The ratio of government expenditure to GDP in the United Kingdom was 44.04 percent in 2024. Between 1980 and 2024, the ratio rose by five percentage points, though the increase followed an uneven trajectory rather than a consistent upward trend. The ratio is forecast to decline by 1.25 percentage points from 2024 to 2030, fluctuating as it trends downward.Shown here is the general government expenditure as a share of the national gross domestic product. As defined by the International Monetary Fund, the general government expenditure consists of total expense and the net acquisition of nonfinancial assets. The gross domestic product represents the total value of final goods and services produced during a year.

In 2024/25, the UK government spent approximately 13.3 percent of GDP on social protection, compared with 8.4 percent for health, and 4.1 percent for education. These three spending areas have accounted for the highest share of government spending since the late 1980s. Defence spending as a share of GDP has, by contrast, fallen throughout this period, from a high of 4.6 percent in 1984/85, to just 1.8 percent in the mid-2010s. Main sources of revenue During this same time period, income tax has been the most important source of revenue for the government, accounting for almost ten percent of GDP in the 2022/23 financial year. The UK's main tax levied on sales, Value Added Tax (VAT), was equivalent to 7.4 percent of GDP that year, with National Insurance Contributions at around seven percent of GDP. Taxes raised from businesses via Corporation Tax were the fourth-major source of tax revenue that year, at approximately 3.1 percent of GDP. Debt and borrowing Due to several years of the government spending more than it earns, the government has had to borrow large amounts to finance its commitments. This was especially the case at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic when, due to depressed revenues and increased expenditure, the government borrowed more than 314 billion pounds. This increased the national debt from 1.8 trillion pounds, to around 2.15 trillion pounds, or almost 97 percent of GDP.

Government spending in the United Kingdom was last recorded at 44.0 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.

In 2024/25, the government of the United Kingdom spent approximately 4.1 percent of its gross domestic product on education, compared with 4.2 percent in the previous financial year. During this time period, education spending as a share of GDP was highest in 2009/10 when it was 5.7 percent.

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

Actual value and historical data chart for United Kingdom Public Spending On Education Total Percent Of GDP

United Kingdom UK: GDP: % of GDP: Final Consumption Expenditure: General Government data was reported at 18.409 % in 2017. This records a decrease from the previous number of 18.828 % for 2016. United Kingdom UK: GDP: % of GDP: Final Consumption Expenditure: General Government data is updated yearly, averaging 18.790 % from Dec 1960 (Median) to 2017, with 58 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 21.895 % in 1975 and a record low of 15.808 % in 1998. United Kingdom UK: GDP: % of GDP: Final Consumption Expenditure: General Government data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s United Kingdom – Table UK.World Bank.WDI: Gross Domestic Product: Share of GDP. General government final consumption expenditure (formerly general government consumption) includes all government current expenditures for purchases of goods and services (including compensation of employees). It also includes most expenditures on national defense and security, but excludes government military expenditures that are part of government capital formation.; ; World Bank national accounts data, and OECD National Accounts data files.; Weighted average;

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.

In 2024/25 the government of the United Kingdom's revenue was the equivalent of approximately 39.9 percent of GDP, compared with 39.3 percent in the previous financial year.

The United Kingdom: Public spending on education, percent of GDP: The latest value from 2022 is 4.96 percent, a decline from 5.9 percent in 2021. In comparison, the world average is 4.15 percent, based on data from 130 countries. Historically, the average for the United Kingdom from 1971 to 2022 is 5 percent. The minimum value, 3.99 percent, was reached in 1999 while the maximum of 6.42 percent was recorded in 1976.

United Kingdom UK: Government Expenditure on Education: Total: % of GDP data was reported at 5.631 % in 2015. This records a decrease from the previous number of 5.693 % for 2014. United Kingdom UK: Government Expenditure on Education: Total: % of GDP data is updated yearly, averaging 4.944 % from Dec 1971 (Median) to 2015, with 40 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 6.424 % in 1976 and a record low of 4.025 % in 1999. United Kingdom UK: Government Expenditure on Education: Total: % of GDP data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s United Kingdom – Table UK.World Bank.WDI: Education Statistics. General government expenditure on education (current, capital, and transfers) is expressed as a percentage of GDP. It includes expenditure funded by transfers from international sources to government. General government usually refers to local, regional and central governments.; ; United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Institute for Statistics.; Median;

Graph and download economic data for Public Sector Total Managed Expenditure in the United Kingdom (PSTMEXUKA) from 1900 to 2016 about public, academic data, United Kingdom, sector, and expenditures.

This statistic shows government expenditure as a share of gross domestic product (GDP) in the United Kingdom (UK) from 2017/18 to 2023/24. Proportional expenditure is predicted to decrease yearly, to a forecasted total of 37.8 percent of GDP by 2023/24.

United Kingdom UK: Government Expenditure per Student: Secondary: % of(GDP) Gross Domestic Productper Capita data was reported at 23.423 % in 2015. This records an increase from the previous number of 22.903 % for 2014. United Kingdom UK: Government Expenditure per Student: Secondary: % of(GDP) Gross Domestic Productper Capita data is updated yearly, averaging 23.700 % from Dec 1998 (Median) to 2015, with 17 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 31.349 % in 2010 and a record low of 21.138 % in 1999. United Kingdom UK: Government Expenditure per Student: Secondary: % of(GDP) Gross Domestic Productper Capita data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s UK – Table UK.World Bank: Education Statistics. Government expenditure per student is the average general government expenditure (current, capital, and transfers) per student in the given level of education, expressed as a percentage of GDP per capita.; ; United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Institute for Statistics.; Median;

Time series data for the statistic Government expenditure on tertiary education as % of GDP (%) and country United Kingdom. Indicator Definition:Total general (local, regional and central) government expenditure on tertiary education (current, capital, and transfers), expressed as a percentage of GDP. It includes expenditure funded by transfers from international sources to government. Divide total government expenditure for a given level of education (ex. primary, secondary, or all levels combined) by the GDP, and multiply by 100. A higher percentage of GDP spent on education shows a higher government priority for education, but also a higher capacity of the government to raise revenues for public spending, in relation to the size of the country's economy. When interpreting this indicator however, one should keep in mind in some countries, the private sector and/or households may fund a higher proportion of total funding for education, thus making government expenditure appear lower than in other countries. Limitations: In some instances data on total public expenditure on education refers only to the Ministry of Education, excluding other ministries which may also spend a part of their budget on educational activities. For more information, consult the UNESCO Institute of Statistics website: http://www.uis.unesco.org/Education/The indicator "Government expenditure on tertiary education as % of GDP (%)" stands at 1.45 as of 12/31/2017, the highest value at least since 12/31/1972, the period currently displayed. Regarding the One-Year-Change of the series, the current value constitutes an increase of 4.28 percent compared to the value the year prior.The 1 year change in percent is 4.28.The 3 year change in percent is 6.43.The 10 year change in percent is 69.64.The Serie's long term average value is 1.06. It's latest available value, on 12/31/2017, is 36.17 percent higher, compared to it's long term average value.The Serie's change in percent from it's minimum value, on 12/31/2000, to it's latest available value, on 12/31/2017, is +105.01%.The Serie's change in percent from it's maximum value, on 12/31/2017, to it's latest available value, on 12/31/2017, is 0.0%.

The United Kingdom recorded a Government Budget deficit equal to 5.10 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.

Actual value and historical data chart for United Kingdom General Government Final Consumption Expenditure Percent Of GDP

United Kingdom UK: Government Expenditure per Student: Tertiary: % of(GDP) Gross Domestic Productper Capita data was reported at 35.633 % in 2015. This records a decrease from the previous number of 37.748 % for 2014. United Kingdom UK: Government Expenditure per Student: Tertiary: % of(GDP) Gross Domestic Productper Capita data is updated yearly, averaging 24.862 % from Dec 1998 (Median) to 2015, with 17 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 37.748 % in 2014 and a record low of 18.867 % in 2009. United Kingdom UK: Government Expenditure per Student: Tertiary: % of(GDP) Gross Domestic Productper Capita data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s United Kingdom – Table UK.World Bank.WDI: Education Statistics. Government expenditure per student is the average general government expenditure (current, capital, and transfers) per student in the given level of education, expressed as a percentage of GDP per capita.; ; United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Institute for Statistics.; Median;

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

Key information about UK Public Consumption: % of GDP

• United Kingdom Public Consumption accounted for 21.4 % of its Nominal GDP in Jun 2025, compared with a share of 21.0 % in the previous quarter.
• UK Public Consumption share of Nominal GDP ratio is updated quarterly, available from Mar 1955 to Jun 2025, with an average number of 16.6 %.
• The data reached an all-time high of 25.4 % in Jun 2020 and a record low of 14.9 % in Dec 1964.

CEIC calculates Government Consumption as % of Nominal GDP from quarterly Government Consumption Expenditure and quarterly Nominal GDP. Office for National Statistics provides Government Consumption Expenditure in local currency and Nominal GDP in local currency.


Related information about UK Public Consumption: % of GDP

• In the latest reports, UK GDP expanded 1.3 % YoY in Sep 2025.
• UK Nominal GDP reached 1,029.9 USD bn in Sep 2025.
• Its GDP deflator (implicit price deflator) increased 3.7 % in Sep 2025.
• UK GDP Per Capita reached 53,191.3 USD in Dec 2024.
• Its Gross Savings Rate was measured at 17.5 % in Jun 2025.
• For Nominal GDP contributions, Investment accounted for 17.9 % in Jun 2025.
• Private Consumption accounted for 61.2 % in Jun 2025.