Government Expenditure: Gambia, The

Analysis# Gambia, The Government Expenditure Government expenditure in The Gambia reached 25.672% of GDP in 2026, marking a sustained high level of public spending relative to economic output. The metric peaked at 27.191% in 2025 before a slight contraction. Since 2004, expenditure has more than doubled, rising 107.4% from a low of 11.194% that year, reflecting a fundamental shift toward larger government spending over two decades. Volatility characterizes the recent period. After climbing steadily from 2019 (23.935%) through 2025's peak, expenditure dipped to 25.672% in 2026. The 2017–2018 period showed a sharp drop from 23.622% to 19.008%, revealing budget constraints or policy adjustments during that interval. The subsequent recovery and sustained elevation above 24% since 2020 suggests government spending has settled into a new structural norm well above historical baselines.