United Kingdom vs United States: Financing of social security benefits in OECD member countries — Tax

United Kingdom
6.07 Percentage of GDP
in 2024
United States
5.98 Percentage of GDP
in 2024
United Kingdom rank
24th
United States rank
25th

Financing of social security benefits in OECD member countries — Tax over time

  • United Kingdom
  • United States
02468196519942024

How they compare

United Kingdom currently reports 6.07 Percentage of GDP against 5.98 Percentage of GDP in United States, a difference of 0.09 Percentage of GDP.

The two have swapped places 6 times across 60 shared years of data; in 1965 it was United Kingdom ahead.

United Kingdom ranks 24th and United States ranks 25th of 33 countries.

Across the 7 decades both report, United Kingdom averaged higher in 4 and United States in 3.

Head to head by decade

Decade United Kingdom United States Difference Ahead
1960s 4.68 Percentage of GDP 3.63 Percentage of GDP 1.05 Percentage of GDP United Kingdom
1970s 5.47 Percentage of GDP 4.74 Percentage of GDP 0.7362 Percentage of GDP United Kingdom
1980s 6.1 Percentage of GDP 6.13 Percentage of GDP 0.0331 Percentage of GDP United States
1990s 5.43 Percentage of GDP 6.67 Percentage of GDP 1.24 Percentage of GDP United States
2000s 5.84 Percentage of GDP 6.45 Percentage of GDP 0.6101 Percentage of GDP United States
2010s 6.11 Percentage of GDP 5.98 Percentage of GDP 0.1371 Percentage of GDP United Kingdom
2020s 6.69 Percentage of GDP 6.05 Percentage of GDP 0.6392 Percentage of GDP United Kingdom

Averages of every year both report within each decade.

Frequently asked questions

Which has higher financing of social security benefits in oecd member countries — tax, United Kingdom or United States?
United Kingdom, at 6.07 Percentage of GDP against 5.98 Percentage of GDP in United States as of 2024.
What is the difference in financing of social security benefits in oecd member countries — tax between United Kingdom and United States?
0.09 Percentage of GDP, with United Kingdom ahead.
How many years of comparable data are there for United Kingdom and United States?
60 years are reported by both, from 1965 to 2024.
How do United Kingdom and United States rank globally for financing of social security benefits in oecd member countries — tax?
United Kingdom ranks 24th and United States ranks 25th of 33 countries.
Where does this data come from?
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, published as Financing of social security benefits in OECD member countries — Tax revenue. Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.

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United Kingdom vs United States: Financing of social security benefits in OECD member countries — Tax. Statizoid, drawing on Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. Retrieved 18 September 2026, from https://economy.statizoid.com/compare/financing-of-social-security-benefits-in-oecd-member-countries-tax-revenue/united-kingdom/united-states/

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About this data

Indicator
Financing of social security benefits in OECD member countries — Tax revenue
Unit
Percentage of GDP
Source
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development
Licence
OECD Terms and Conditions (attribution required)
Coverage
36 places, 1,787 data points, 1965–2024
Last refreshed

Compulsory payments conferring entitlement to future social benefits These are usually earmarked to finance social benefits and paid to institutions of general government.