.8%	0.6%
2020	21.9%	8%	6.1%	6.1%	5%	1.8%	1.3%	1.2%	0.9%	0.6%
2019	19.3%	7%	4.4%	5.8%	4.7%	1.7%	1.2%	1.2%	0.8%	0.6%
2018	19.2%	6.9%	4.4%	6%	4.7%	1.7%	1.2%	1.2%	0.8%	0.6%
2017	19.4%	6.9%	4.4%	6.1%	4.7%	1.7%	1.2%	1.1%	0.8%	0.5%
2016	19.7%	7%	4.3%	6.3%	4.7%	1.7%	1.2%	1.1%	0.8%	0.6%
2015	19.7%	7.1%	4.6%	6.6%	4.8%	1.7%	1.2%	1.1%	0.8%	0.6%
2014	19.9%	7.1%	4.6%	7%	4.9%	1.7%	1.2%	1.2%	0.8%	0.6%
2013	20%	7.1%	4.7%	7.2%	4.9%	1.7%	1.2%	1.2%	0.8%	0.7%
2012	19.8%	7.1%	5%	7.4%	4.9%	1.7%	1.3%	1.2%	0.8%	0.7%
2011	19.4%	7.1%	4.8%	7.2%	4.9%	1.7%	1.3%	1.2%	0.8%	0.7%
2010	19.7%	7.2%	5.5%	7.1%	5%	1.8%	1.3%	1.3%	0.8%	0.8%
2009	19.8%	7.3%	5.1%	7.2%	5.1%	1.8%	1.4%	1.3%	0.8%	0.9%
2008	17.9%	6.7%	4.6%	7%	4.7%	1.7%	1.3%	1.2%	0.8%	0.8%
2007	17.6%	6.5%	4.3%	6.8%	4.7%	1.6%	1.3%	1.2%	0.8%	0.8%
2006	18%	6.6%	4.5%	6.8%	4.8%	1.6%	1.3%	1.2%	0.8%	0.8%
2005	18.3%	6.6%	4.5%	7.1%	4.8%	1.7%	1.3%	1.2%	0.8%	0.8%
2004	18.3%	6.5%	4.5%	7.2%	4.8%	1.7%	1.3%	1.2%	0.7%	0.9%
2003	18.6%	6.5%	4.5%	7.3%	5%	1.7%	1.4%	1.2%	0.8%	0.9%
2002	18.1%	6.4%	4.6%	7.6%	4.9%	1.7%	1.4%	1.2%	0.8%	0.9%
2001	18%	6.2%	4.6%	7.8%	4.8%	1.6%	1.4%	1.1%	0.7%	0.9%
2000	18%	6.1%	4.6%	7.9%	4.8%	1.6%	1.4%	1.1%	0.7%	0.9%
1999	18.8%	5.9%	4.5%	8.2%	4.9%	1.6%	1.5%	1.1%	0.7%	0.9%
1998	18.8%	5.9%	4.6%	8.6%	4.9%	1.6%	1.5%	1.1%	0.7%	0.9%
1997	19.2%	5.9%	4.5%	9.1%	4.9%	1.6%	1.6%	1.1%	0.7%	0.9%
1996	19.5%	6%	4.9%	9.6%	5%	1.6%	1.6%	1%	0.8%	0.9%
1995	19.4%	5.9%	7.2%	9.5%	4.9%	1.6%	1.6%	1%	0.8%	1.1%