Government spending as share of GDP vs. GDP per capita in United Kingdom
United Kingdom: Government spending as share of GDP vs. GDP per capita was 44.0% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
44.0%
Change on year
down 1.8%
World rank
31st
of 151 countries
All-time high
68.4%
in 1916
All-time low
6.2%
in 1880
Years of data
195
1830–2024
Government spending as share of GDP vs. GDP per capita in United Kingdom, 1830–2024
Source: International Monetary Fund (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in % of GDP.
Analysis
The most recent figure for government spending as share of gdp vs. gdp per capita in United Kingdom is 44.0%, measured in 2024.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 1.8% on the previous year and up 6.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, government spending as share of gdp vs. gdp per capita in United Kingdom peaked at 68.4% in 1916 and was at its lowest, 6.2%, in 1880.
United Kingdom ranks 31st of 151 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Government spending as share of GDP vs. GDP per capita in United Kingdom, year by year
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1830 | 11.8% | — |
| 1831 | 11.5% | -2.4% |
| 1832 | 12.2% | +5.5% |
| 1833 | 11.9% | -2.4% |
| 1834 | 11.1% | -6.4% |
| 1835 | 10.2% | -8.4% |
| 1836 | 9.9% | -3.3% |
| 1837 | 10.5% | +6.9% |
| 1838 | 10.0% | -5.0% |
| 1839 | 9.6% | -3.6% |
| 1840 | 10.4% | +7.7% |
| 1841 | 11.2% | +7.9% |
| 1842 | 12.0% | +6.7% |
| 1843 | 12.0% | +0.1% |
| 1844 | 10.9% | -9.3% |
| 1845 | 10.1% | -7.5% |
| 1846 | 9.5% | -5.7% |
| 1847 | 9.8% | +3.1% |
| 1848 | 10.2% | +4.1% |
| 1849 | 9.4% | -8.0% |
| 1850 | 10.3% | +10.0% |
| 1851 | 9.6% | -7.2% |
| 1852 | 9.6% | +0.6% |
| 1853 | 9.4% | -2.0% |
| 1854 | 13.4% | +42.3% |
| 1855 | 14.4% | +7.6% |
| 1856 | 11.3% | -21.6% |
| 1857 | 10.2% | -10.0% |
| 1858 | 10.0% | -1.3% |
| 1859 | 10.2% | +1.3% |
| 1860 | 10.5% | +2.8% |
| 1861 | 9.7% | -7.3% |
| 1862 | 9.3% | -4.3% |
| 1863 | 8.5% | -8.0% |
| 1864 | 8.0% | -5.9% |
| 1865 | 7.6% | -5.3% |
| 1866 | 7.4% | -2.0% |
| 1867 | 8.1% | +8.9% |
| 1868 | 8.5% | +4.3% |
| 1869 | 7.4% | -12.3% |
| 1870 | 7.0% | -5.2% |
| 1871 | 6.8% | -3.2% |
| 1872 | 6.3% | -7.2% |
| 1873 | 6.3% | +0.4% |
| 1874 | 6.3% | -0.1% |
| 1875 | 6.6% | +4.8% |
| 1876 | 6.9% | +3.4% |
| 1877 | 7.2% | +5.6% |
| 1878 | 7.7% | +5.7% |
| 1879 | 7.8% | +2.4% |
| 1880 | 6.2% | -20.7% |
| 1881 | 6.8% | +9.7% |
| 1882 | 7.0% | +2.7% |
| 1883 | 6.5% | -7.2% |
| 1884 | 6.9% | +5.9% |
| 1885 | 7.5% | +9.2% |
| 1886 | 7.3% | -2.4% |
| 1887 | 6.9% | -6.3% |
| 1888 | 6.8% | -1.0% |
| 1889 | 6.8% | +0.2% |
| 1890 | 6.8% | -0.1% |
| 1891 | 6.9% | +0.9% |
| 1892 | 6.9% | +0.3% |
| 1893 | 7.3% | +5.5% |
| 1894 | 7.0% | -3.1% |
| 1895 | 7.3% | +3.8% |
| 1896 | 7.2% | -1.2% |
| 1897 | 7.5% | +3.3% |
| 1898 | 7.3% | -2.3% |
| 1899 | 8.2% | +12.7% |
| 1900 | 10.8% | +31.2% |
| 1901 | 10.7% | -0.4% |
| 1902 | 10.5% | -2.3% |
| 1903 | 8.4% | -19.5% |
| 1904 | 8.0% | -5.5% |
| 1905 | 7.6% | -4.7% |
| 1906 | 7.3% | -3.3% |
| 1907 | 7.2% | -2.2% |
| 1908 | 7.3% | +2.0% |
| 1909 | 7.8% | +6.5% |
| 1910 | 8.2% | +4.9% |
| 1911 | 8.0% | -1.6% |
| 1912 | 8.3% | +3.6% |
| 1913 | 8.2% | -2.1% |
| 1914 | 24.6% | +200.9% |
| 1915 | 42.3% | +72.0% |
| 1916 | 68.4% | +61.8% |
| 1917 | 66.2% | -3.3% |
| 1918 | 52.5% | -20.6% |
| 1919 | 32.1% | -38.9% |
| 1920 | 21.0% | -34.7% |
| 1921 | 22.4% | +7.0% |
| 1922 | 19.5% | -13.0% |
| 1923 | 19.0% | -2.8% |
| 1924 | 18.6% | -1.9% |
| 1925 | 18.1% | -2.6% |
| 1926 | 19.4% | +7.1% |
| 1927 | 18.2% | -6.1% |
| 1928 | 17.8% | -2.3% |
| 1929 | 17.8% | +0.1% |
| 1930 | 18.7% | +4.8% |
| 1931 | 20.5% | +9.6% |
| 1932 | 21.3% | +4.3% |
| 1933 | 19.6% | -8.3% |
| 1934 | 18.8% | -4.1% |
| 1935 | 19.0% | +1.1% |
| 1936 | 19.4% | +2.5% |
| 1937 | 18.5% | -4.7% |
| 1938 | 19.5% | +5.1% |
| 1939 | 20.3% | +4.3% |
| 1940 | 28.4% | +39.7% |
| 1941 | 50.5% | +78.0% |
| 1942 | 56.6% | +12.1% |
| 1943 | 62.2% | +9.9% |
| 1944 | 62.9% | +1.1% |
| 1945 | 66.9% | +6.3% |
| 1946 | 60.8% | -9.2% |
| 1947 | 50.5% | -16.9% |
| 1948 | 36.7% | -27.4% |
| 1949 | 32.6% | -11.1% |
| 1950 | 33.2% | +1.7% |
| 1951 | 28.8% | -13.3% |
| 1952 | 32.9% | +14.3% |
| 1953 | 32.6% | -0.7% |
| 1954 | 34.5% | +5.6% |
| 1955 | 28.6% | -17.0% |
| 1956 | 31.0% | +8.4% |
| 1957 | 32.6% | +5.2% |
| 1958 | 33.8% | +3.8% |
| 1959 | 32.6% | -3.6% |
| 1960 | 33.1% | +1.6% |
| 1961 | 31.5% | -5.0% |
| 1962 | 33.8% | +7.3% |
| 1963 | 37.4% | +10.8% |
| 1964 | 32.8% | -12.4% |
| 1965 | 34.6% | +5.4% |
| 1966 | 35.7% | +3.3% |
| 1967 | 40.1% | +12.2% |
| 1968 | 40.3% | +0.7% |
| 1969 | 39.2% | -2.8% |
| 1970 | 42.0% | +7.1% |
| 1971 | 41.2% | -1.9% |
| 1972 | 42.3% | +2.6% |
| 1973 | 43.5% | +2.9% |
| 1974 | 47.8% | +9.8% |
| 1975 | 49.1% | +2.7% |
| 1976 | 49.2% | +0.3% |
| 1977 | 46.8% | -5.0% |
| 1978 | 46.2% | -1.3% |
| 1979 | 45.1% | -2.2% |
| 1980 | 47.6% | +5.5% |
| 1981 | 51.2% | +7.5% |
| 1982 | 50.8% | -0.9% |
| 1983 | 50.4% | -0.7% |
| 1984 | 50.3% | -0.2% |
| 1985 | 48.7% | -3.1% |
| 1986 | 44.6% | -8.3% |
| 1987 | 42.7% | -4.4% |
| 1988 | 40.3% | -5.6% |
| 1989 | 39.7% | -1.5% |
| 1990 | 41.1% | +3.6% |
| 1991 | 42.7% | +4.0% |
| 1992 | 45.0% | +5.3% |
| 1993 | 45.0% | +0.1% |
| 1994 | 44.4% | -1.4% |
| 1995 | 43.9% | -1.2% |
| 1996 | 42.3% | -3.7% |
| 1997 | 40.5% | -4.2% |
| 1998 | 39.5% | -2.6% |
| 1999 | 38.9% | -1.5% |
| 2000 | 36.8% | -5.4% |
| 2001 | 40.2% | +9.3% |
| 2002 | 41.1% | +2.3% |
| 2003 | 42.1% | +2.5% |
| 2004 | 43.0% | +2.0% |
| 2005 | 44.1% | +2.6% |
| 2006 | 44.2% | +0.2% |
| 2007 | 43.9% | -0.7% |
| 2008 | 47.8% | +9.0% |
| 2009 | 51.5% | +7.6% |
| 2010 | 50.6% | -1.7% |
| 2011 | 43.5% | -14.0% |
| 2012 | 43.6% | +0.1% |
| 2013 | 41.8% | -3.9% |
| 2014 | 41.2% | -1.6% |
| 2015 | 40.4% | -1.8% |
| 2016 | 39.6% | -2.0% |
| 2017 | 39.2% | -1.2% |
| 2018 | 38.9% | -0.7% |
| 2019 | 38.8% | -0.3% |
| 2020 | 50.0% | +29.0% |
| 2021 | 45.8% | -8.5% |
| 2022 | 44.1% | -3.6% |
| 2023 | 44.8% | +1.7% |
| 2024 | 44.0% | -1.8% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1830s | 10.9% | 9.6% | 12.2% | 10 |
| 1840s | 10.5% | 9.4% | 12.0% | 10 |
| 1850s | 10.8% | 9.4% | 14.4% | 10 |
| 1860s | 8.5% | 7.4% | 10.5% | 10 |
| 1870s | 6.9% | 6.3% | 7.8% | 10 |
| 1880s | 6.9% | 6.2% | 7.5% | 10 |
| 1890s | 7.2% | 6.8% | 8.2% | 10 |
| 1900s | 8.6% | 7.2% | 10.8% | 10 |
| 1910s | 31.9% | 8.0% | 68.4% | 10 |
| 1920s | 19.2% | 17.8% | 22.4% | 10 |
| 1930s | 19.5% | 18.5% | 21.3% | 10 |
| 1940s | 50.8% | 28.4% | 66.9% | 10 |
| 1950s | 32.1% | 28.6% | 34.5% | 10 |
| 1960s | 35.9% | 31.5% | 40.3% | 10 |
| 1970s | 45.3% | 41.2% | 49.2% | 10 |
| 1980s | 46.6% | 39.7% | 51.2% | 10 |
| 1990s | 42.3% | 38.9% | 45.0% | 10 |
| 2000s | 43.5% | 36.8% | 51.5% | 10 |
| 2010s | 41.7% | 38.8% | 50.6% | 10 |
| 2020s | 45.7% | 44.0% | 50.0% | 5 |
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)
- Gross value added at basic prices (GVA) (current US$), annual growth 8.3 % change on previous year (2025)
- Gross value added at basic prices (GVA) (current US$), per unit of GDP 0.9023 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Gross value added at basic prices (GVA) (current US$), per capita 51,972 current US$ per person (2025)
- Gross value added at basic prices (GVA) (current LCU), annual growth 5.13 % change on previous year (2025)
- Gross value added at basic prices (GVA) (current LCU), per unit of GDP 0.6852 current LCU per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Gross value added at basic prices (GVA) (current LCU), per capita 39,472 current LCU per person (2025)
- Gross value added at basic prices (GVA) (constant 2015 US$), annual 1.41 % change on previous year (2025)
- Gross value added at basic prices (GVA) (constant 2015 US$), per unit 0.7556 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is government spending as share of gdp vs. gdp per capita in United Kingdom?
- Government spending as share of gdp vs. gdp per capita in United Kingdom was 44.0% in 2024, according to International Monetary Fund (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest government spending as share of gdp vs. gdp per capita recorded in United Kingdom?
- The highest recorded value was 68.4% in 1916.
- What is the lowest government spending as share of gdp vs. gdp per capita recorded in United Kingdom?
- The lowest recorded value was 6.2% in 1880.
- How does United Kingdom rank for government spending as share of gdp vs. gdp per capita?
- United Kingdom ranks 31st out of 151 countries with data for 2024.
- Is government spending as share of gdp vs. gdp per capita rising or falling in United Kingdom?
- Over the last ten years it is up 6.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this United Kingdom data come from?
- The figures come from International Monetary Fund (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Government spending as share of GDP vs. GDP per capita. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Sum of all the money spent by the government on goods and services, as a percentage of GDP. It includes interest paid on government debt.