A Citizens Budget is a simpler, less technical version of a government’s budget specifically designed to present key information to the public. Citizens Budgets can vary widely in focus, content, and length and be presented in a number of ways, ranging from a simple brochure to a comprehensive report. These excellent examples of Citizens Budgets showcase different approaches and styles.
Philippines’ COVID-19 policies >>
COVID-19 Examples
These examples illustrate the use of Citizens Budgets to communicate the government’s fiscal policy response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Philippines (2021 Budget Priorities Framework)
- Malaysia (Economic Stimulus Package 2020)
- Georgia (The Anti-Crisis Economic Plan)
- Honduras (COVID-19 Emergency Transparency Portal)
South Africa’s newsletter format »
Format Examples
These examples illustrate multiple formats that can be used for Citizens Budgets:
- Dominican Republic Citizens Budget (2019, PowerPoint format)
- Indonesia Citizens Budget (2019, report format)
- South Africa Citizens Budget (2018, newsletter format in multiple languages)
- Germany Citizens Budget (2020, web portal format)
- Tanzania Citizens Budget (2018-2019, illustrated format)
Chile’s comprehensive report >>
Comprehensive Reports
These examples illustrate comprehensive yet accessible Citizens Budgets:
- Chile Citizens Budget (2017)
- Ghana Citizens Budget (2019)
- Mexico Citizens Budget (2019)
- Burkina Faso Citizens Budget (2018)
Kyrgyz Republic’s Graphical Report >>
Graphics and Data Visualization
These examples illustrate the use of graphics and data visualization in Citizens Budgets:
- Albania Citizens Budget (2019)
- Kyrgyz Republic Citizens Budget (2019)
- Peru Citizens Budget (2018)
- Nigeria Citizens Budget (2019)
- Philippines Citizens Budget (2018)
Examples of citizens versions of budget documents across the budget cycle
Examples Across the Budget Cycle
While the Open Budget Survey only assesses Citizens Budgets that simplify the Executive’s Budget Proposal or Enacted Budget, each key document in the budget cycle can and should be presented in a way that the public can understand.
- Pre-Budget Statement – Philippines (2019)
- Executive’s Budget Proposal – Argentina (2019)
- Enacted Budget – Angola (2018)
- In-Year Reports – Benin (2018)
- Mid-Year Review – Georgia (2018)
- Supplementary Budget – Sierra Leone (2018)
- Year-End Report – New Zealand (2018)
- Audit Report – Czech Republic (2017)
Additional Resources
Learn more about Citizens Budgets here, or visit the Open Budget Survey Budget Document Library to browse more examples. In addition, these publications provide more detailed information about Citizens Budgets, how to create and use them, and more.
- The Power Of Making It Simple: A Government Guide To Developing Citizens Budgets »
- Producing a Citizens’ Guide to the Budget: Why, What and How? »
- Guide to Transparency in Government Budget Reports: Why are Budget Reports Important, and What Should They Include? »
- Guide to Transparency in Government Budget Reports: How Civil Society Can Use Budget Reports for Research and Advocacy »