In 2024/25, the United Kingdom government spent approximately 157.6 billion British pounds on general public services, compared with 163.1 billion pounds in the previous year.

Public sector debt interest spending in the United Kingdom reached 124.7 billion British pounds in 2024/25, compared with just under 126.6 billion pounds in the previous year.

Government spending in the United Kingdom was approximately 44.7 percent of GDP in 2024/25, compared with 39.6 percent in 2019/20.

Annual UK government expenditure for general government only, broken down by function using the classification of functions of government.

Annual UK government expenditure for local government only, broken down by function using the classification of functions of government.

The United Kingdom recorded a Government Budget deficit equal to 4.80 percent of the country's Gross Domestic Product in 2024. This dataset provides - United Kingdom Government Budget - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

In 2024/25, public sector expenditure on environment protection spending in the United Kingdom was 17.1 billion British pounds, compared with 16 billion pounds in the previous year.

Government spending in the United Kingdom was last recorded at 44.4 percent of GDP in 2024 . This dataset provides the latest reported value for - United Kingdom Government Spending to GDP - plus previous releases, historical high and low, short-term forecast and long-term prediction, economic calendar, survey consensus and news.

Government Spending in the United Kingdom increased to 149602 GBP Million in the second quarter of 2025 from 147677 GBP Million in the first quarter of 2025. This dataset provides the latest reported value for - United Kingdom Government Spending - plus previous releases, historical high and low, short-term forecast and long-term prediction, economic calendar, survey consensus and news.

Complete set of taxes and social contributions for general government and its sub-sectors, by ESA transaction area.

The United Kingdom: Government spending as percent of GDP: The latest value from 2023 is 20.55 percent, a decline from 20.83 percent in 2022. In comparison, the world average is 16.14 percent, based on data from 156 countries. Historically, the average for the United Kingdom from 1960 to 2023 is 19.28 percent. The minimum value, 16.04 percent, was reached in 1997 while the maximum of 22.61 percent was recorded in 2020.

In March 2025, the fiscal headroom forecast in the United Kingdom was 9.9 billion British pounds, the same amount predicted in October 2024. Fiscal headroom is the amount of money the UK government can use to increase spending or cut taxes while still adhering to fiscal rules regarding national debt falling in the future.

Research and development and related expenditure by UK government departments and devolved administrations

Data on the UK's environmental protection expenditure by general government according to activity, 1995 to 2023.

Time series data for public sector finances and important fiscal aggregates, based on the new European System of Accounts 2010: ESA10 framework.

In 2024/25 the government of the United Kingdom had an expenditure of approximately 1.28 trillion British pounds, compared with 1.23 trillion in the previous financial year. Between 2010/11 and 2019/20, the UK's government spending increased at a relatively stable pace before a sudden spike in spending in the 2020s. After spending just under 889 billion pounds in 2019/20, government spending surpassed 1.1 trillion the following year, due to the high level of public spending that occurred during the COVID-19 pandemic. Main outlays of the UK government The government is expected to spend approximately 379 billion British pounds on social protection in the 2025/26 financial year, followed by 277 billion on health, and 146 billion on education. As a share of GDP, social protection spending has consistently been the government's main outlay for several decades. Health spending has, however, become far more prominent. In the late 1970s, the government spent more on education, and defence than it did on health, with health spending increasing from 3.9 percent in 1978/79, to 8.4 percent by 2024/25. Defence spending in particular was cut significantly after the end of the Cold War, although geopolitical instability is forcing the government to rethink these cuts. Spending cuts politically dangerous for Labour Since coming to power in July 2024, the current Labour government has seen its popularity plummet drastically, with approval ratings similar to the unpopular Conservative government it replaced. Part of the reason for this have been Labour's attempts to reform aspects of the UK's welfare system. Shortly after winning the last election, Labour announced cuts to winter fuel payments for pensioners, a policy they paid dearly for in political capital and one that was reversed by June 2025. An attempt to push through further reforms was effectively defeated the following month, leaving the government in a tricky fiscal situation for the next budget.

Public sector expenditure for each country and region of the UK.

Graph and download economic data for Government Final Consumption Expenditure in the United Kingdom (GBRGFCEQDSNAQ) from Q1 1955 to Q1 2024 about United Kingdom, consumption expenditures, consumption, and government.