The government of the United Kingdom borrowed approximately 149.7 billion British pounds in the 2024/25 financial year. In 2020/21, government borrowing was almost 311 billion pounds, due to increased financial support to public services during the COVID-19 pandemic, combined with reduced revenue due to the lockdowns.

The United Kingdom recorded a government budget deficit of 17434 GBP Million in October of 2025. This dataset provides - United Kingdom Government Budget Value - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

Public sector net debt amounted to 93.5 percent of gross domestic product in the United Kingdom during the 2024/25 financial year. Following the COVID-19 pandemic, UK government debt has reached levels not seen since the early 1960s, due to a significant increase in borrowing in 2020/21. 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 percent of GDP. This spending was financed by 1.14 trillion pounds of revenue raised, and almost 150 billion pounds of borrowing. Although the UK government can continue to borrow money to finance its spending, the amount spent on debt interest has increased significantly in recent years. Current 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 also held back on more significant cuts to welfare.

Public Sector Net Borrowing in the United Kingdom increased to -17434 GBP Million in October from -19894 GBP Million in September of 2025. This dataset includes a chart with historical data for the United Kingdom Public Sector Net Borrowing.

The United Kingdom recorded a Government Debt to GDP of 93.60 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.

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 93.5 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.

In 2024/25, the UK government borrowed approximately 151.9 billion British pounds, compared with 131.2 billion in 2023/24, and an expected 117.7 billion pounds in 2025/26.

Summary, reconciliation and revisions information on UK government deficit and debt figures by calendar and financial 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.

United Kingdom UK: Central Government Debt: Total: % of GDP data was reported at 116.856 % in 2016. This records an increase from the previous number of 106.728 % for 2015. United Kingdom UK: Central Government Debt: Total: % of GDP data is updated yearly, averaging 44.132 % from Dec 1990 (Median) to 2016, with 27 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 116.856 % in 2016 and a record low of 29.195 % in 1991. United Kingdom UK: Central Government Debt: 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: Government Revenue, Expenditure and Finance. Debt is the entire stock of direct government fixed-term contractual obligations to others outstanding on a particular date. It includes domestic and foreign liabilities such as currency and money deposits, securities other than shares, and loans. It is the gross amount of government liabilities reduced by the amount of equity and financial derivatives held by the government. Because debt is a stock rather than a flow, it is measured as of a given date, usually the last day of the fiscal year.; ; International Monetary Fund, Government Finance Statistics Yearbook and data files, and World Bank and OECD GDP estimates.; Weighted average;

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.

The government of the United Kingdom borrowed approximately *** percent of its GDP in the 2024/25 financial year, compared with ****percent in 2023/24. In 2020/21, government borrowing reached *****percent of GDP, due to increased financial support to public services during the COVID-19 pandemic, combined with reduced revenue because of societal lockdowns.

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.

Key information about UK External Debt

• United Kingdom External Debt reached 10,917.6 USD bn in Jun 2025, compared with 10,205.3 USD bn in the previous quarter.
• UK External Debt: USD mn data is updated quarterly, available from Mar 1987 to Jun 2025.
• The data reached an all-time high of 11,999.7 USD bn in Mar 2008 and a record low of 908.7 USD bn in Mar 1987.

• In the latest reports of UK, Current Account recorded a deficit of 38.7 USD bn in Jun 2025.
• Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) fell by 7.4 USD bn in Jun 2025.
• UK Direct Investment Abroad expanded by 84.2 USD mn in Jun 2025.
• Its Foreign Portfolio Investment increased by 26.1 USD bn in Jun 2025.
• The country's Nominal GDP was reported at 1,029.9 USD bn in Sep 2025.

View monthly updates and historical trends for UK Public Sector Net Borrowing. from United Kingdom. Source: Office for National Statistics. Track economic…

Government Debt in the United Kingdom decreased to 2904.90 GBP Billion in October from 2916.90 GBP Billion in September of 2025. This dataset provides the latest reported value for - United Kingdom Public Sector Net Borrowing - plus previous releases, historical high and low, short-term forecast and long-term prediction, economic calendar, survey consensus and news.

Public sector finances analytical tables (PSAT) showing transactions related to borrowing by sub-sector. Total Managed Expenditure (TME) is also provided.