Government spending by function as a share of GDP in United Kingdom
United Kingdom: Government spending by function as a share of GDP was 15.2% in 2023. ▬ Flat
Government spending by function as a share of GDP in United Kingdom, 2007–2023
Source: OECD (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in % of GDP.
Analysis
United Kingdom recorded 15.2% for government spending by function as a share of gdp in 2023.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 2.2% on the previous year and down 7.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, government spending by function as a share of gdp in United Kingdom peaked at 16.8% in 2012 and was at its lowest, 14.2%, in 2007.
United Kingdom ranks 19th of 37 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
Government spending by function as a share of GDP in United Kingdom, year by year
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2007 | 14.2% | — |
| 2008 | 14.7% | +3.3% |
| 2009 | 16.5% | +12.8% |
| 2010 | 16.6% | +0.5% |
| 2011 | 16.5% | -0.8% |
| 2012 | 16.8% | +2.1% |
| 2013 | 16.4% | -2.5% |
| 2014 | 16.0% | -2.5% |
| 2015 | 15.9% | -0.6% |
| 2016 | 15.5% | -2.6% |
| 2017 | 14.9% | -4.0% |
| 2018 | 14.8% | -0.8% |
| 2019 | 14.6% | -0.8% |
| 2020 | 16.7% | +14.3% |
| 2021 | 15.8% | -5.5% |
| 2022 | 14.9% | -6.1% |
| 2023 | 15.2% | +2.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 15.1% | 14.2% | 16.5% | 3 |
| 2010s | 15.8% | 14.6% | 16.8% | 10 |
| 2020s | 15.7% | 14.9% | 16.7% | 4 |
Countries ranked near United Kingdom
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)
- Industry (including construction), value added (constant 2015 US$) 0.3685 % change on previous year (2025)
- Industry (including construction), value added (constant 2015 US$) 0.1364 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Industry (including construction), value added (constant 2015 US$) 7,858 constant 2015 US$ per person (2025)
- Industry (including construction), value added (constant LCU), annual 0.3684 % change on previous year (2025)
- Industry (including construction), value added (constant LCU), per 0.0941 constant LCU per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Industry (including construction), value added (constant LCU), per 5,422 constant LCU per person (2025)
- Services, value added (current US$), annual growth rate 9.19 % change on previous year (2025)
- Services, value added (current US$), per unit of GDP 0.731 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is government spending by function as a share of gdp in United Kingdom?
- Government spending by function as a share of gdp in United Kingdom was 15.2% in 2023, according to OECD (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest government spending by function as a share of gdp recorded in United Kingdom?
- The highest recorded value was 16.8% in 2012.
- What is the lowest government spending by function as a share of gdp recorded in United Kingdom?
- The lowest recorded value was 14.2% in 2007.
- How does United Kingdom rank for government spending by function as a share of gdp?
- United Kingdom ranks 19th out of 37 countries with data for 2023.
- Is government spending by function as a share of gdp rising or falling in United Kingdom?
- Over the last ten years it is down 7.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this United Kingdom data come from?
- The figures come from OECD (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Government spending by function as a share of GDP. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
General government expenditure on social protection. This data is divided by gross domestic product, expressed as a percentage.