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How much is spent on lobbying in the US & EU, and what does it buy?
Dive into our latest trends report with all the latest lobbying statistics for 2025 and beyond.
Shehu, M., & Onunwa, G. (2025). Column Lobbying Report: Statistics and Trends in 2025. Column Content.
Lobbying is a $4.4B industry in the U.S. and a growing force in Europe. This report breaks down the money, headcounts, and legal frameworks shaping government influence across Washington, Brussels, and beyond.
Read the report to learn:
Year-by-year lobbying spend and headcount in the U.S. and EU
Top industries and sectors by lobbying expenditure
Country-level breakdowns of lobbying laws across Europe
Comparison of transparency, enforcement, and registration rules
Clear visuals, data tables, and sourced trends
Discover detailed statistics from the report, such as how:
$4.44B was spent on federal lobbying in the U.S. in 2024—the highest on record
13,037 registered lobbyists were active in the U.S. that year
14,815 organizations are listed in the EU Transparency Register as of 2025
€1.3–2.2B is the estimated annual lobbying spend across EU institutions
162 EU registrants declared spending €1M+ per year on lobbying
$387M was spent by the U.S. pharma industry on lobbying in 2024—more than any other sector
86% of Germany’s lobbying registrants are legal entities, with over 28,000 individual representatives listed
This isn’t just about numbers—it’s about understanding who shapes policy, where, and how.
This report is aimed at:
And anyone who wants to understand who shapes policy at the highest levels of government—and how.
How much money is spent on lobbying each year?
Why does the U.S. track lobbying more closely than the EU?
Which industries dominate lobbying spend?
Do lobbying laws have any real teeth?