Japan vs United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland: Government spending vs. GDP
Government spending vs. GDP over time
- Japan
- United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
How they compare
Japan currently reports 999.41 billion constant 2015 US$ against 683.00 billion constant 2015 US$ in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, a difference of 316.41 billion constant 2015 US$.
That makes Japan's figure about 1.5 times United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland's.
The two have swapped places 1 time across 55 shared years of data; in 1970 it was United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ahead.
Japan ranks 2nd and United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ranks 4th of 166 countries.
Across the 6 decades both report, Japan averaged higher in 5 and United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland in 1.
Head to head by decade
| Decade | Japan | United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland | Difference | Ahead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 286.80 billion constant 2015 US$ | 300.07 billion constant 2015 US$ | 13.27 billion constant 2015 US$ | United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland |
| 1980s | 434.38 billion constant 2015 US$ | 342.88 billion constant 2015 US$ | 91.50 billion constant 2015 US$ | Japan |
| 1990s | 596.16 billion constant 2015 US$ | 379.48 billion constant 2015 US$ | 216.69 billion constant 2015 US$ | Japan |
| 2000s | 746.41 billion constant 2015 US$ | 493.71 billion constant 2015 US$ | 252.70 billion constant 2015 US$ | Japan |
| 2010s | 860.27 billion constant 2015 US$ | 566.22 billion constant 2015 US$ | 294.05 billion constant 2015 US$ | Japan |
| 2020s | 975.11 billion constant 2015 US$ | 633.48 billion constant 2015 US$ | 341.63 billion constant 2015 US$ | Japan |
Averages of every year both report within each decade.
Frequently asked questions
- Which has higher government spending vs. gdp, Japan or United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
- Japan, at 999.41 billion constant 2015 US$ against 683.00 billion constant 2015 US$ in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland as of 2024.
- What is the difference in government spending vs. gdp between Japan and United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
- 316.41 billion constant 2015 US$, with Japan ahead.
- How many years of comparable data are there for Japan and United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
- 55 years are reported by both, from 1970 to 2024.
- How do Japan and United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland rank globally for government spending vs. gdp?
- Japan ranks 2nd and United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ranks 4th of 166 countries.
- Where does this data come from?
- National statistical organizations and central banks, OECD national accounts, and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as Government spending vs. GDP. Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.
Individual pages
About this data
General government final consumption expenditure includes all government current expenditures for purchases of goods and services (including compensation of employees). Both measures are expressed in constant 2015 US$.