Europe & Central Asia · EU · OECD · NATO
Data checked 28 Oct 2026 · next scheduled check 1 Jan 2027 · UN World Population Prospects (via World Bank) released 1 Jul 2026 · Eurostat released 21 Oct 2026 · World Bank WDI released 8 Oct 2026
Total spending · 2024
44.0%
+4.3 pts since 1995
Welfare · 2024
13.8%
+2.9 pts since 1995
Healthcare · 2024
6.30%
+1.4 pts since 1995
Defence · 2024
3.70%
+2.5 pts since 1995
Education · 2024
6.30%
-1.0 pts since 1995
Debt interest · 2024
0.60%
-0.1 pts since 1995
Gross debt · 2025
24.0%
of GDP · +15 pts since 1995
Population · 2025
1.4m
-4.9% since 1995
Public-sector employment
Not available: no official public-sector employment series is loaded for Estonia yet.
Welfare fell from 10.9% to 9.0% of GDP between 1995 and 2007, then rose to 13.8% by 2024.
Healthcare fell from 4.9% to 4.1% of GDP between 1995 and 2005, then rose to 6.3% by 2024.
Defence rose from 1.2% to 3.7% of GDP between 1995 and 2024.
Education fell from 7.3% to 5.4% of GDP between 1995 and 2014, then rose to 6.3% by 2024.
Debt interest fell from 0.7% to 0.1% of GDP between 1995 and 2010, then rose to 0.6% by 2024.
Total spending fell from 39.7% to 33.5% of GDP between 1995 and 2006, then rose to 44.0% by 2024.
Gross debt fell from 8.7% to 3.9% of GDP between 1995 and 2007, then rose to 24.0% by 2025.
Population fell from 1.4 million in 1995 to 1.4 million in 2025; the UN projects 1.2 million by 2050.