EU-27 government expenditure on public order and safety at 1.9% of GDP in 2012

In the framework of the European System of National Accounts (ESA95), Eurostat collects data on general government expenditure by economic function according to the international Classification of the Functions of Government (COFOG) – see methodological note.

This publication presents for the first time detailed COFOG data on 'public order and safety' for the European countries. This became possible due to progress in the availability and quality of voluntarily transmitted COFOG level II data.

Expenditure on public order and safety comprises the following categories: police services, fire protection services, law courts, prisons, R&D related to public order and safety as well as expenditure not elsewhere classified.