Economic Outlook No 116 — Dependent employment, total economy in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland: Economic Outlook No 116 — Dependent employment, total economy was 29.33 million in 2026. ▲ Rising
Economic Outlook No 116 — Dependent employment, total economy in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, 1971–2026
Source: Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.
Analysis
The most recent figure for economic outlook no 116 — dependent employment, total economy in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is 29.33 million, measured in 2026. That is the highest value across all 56 years on record.
The figure is up 0.9% on the previous year and up 9.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, economic outlook no 116 — dependent employment, total economy in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland peaked at 29.33 million in 2026 and was at its lowest, 21.09 million, in 1983.
That places United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 5th out of 27 countries with data for 2026, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 56 years of available data.
Economic Outlook No 116 — Dependent employment, total economy in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1971 | 22.26 million | — |
| 1972 | 22.34 million | +0.3% |
| 1973 | 22.71 million | +1.6% |
| 1974 | 22.80 million | +0.4% |
| 1975 | 22.72 million | -0.4% |
| 1976 | 22.62 million | -0.4% |
| 1977 | 22.68 million | +0.3% |
| 1978 | 22.72 million | +0.2% |
| 1979 | 22.92 million | +0.9% |
| 1980 | 22.68 million | -1.0% |
| 1981 | 21.92 million | -3.4% |
| 1982 | 21.38 million | -2.4% |
| 1983 | 21.09 million | -1.3% |
| 1984 | 21.32 million | +1.0% |
| 1985 | 21.52 million | +0.9% |
| 1986 | 21.59 million | +0.4% |
| 1987 | 21.83 million | +1.1% |
| 1988 | 22.44 million | +2.8% |
| 1989 | 22.86 million | +1.9% |
| 1990 | 22.95 million | +0.4% |
| 1991 | 22.41 million | -2.4% |
| 1992 | 21.95 million | -2.0% |
| 1993 | 21.75 million | -0.9% |
| 1994 | 21.84 million | +0.4% |
| 1995 | 22.14 million | +1.3% |
| 1996 | 22.43 million | +1.3% |
| 1997 | 22.96 million | +2.3% |
| 1998 | 23.35 million | +1.7% |
| 1999 | 23.76 million | +1.8% |
| 2000 | 24.12 million | +1.5% |
| 2001 | 24.32 million | +0.8% |
| 2002 | 24.51 million | +0.8% |
| 2003 | 24.56 million | +0.2% |
| 2004 | 24.81 million | +1.0% |
| 2005 | 25.11 million | +1.2% |
| 2006 | 25.29 million | +0.7% |
| 2007 | 25.45 million | +0.6% |
| 2008 | 25.68 million | +0.9% |
| 2009 | 25.20 million | -1.9% |
| 2010 | 25.14 million | -0.2% |
| 2011 | 25.22 million | +0.3% |
| 2012 | 25.38 million | +0.6% |
| 2013 | 25.71 million | +1.3% |
| 2014 | 26.12 million | +1.6% |
| 2015 | 26.64 million | +2.0% |
| 2016 | 26.89 million | +0.9% |
| 2017 | 27.17 million | +1.1% |
| 2018 | 27.56 million | +1.4% |
| 2019 | 27.73 million | +0.6% |
| 2020 | 27.82 million | +0.3% |
| 2021 | 28.15 million | +1.2% |
| 2022 | 28.59 million | +1.6% |
| 2023 | 28.73 million | +0.5% |
| 2024 | 28.81 million | +0.3% |
| 2025 | 29.08 million | +0.9% |
| 2026 | 29.33 million | +0.9% |
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland compared with similar countries
- United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland's 29.33 million is above the median for high income countries, which is 4.60 million, 6.4× the median. (26 countries reporting)
- United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland's 29.33 million is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 4.44 million, 6.6× the median. (21 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 22.64 million | 22.26 million | 22.92 million | 9 |
| 1980s | 21.86 million | 21.09 million | 22.86 million | 10 |
| 1990s | 22.55 million | 21.75 million | 23.76 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 24.91 million | 24.12 million | 25.68 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 26.36 million | 25.14 million | 27.73 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 28.65 million | 27.82 million | 29.33 million | 7 |
Countries ranked near United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
- 2 Japan 61.70 million compare
- 2 Poland 14.17 million compare
- 3 Croatia 1.60 million compare
- 3 Mexico 43.37 million compare
- 3 Netherlands 8.57 million compare
- 4 Germany 42.62 million compare
- 4 Lithuania 1.34 million compare
- 5 Slovenia 901,539 compare
- 6 France 27.34 million compare
- 6 Latvia 745,076 compare
- 7 Italy 20.61 million compare
- 7 Estonia 630,742 compare
- 8 Spain 19.61 million compare
More economy & growth data for United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP 1.14 Percent per annum (2029)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP 1.42 Percent per annum (2029)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), gaps 86.93 billion BoP, current US$ (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.0217 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 1,251 BoP, current US$ per person (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), gaps filled 76.63 billion BoP, current US$ (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), annual 691.49 % change on previous year (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.0191 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 1,103 BoP, current US$ per person (2025)
- Total reserves (includes gold, current US$), annual growth rate 22.77 % change on previous year (2025)
All data for United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland →
Frequently asked questions
- What is economic outlook no 116 — dependent employment, total economy in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
- Economic outlook no 116 — dependent employment, total economy in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland was 29.33 million in 2026, according to Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.
- What is the highest economic outlook no 116 — dependent employment, total economy recorded in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
- The highest recorded value was 29.33 million in 2026.
- What is the lowest economic outlook no 116 — dependent employment, total economy recorded in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
- The lowest recorded value was 21.09 million in 1983.
- How does United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland rank for economic outlook no 116 — dependent employment, total economy?
- United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ranks 5th out of 27 countries with data for 2026.
- Is economic outlook no 116 — dependent employment, total economy rising or falling in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
- Over the last ten years it is up 9.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland data come from?
- The figures come from Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, published as part of Economic Outlook No 116 — Dependent employment, total economy. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
The OECD Economic Outlook presents the OECD’s analysis of the major global economic trends and prospects for the next two years. The Outlook puts forward a consistent set of projections for output, employment, government spending, prices and current balances based on a review of each member country and of the induced effect on each of them on international developments. OECD (2024), OECD Economic Outlook No 116 (Edition 2024/2) EO116 Database documentation EO116 Last historical points OECD Economic Outlook website: https://www.oecd.org/economic-outlook/ Contact: eco.outlook@oecd.org