Central government revenues as a share of GDP in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland: Central government revenues as a share of GDP was 34.8% in 2024. ▬ Flat
Latest (2024)
34.8%
Change on year
down 1.4%
World rank
32nd
of 157 countries
All-time high
38.1%
in 2010
All-time low
29.4%
in 1973
Years of data
53
1972–2024
Central government revenues as a share of GDP in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, 1972–2024
Source: International Monetary Fund (IMF) Government Finance Statistics, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in % of GDP.
Analysis
In 2024, central government revenues as a share of gdp in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland stood at 34.8%.
That represents a change of down 1.4% on the previous year and up 6.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, central government revenues as a share of gdp in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland peaked at 38.1% in 2010 and was at its lowest, 29.4%, in 1973.
That places United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 32nd out of 157 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top quarter.
Central government revenues as a share of GDP in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, year by year
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1972 | 31.3% | — |
| 1973 | 29.4% | -5.9% |
| 1974 | 33.3% | +13.3% |
| 1975 | 34.4% | +3.2% |
| 1976 | 34.1% | -1.0% |
| 1977 | 33.2% | -2.6% |
| 1978 | 31.3% | -5.5% |
| 1979 | 30.9% | -1.3% |
| 1980 | 33.5% | +8.2% |
| 1981 | 34.0% | +1.4% |
| 1982 | 36.0% | +5.9% |
| 1983 | 34.7% | -3.4% |
| 1984 | 34.7% | -0.2% |
| 1985 | 35.0% | +0.9% |
| 1986 | 34.0% | -3.0% |
| 1987 | 32.6% | -4.0% |
| 1988 | 32.3% | -0.9% |
| 1989 | 31.5% | -2.4% |
| 1990 | 32.6% | +3.4% |
| 1991 | 33.0% | +1.2% |
| 1992 | 32.5% | -1.7% |
| 1993 | 30.6% | -5.7% |
| 1994 | 31.6% | +3.3% |
| 1995 | 30.4% | -3.9% |
| 1996 | 30.1% | -0.9% |
| 1997 | 30.7% | +2.0% |
| 1998 | 31.9% | +4.0% |
| 1999 | 32.3% | +1.3% |
| 2000 | 32.9% | +1.8% |
| 2001 | 32.6% | -0.9% |
| 2002 | 31.5% | -3.2% |
| 2003 | 31.3% | -0.8% |
| 2004 | 32.4% | +3.6% |
| 2005 | 33.4% | +3.1% |
| 2006 | 33.3% | -0.5% |
| 2007 | 33.6% | +0.9% |
| 2008 | 34.2% | +2.0% |
| 2009 | 31.9% | -6.8% |
| 2010 | 38.1% | +19.4% |
| 2011 | 33.4% | -12.4% |
| 2012 | 32.7% | -1.9% |
| 2013 | 33.6% | +2.6% |
| 2014 | 32.7% | -2.7% |
| 2015 | 32.9% | +0.7% |
| 2016 | 33.4% | +1.5% |
| 2017 | 33.8% | +1.1% |
| 2018 | 33.7% | -0.3% |
| 2019 | 33.3% | -1.2% |
| 2020 | 33.4% | +0.4% |
| 2021 | 34.6% | +3.5% |
| 2022 | 35.8% | +3.6% |
| 2023 | 35.3% | -1.4% |
| 2024 | 34.8% | -1.4% |
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland compared with similar countries
- United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland's 34.8% is above the median for high income countries, which is 33.0%, 1.1× the median. (57 countries reporting)
- United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland's 34.8% is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 35.0%, 100% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 32.2% | 29.4% | 34.4% | 8 |
| 1980s | 33.8% | 31.5% | 36.0% | 10 |
| 1990s | 31.6% | 30.1% | 33.0% | 10 |
| 2000s | 32.7% | 31.3% | 34.2% | 10 |
| 2010s | 33.7% | 32.7% | 38.1% | 10 |
| 2020s | 34.8% | 33.4% | 35.8% | 5 |
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)
- 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 central government revenues as a share of gdp in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
- Central government revenues as a share of gdp in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland was 34.8% in 2024, according to International Monetary Fund (IMF) Government Finance Statistics, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest central government revenues as a share of gdp recorded in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
- The highest recorded value was 38.1% in 2010.
- What is the lowest central government revenues as a share of gdp recorded in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
- The lowest recorded value was 29.4% in 1973.
- How does United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland rank for central government revenues as a share of gdp?
- United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ranks 32nd out of 157 countries with data for 2024.
- Is central government revenues as a share of gdp rising or falling in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
- Over the last ten years it is up 6.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland data come from?
- The figures come from International Monetary Fund (IMF) Government Finance Statistics, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Central government revenues as a share of GDP. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Taxes, social contributions, and other revenues such as fines, fees, rent, and income from property or sales included. Grants excluded.