Government expenditure vs gdp in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland: Government expenditure vs gdp was 683.00 billion in 2025. ▲ Rising
Latest (2025)
683.00 billion
Change on year
up 1.7%
World rank
4th
of 166 countries
All-time high
683.00 billion
in 2025
All-time low
261.07 billion
in 1970
Years of data
56
1970–2025
Government expenditure vs gdp in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, 1970–2025
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
In 2025, government expenditure vs gdp in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland stood at 683.00 billion. That is the highest value across all 56 years on record.
The figure is up 1.7% on the previous year and up 19.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, government expenditure vs gdp in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland peaked at 683.00 billion in 2025 and was at its lowest, 261.07 billion, in 1970.
That places United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 4th out of 166 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 56 years of available data.
Government expenditure vs gdp in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 261.07 billion | — |
| 1971 | 269.20 billion | +3.1% |
| 1972 | 281.48 billion | +4.6% |
| 1973 | 291.90 billion | +3.7% |
| 1974 | 297.74 billion | +2.0% |
| 1975 | 314.70 billion | +5.7% |
| 1976 | 320.37 billion | +1.8% |
| 1977 | 315.89 billion | -1.4% |
| 1978 | 321.57 billion | +1.8% |
| 1979 | 326.77 billion | +1.6% |
| 1980 | 331.87 billion | +1.6% |
| 1981 | 332.61 billion | +0.2% |
| 1982 | 335.01 billion | +0.7% |
| 1983 | 340.90 billion | +1.8% |
| 1984 | 345.10 billion | +1.2% |
| 1985 | 343.96 billion | -0.3% |
| 1986 | 348.95 billion | +1.4% |
| 1987 | 348.65 billion | -0.1% |
| 1988 | 349.19 billion | +0.2% |
| 1989 | 352.54 billion | +1.0% |
| 1990 | 360.27 billion | +2.2% |
| 1991 | 371.12 billion | +3.0% |
| 1992 | 373.86 billion | +0.7% |
| 1993 | 371.30 billion | -0.7% |
| 1994 | 375.21 billion | +1.1% |
| 1995 | 380.11 billion | +1.3% |
| 1996 | 382.75 billion | +0.7% |
| 1997 | 380.16 billion | -0.7% |
| 1998 | 392.96 billion | +3.4% |
| 1999 | 407.04 billion | +3.6% |
| 2000 | 421.37 billion | +3.5% |
| 2001 | 441.57 billion | +4.8% |
| 2002 | 459.18 billion | +4.0% |
| 2003 | 478.56 billion | +4.2% |
| 2004 | 498.32 billion | +4.1% |
| 2005 | 510.09 billion | +2.4% |
| 2006 | 519.62 billion | +1.9% |
| 2007 | 526.41 billion | +1.3% |
| 2008 | 537.25 billion | +2.1% |
| 2009 | 544.73 billion | +1.4% |
| 2010 | 544.61 billion | -0.0% |
| 2011 | 542.87 billion | -0.3% |
| 2012 | 550.81 billion | +1.5% |
| 2013 | 551.00 billion | +0.0% |
| 2014 | 563.82 billion | +2.3% |
| 2015 | 569.40 billion | +1.0% |
| 2016 | 574.39 billion | +0.9% |
| 2017 | 580.22 billion | +1.0% |
| 2018 | 583.95 billion | +0.6% |
| 2019 | 601.14 billion | +2.9% |
| 2020 | 565.36 billion | -6.0% |
| 2021 | 638.84 billion | +13.0% |
| 2022 | 639.27 billion | +0.1% |
| 2023 | 652.40 billion | +2.1% |
| 2024 | 671.50 billion | +2.9% |
| 2025 | 683.00 billion | +1.7% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 300.07 billion | 261.07 billion | 326.77 billion | 10 |
| 1980s | 342.88 billion | 331.87 billion | 352.54 billion | 10 |
| 1990s | 379.48 billion | 360.27 billion | 407.04 billion | 10 |
| 2000s | 493.71 billion | 421.37 billion | 544.73 billion | 10 |
| 2010s | 566.22 billion | 542.87 billion | 601.14 billion | 10 |
| 2020s | 641.73 billion | 565.36 billion | 683.00 billion | 6 |
Countries ranked near United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
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)
- GDP (constant 2015 US$), annual growth rate 1.39 % change on previous year (2025)
- GDP (constant 2015 US$), per unit of GDP 0.8406 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- GDP (constant 2015 US$), per capita 48,422 constant 2015 US$ per person (2025)
- GDP (constant LCU), annual growth rate 1.39 % change on previous year (2025)
- GDP (constant LCU), per unit of GDP 0.6226 constant LCU per US$ of GDP (2025)
- GDP (constant LCU), per capita 35,862 constant LCU per person (2025)
- Gross domestic savings (current US$), annual growth rate 8.33 % change on previous year (2025)
- Gross domestic savings (current US$), per unit of GDP 0.1834 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
All data for United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland →
Frequently asked questions
- What is government expenditure vs gdp in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
- Government expenditure vs gdp in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland was 683.00 billion in 2025, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest government expenditure vs gdp recorded in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
- The highest recorded value was 683.00 billion in 2025.
- What is the lowest government expenditure vs gdp recorded in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
- The lowest recorded value was 261.07 billion in 1970.
- How does United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland rank for government expenditure vs gdp?
- United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ranks 4th out of 166 countries with data for 2025.
- Is government expenditure vs gdp rising or falling in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
- Over the last ten years it is up 19.9%. 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 Our World in Data, published as part of Government expenditure vs gdp. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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