Public sector net debt amounted to 95.8 percent of gross domestic product in the United Kingdom during the 2024/25 financial year, or 90 percent when the Bank of England is excluded. UK government debt is at its highest levels since the early 1960s, due to a significant increase in borrowing during the COVID-19 pandemic. After peaking at 251.7 percent shortly after the end of the Second World War, government debt in the UK gradually fell, before a sharp increase in the late 2000s at the time of the global financial crisis. Debt not expected to start falling until 2029/30 In 2024/25, the UK's government expenditure was approximately 1.28 trillion pounds, around 44.7 percent of GDP. This spending was financed by 1.13 trillion pounds of revenue raised, and 151 billion pounds of borrowing. Although the UK government can still borrow money in the future to finance its spending, the amount spent on debt interest has increased significantly recently. Recent forecasts suggest that while the debt is eventually expected to start declining, this is based on falling government deficits in the next five years. Government facing hard choices Hitting fiscal targets, such as reducing the national debt, will require a careful balancing of the books from the current government, and the possibility for either spending cuts or tax rises. Although Labour ruled out raising the main government tax sources, Income Tax, National Insurance, and VAT, at the 2024 election, they did raise National Insurance for employers (rather than employees) and also cut Winter Fuel allowances for large numbers of pensioners. Less than a year after implementing cuts to Winter Fuel, the government performed a U-Turn on the issue, and will make it widely available by the winter of 2025.

The United Kingdom recorded a Government Debt to GDP of 95.90 percent of the country's Gross Domestic Product in 2024. This dataset provides - United Kingdom Government Debt To GDP - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

Key information about United Kingdom Government Debt: % of GDP

• United Kingdom Government debt accounted for 101.1 % of the country's Nominal GDP in Sep 2024, compared with the ratio of 100.9 % in the previous quarter.
• UK government debt to GDP ratio data is updated quarterly, available from Mar 1966 to Sep 2024.
• The data reached an all-time high of 107.5 % in Mar 2021 and a record low of 28.3 % in Dec 1990.

CEIC calculates quarterly Government Debt as % of Nominal GDP from quarterly Government Debt and rolling sum of quarterly Nominal GDP. The Office of National Statistics provides Government Debt in local currency. The Office for National Statistics provides Nominal GDP in local currency.


Related information about United Kingdom Government Debt: % of GDP

• In the latest reports, UK National Government Debt reached 3,810.9 USD bn in Sep 2024.
• The country's Nominal GDP reached 786.4 USD bn in Mar 2023.

The ratio of national debt to gross domestic product (GDP) of the United Kingdom amounted to about 101.23 percent in 2024. From 1980 to 2024, the ratio rose by approximately 58.71 percentage points, though the increase followed an uneven trajectory rather than a consistent upward trend. Between 2024 and 2030, the ratio will rise by around 4.83 percentage points, showing an overall upward trend with periodic ups and downs.The general government gross debt consists of all liabilities that require payment or payments of interest and/or principal by the debtor to the creditor at a date or dates in the future. Here it is depicted in relation to the country's GDP, which refers to the total value of goods and services produced during a year.

Key information about United Kingdom Total Debt: % of GDP

• United Kingdom Total Debt accounted for 872.5 % of the country's GDP in 2024, compared with the ratio of 878.1 % in the previous quarter.
• UK Total Debt: % of GDP data is updated quarterly, available from Mar 1987 to Sep 2024.
• The data reached an all-time high of 1,236.1 % in Sep 2011 and a record low of 517.3 % in Dec 1988.

CEIC calculates quarterly Total Debt as % of Nominal GDP from quarterly Total Debt and quarterly Nominal GDP. Total Debt is calculated as Total Liabilities less Equity & Investment Fund Shares and Financial Derivatives. Office for National Statistics provides Total Debt in local currency and Nominal GDP in local currency.

Households Debt in the United Kingdom decreased to 75.90 percent of GDP in the first quarter of 2025 from 76.30 percent of GDP in the fourth quarter of 2024. This dataset provides - United Kingdom Households Debt To Gdp- actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

Government debt in the United Kingdom reached over 2.8 trillion British pounds in 2024/25, compared with 2.69 trillion pounds in the previous financial year. Although debt has been increasing throughout this period, there is a noticeable jump between 2019/20, and 2020/21, when debt increased from 1.82 trillion pounds, to 2.15 trillion. The UK's government debt was the equivalent of 95.8 percent of GDP in 2024/25, and is expected to increase slightly in coming years, and not start falling until the end of this decade. Public finances in a tight spot With government debt approaching 100 percent of GDP, the UK finds itself in a tricky fiscal situation. If the UK can't reduce it's spending, or increase its revenue, the government will have to continue borrowing large amounts, increasing the debt further. Adding to the problem, is the fact that financing this debt has got steadily more expensive recently, with the government currently spending more on debt interest than it does on defence, transport, and public order and safety. Can the UK grow out its debt? After the Second World War, when the national debt reached over 250 percent of GDP, the UK managed to reduce its debt-to-GDP ratio, due to the economy growing faster than its debt over a long period of time. This is certainly the hope of the current Labour government, who are seeking to avoid significant tax and spending adjustments by strengthening the economy. Overdue investments in infrastructure and increased capital spending may eventually achieve this goal, but the government's declining popularity suggests they may not be in power by the time these policies might eventually bear fruit.

Public Sector Net Debt to GDP in the United Kingdom decreased to 95.30 percent of GDP in September from 95.40 percent of GDP in August of 2025. This dataset includes a chart with historical data for the United Kingdom Public Sector Net Debt To GDP.

Key information about United Kingdom External Debt: % of GDP

• United Kingdom External Debt accounted for 277.2 % of the country's Nominal GDP in 2023, compared with the ratio of 288.8 % in the previous year.
• UK External Debt: % of Nominal GDP data is updated yearly, available from Dec 1987 to Dec 2023.
• The data reached an all-time high of 395.1 % in Dec 2008 and a record low of 116.0 % in Dec 1987.

CEIC calculates External Debt as % of Nominal GDP from quarterly External Debt and quarterly Nominal GDP. Office for National Statistics provides External Debt in local currency and Nominal GDP in local currency.


Related information about United Kingdom External Debt: % of GDP

• In the latest reports of UK, Current Account recorded a deficit of 13.1 USD bn in Mar 2023.
• Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) fell by 8.6 USD bn in Sep 2024.
• UK Direct Investment Abroad fell by 7.0 USD bn in Sep 2024.
• Its Foreign Portfolio Investment increased by 2.8 USD bn in Sep 2024.
• The country's External Debt reached 10,527,772.5 in Sep 2024.
• The country's Nominal GDP was reported at 786.4 USD bn in Mar 2023.

This statistic shows the general government gross consolidated debt (national debt) as a percentage of gross domestic product (GDP) in the United Kingdom (UK) from fiscal year 2000/01 to 2018/19. After 2002/03, national debt as a percentage of GDP rose continuously over the remainder of the period to a peak in 2016/17.

Historical dataset showing U.K. debt to gdp ratio by year from 1990 to 2023.

This dataset provides values for GOVERNMENT DEBT TO GDP reported in several countries. The data includes current values, previous releases, historical highs and record lows, release frequency, reported unit and currency.

Key information about United Kingdom Household Debt: % of GDP

• United Kingdom household debt accounted for 81.6 % of the country's Nominal GDP in Sep 2024, compared with the ratio of 81.8 % in the previous quarter.
• UK household debt to GDP ratio is updated quarterly, available from Mar 1987 to Sep 2024.
• The data reached an all-time high of 108.5 % in Mar 2010 and a record low of 55.6 % in Mar 1987.

CEIC calculates quarterly Household Debt as % of Nominal GDP from quarterly Household Debt and quarterly Nominal GDP. Office for National Statistics provides Household Debt in local currency and Nominal GDP in local currency. Household Debt includes NPISH.


Related information about United Kingdom Household Debt: % of GDP

• In the latest reports, UK Household Debt reached 3,076.4 USD bn in Sep 2024.
• Money Supply M2 in UK increased 2.2 % YoY in Dec 2024.
• UK Foreign Exchange Reserves was measured at 112.5 USD bn in Jan 2025.
• The Foreign Exchange Reserves equaled 1.4 Months of Import in Oct 2024.
• UK Domestic Credit reached 4,866.2 USD bn in Dec 2024, representing an drop of 1.3 % YoY.
• The country's Non Performing Loans Ratio stood at 1.0 % in Dec 2022, compared with the ratio of 1.0 % in the previous year.

Graph and download economic data for General government gross debt for United Kingdom (GGGDTAGBA188N) from 1980 to 2024 about United Kingdom, debt, gross, and government.

Household debt to GDP, in percent in the United Kingdom, March, 2025 The most recent value is 75.9 percent as of March 2025, a decline compared to the previous value of 76.3 percent. Historically, the average for the United Kingdom from March 1999 to March 2025 is 84.8 percent. The minimum of 60.6 percent was recorded in March 1999, while the maximum of 98.2 percent was reached in March 2010. | TheGlobalEconomy.com

Private Debt to GDP in the United Kingdom decreased to 75.70 percent in 2024 from 79.30 percent in 2023. United Kingdom Private Debt to GDP - values, historical data, forecasts and news - updated on October of 2025.

Key information about United Kingdom Private Debt: % of Nominal GDP

• United Kingdom Private Debt accounted for 113.96 % of its Nominal GDP in Dec 2024, compared with a ratio of 116.11 % in the previous quarter
• UK Private Debt contribution to Nominal GDP ratio is updated quarterly, available from Jun 1998 to Dec 2024, with an average share of 135.26 %
• The data reached an all-time high of 203.16 % in Mar 2010 and a record low of 101.90 % in Dec 1998

CEIC calculates quarterly Private Debt as % of Nominal GDP from monthly Private Debt and quarterly Nominal GDP. Private Debt is calculated as the sum of Private Loans and Private Securities in GBP and Foreign Currency. The Bank of England provides Private Debt in local currency. Office for National Statistics provides Nominal GDP in local currency. Private Debt includes Financial Sector.

International comparison of UK general government gross debt and general government deficit as percentage of GDP.

Key information about European Union Government Debt: % of GDP

• European Union Government debt accounted for 81.6 % of the country's Nominal GDP in Sep 2024, compared with the ratio of 81.5 % in the previous quarter.
• EU government debt to GDP ratio data is updated quarterly, available from Mar 2000 to Sep 2024.
• The data reached an all-time high of 91.5 % in Mar 2021 and a record low of 62.4 % in Dec 2007.

CEIC calculates quarterly Government Debt as % of Nominal GDP from quarterly Government Debt and rolling sum of quarterly Nominal GDP. Eurostat provides Government Debt in EUR and Nominal GDP in EUR. European Union stands for EU27 excluding UK.


Related information about European Union Government Debt: % of GDP

• In the latest reports, EU National Government Debt reached 16,136.9 USD bn in Sep 2024.
• The country's Nominal GDP reached 4,430.4 USD bn in Mar 2023.

In the third quarter of 2024, Greece's national debt was the highest in all the European Union, amounting to 158 percent of Greece's gross domestic product. In spite of Greece's total being high by EU standards, it marks a substantial decrease from the historical high point reached by the country's national debt of 207 percent of GDP in 2020. Italy, France, Spain, Belgium, and Portugal also all have government debt worth over one year's production of their economies, while the small Baltic country of Estonia has the smallest national debt when compared with GDP, at only 24 percent. In debitum incrementum?A country’s national debt, also known as government debt or public debt, is defined as all borrowings owed by the government of a country. It usually comprises internal debt – owed to other governmental departments – and external debt, which is held by the public and is owed to government bond owners. National debt can be caused by a struggling economy in general, or by low tax income, which usually leads to money being borrowed from other governments for support, which in turn cannot be paid back right away. At first glance, a high national debt is not always a sign of a struggling economy – but since increasing debt can slow down economic growth significantly, it is imperative for the respective government to seek a steady reduction in the long run.