Economic Outlook No 117 — Net capital outlays of the government in United Kingdom
United Kingdom: Economic Outlook No 117 — Net capital outlays of the government was 130.43 billion in 2026. ◆ Volatile
Economic Outlook No 117 — Net capital outlays of the government in United Kingdom, 1970–2026
Source: Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.
Analysis
United Kingdom recorded 130.43 billion for economic outlook no 117 — net capital outlays of the government in 2026.
That represents a change of down 4.7% on the previous year and up 461.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, economic outlook no 117 — net capital outlays of the government in United Kingdom peaked at 136.82 billion in 2025 and was at its lowest, 2.84 billion, in 1971.
United Kingdom ranks 7th of 27 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Economic Outlook No 117 — Net capital outlays of the government in United Kingdom, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 2.88 billion | — |
| 1971 | 2.84 billion | -1.5% |
| 1972 | 3.34 billion | +17.6% |
| 1973 | 4.80 billion | +43.6% |
| 1974 | 5.01 billion | +4.5% |
| 1975 | 6.02 billion | +20.0% |
| 1976 | 6.33 billion | +5.1% |
| 1977 | 5.88 billion | -7.0% |
| 1978 | 6.22 billion | +5.7% |
| 1979 | 6.57 billion | +5.7% |
| 1980 | 7.36 billion | +11.9% |
| 1981 | 9.55 billion | +29.9% |
| 1982 | 6.73 billion | -29.6% |
| 1983 | 8.83 billion | +31.3% |
| 1984 | 10.26 billion | +16.2% |
| 1985 | 10.23 billion | -0.3% |
| 1986 | 8.04 billion | -21.4% |
| 1987 | 7.43 billion | -7.6% |
| 1988 | 8.10 billion | +9.1% |
| 1989 | 12.28 billion | +51.5% |
| 1990 | 18.51 billion | +50.7% |
| 1991 | 15.22 billion | -17.7% |
| 1992 | 12.20 billion | -19.8% |
| 1993 | 11.75 billion | -3.7% |
| 1994 | 11.05 billion | -6.0% |
| 1995 | 10.84 billion | -1.9% |
| 1996 | 6.73 billion | -37.9% |
| 1997 | 7.33 billion | +8.9% |
| 1998 | 7.38 billion | +0.7% |
| 1999 | 6.73 billion | -8.8% |
| 2000 | 6.31 billion | -6.3% |
| 2001 | 10.84 billion | +71.9% |
| 2002 | 12.55 billion | +15.8% |
| 2003 | 15.96 billion | +27.2% |
| 2004 | 18.63 billion | +16.7% |
| 2005 | 17.59 billion | -5.6% |
| 2006 | 20.44 billion | +16.2% |
| 2007 | 20.75 billion | +1.5% |
| 2008 | 35.25 billion | +69.9% |
| 2009 | 43.72 billion | +24.0% |
| 2010 | 35.22 billion | -19.4% |
| 2011 | 25.94 billion | -26.3% |
| 2012 | 30.64 billion | +18.1% |
| 2013 | 16.13 billion | -47.4% |
| 2014 | 23.12 billion | +43.3% |
| 2015 | 25.97 billion | +12.3% |
| 2016 | 23.24 billion | -10.5% |
| 2017 | 32.58 billion | +40.2% |
| 2018 | 33.26 billion | +2.1% |
| 2019 | 35.56 billion | +6.9% |
| 2020 | 59.54 billion | +67.4% |
| 2021 | 42.59 billion | -28.5% |
| 2022 | 26.79 billion | -37.1% |
| 2023 | 88.25 billion | +229.5% |
| 2024 | 101.78 billion | +15.3% |
| 2025 | 136.82 billion | +34.4% |
| 2026 | 130.43 billion | -4.7% |
United Kingdom compared with similar countries
- United Kingdom's 130.43 billion is above the median for high income countries, which is 43.87 billion, 3.0× the median. (27 countries reporting)
- United Kingdom's 130.43 billion is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 36.84 billion, 3.5× the median. (21 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Economic Outlook No 117 — Net capital outlays of the government in United Kingdom changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | +229.5% | 26.79 billion | 88.25 billion |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 4.99 billion | 2.84 billion | 6.57 billion | 10 |
| 1980s | 8.88 billion | 6.73 billion | 12.28 billion | 10 |
| 1990s | 10.77 billion | 6.73 billion | 18.51 billion | 10 |
| 2000s | 20.20 billion | 6.31 billion | 43.72 billion | 10 |
| 2010s | 28.17 billion | 16.13 billion | 35.56 billion | 10 |
| 2020s | 83.74 billion | 26.79 billion | 136.82 billion | 7 |
Countries ranked near United Kingdom
- 4 Iceland 285.23 billion compare
- 4 Slovenia 2.74 billion compare
- 5 Sweden 279.27 billion compare
- 5 Lithuania 1.68 billion compare
- 6 Norway 131.36 billion compare
- 6 Estonia 1.68 billion compare
- 7 Latvia 885.14 million compare
- 8 Germany 99.87 billion compare
- 9 Romania 85.55 billion compare
- 10 Australia 83.72 billion compare
More economy & growth data for United Kingdom
- 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)
Frequently asked questions
- What is economic outlook no 117 — net capital outlays of the government in United Kingdom?
- Economic outlook no 117 — net capital outlays of the government in United Kingdom was 130.43 billion in 2026, according to Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.
- What is the highest economic outlook no 117 — net capital outlays of the government recorded in United Kingdom?
- The highest recorded value was 136.82 billion in 2025.
- What is the lowest economic outlook no 117 — net capital outlays of the government recorded in United Kingdom?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.84 billion in 1971.
- How does United Kingdom rank for economic outlook no 117 — net capital outlays of the government?
- United Kingdom ranks 7th out of 27 countries with data for 2026.
- Is economic outlook no 117 — net capital outlays of the government rising or falling in United Kingdom?
- Over the last ten years it is up 461.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this United Kingdom data come from?
- The figures come from Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, published as part of Economic Outlook No 117 — Net capital outlays of the government. 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 (2025), OECD Economic Outlook No 117 (Edition 2025/1) EO117 Database documentation EO117 Last historical points gdp inflation cpi population unemployment real gdp gdp per capita employment OECD Economic Outlook website: https://www.oecd.org/economic-outlook/ Contact : eco.outlook@oecd.org Keywords : Outlook, forecasts, forecast, GDP