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Published: 31 January 2012

Growth of general government expenditure slowed down in 2010

Total general government expenditure grew by 3.1 per cent in 2010. In 2009, total expenditure grew by 5.7 per cent and in 2008 by 7.3 per cent. The share of total general government expenditure of gross domestic product (GDP) was 55.5 per cent in 2010, in other words slightly down on 2009 when it was 56.1 per cent.

Consolidated Total Expenditures by Function, General Government, 2009–2010

Function	Year	Million euro	Ratio to GDP, %
G0 All functions	2009	96 788	56,1
	2010	99 835	55,5
G01 General public services	2009	12 692	7,4
	2010	13 018	7,2
G02 Defence	2009	2 851	1,7
	2010	2 789	1,6
G03 Public order and safety	2009	2 571	1,5
	2010	2 766	1,5
G04 Economic affairs	2009	8 648	5,0
	2010	8 748	4,9
G05 Environmental protection	2009	608	0,4
	2010	506	0,3
G06 Housing and community amenities	2009	887	0,5
	2010	914	0,5
G07 Health	2009	13 696	7,9
	2010	14 130	7,9
G08 Recreation, culture and religion	2009	2 092	1,2
	2010	2 204	1,2
G09 Education	2009	11 357	6,6
	2010	11 735	6,5
G10 Social protection	2009	41 386	24,0
	2010	43 025	23,9

In 2010, the biggest general government expenditure item was again social protection on which expenditure amounted to some EUR 43 billion, or 23.9 per cent of GDP. EUR 32 billion of the social expenditure was social benefits in cash, i.e. assistance and pensions paid to households. Around five per cent more of them were paid in 2010 than in the previous year. After social protection, the second largest share of expenditure, or EUR 14 billion and eight per cent or so of GDP, was spent on health.

General government consumption expenditure grew by two per cent in 2010, i.e. clearly more slowly than total expenditure. Consumption expenditure depicts current expenses incurred by general government from the production of services.

General government total expenditure here refers to consolidated general government expenditure. Consolidated expenditure excludes property expenditure, capital transfers and income transfers between general government sub-sectors, e.g. income transfers from central government to local government. Since total expenditure is by nature gross expenditure, in the case of the local government sector it includes, for instance, acquisitions made by municipalities from their own municipal enterprises. These acquisitions are correspondingly also visible in the sector’s total revenue. General government comprises central government, local government, employment pension schemes and other social security funds.

Source: National Accounts, Statistics Finland

Inquiries: Niina Suutarinen (09) 1734 3302, Jukka Hytönen (09) 1734 3484, skt.95@stat.fi

Director in charge: Ari Tyrkkö

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• Appendix table 1. Consolidated Total Expenditures by Function, General Government, 2010 (31.1.2012)

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Updated 31.1.2012