Government Expenditure: Mali

Analysis# Mali Government Expenditure Mali's government expenditure reached 25.043% of GDP in 2026, reflecting a sustained elevation in public spending relative to economic output. Since 2004, expenditure has grown by 15.1 percentage points, rising from a low of 15.531% in 2012. The current level sits 1.9 percentage points below the all-time peak of 26.906% recorded in 2021, indicating a modest normalization after that exceptional spending year. The period 2020–2021 marked a significant inflection point, with expenditure surging from 26.115% to 26.906% during the pandemic and political instability. Since then, spending has settled into the 24–25% range, suggesting a structural shift toward higher public expenditure relative to historical norms. The projected 2026 figure of 25.043% indicates Mali's government spending will remain elevated, roughly 10 percentage points above the 2012 baseline.