Government spending vs. GDP, per unit of GDP in United Kingdom
United Kingdom: Government spending vs. GDP, per unit of GDP was 0.1706 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
0.1706 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP
Change on year
down 6.1%
World rank
40th
of 166 countries
All-time high
2 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP
in 1970
All-time low
0.1696 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP
in 2007
Years of data
56
1970–2025
Government spending vs. GDP, per unit of GDP in United Kingdom, 1970–2025
Source: Statizoid (derived). Measured in constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP.
Analysis
The most recent figure for government spending vs. gdp, per unit of gdp in United Kingdom is 0.1706 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP, measured in 2025.
The figure is down 6.1% on the previous year and down 11.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, government spending vs. gdp, per unit of gdp in United Kingdom peaked at 2 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP in 1970 and was at its lowest, 0.1696 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP, in 2007.
That places United Kingdom 40th out of 166 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Government spending vs. GDP, per unit of GDP in United Kingdom, year by year
| Year | constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 2 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | — |
| 1971 | 1.82 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | -9.0% |
| 1972 | 1.66 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | -8.9% |
| 1973 | 1.52 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | -8.5% |
| 1974 | 1.44 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | -4.7% |
| 1975 | 1.3 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | -9.9% |
| 1976 | 1.38 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | +5.8% |
| 1977 | 1.2 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | -12.8% |
| 1978 | 0.9574 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | -20.3% |
| 1979 | 0.7444 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | -22.3% |
| 1980 | 0.5874 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | -21.1% |
| 1981 | 0.6151 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | +4.7% |
| 1982 | 0.6505 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | +5.8% |
| 1983 | 0.6963 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | +7.0% |
| 1984 | 0.7478 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | +7.4% |
| 1985 | 0.703 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | -6.0% |
| 1986 | 0.5802 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | -17.5% |
| 1987 | 0.4679 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | -19.4% |
| 1988 | 0.3837 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | -18.0% |
| 1989 | 0.3803 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | -0.9% |
| 1990 | 0.3296 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | -13.4% |
| 1991 | 0.3247 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | -1.5% |
| 1992 | 0.3169 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | -2.4% |
| 1993 | 0.3498 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | +10.4% |
| 1994 | 0.329 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | -6.0% |
| 1995 | 0.2818 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | -14.4% |
| 1996 | 0.2685 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | -4.7% |
| 1997 | 0.2422 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | -9.8% |
| 1998 | 0.2366 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | -2.3% |
| 1999 | 0.2404 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | +1.6% |
| 2000 | 0.2521 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | +4.9% |
| 2001 | 0.2666 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | +5.8% |
| 2002 | 0.2564 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | -3.8% |
| 2003 | 0.2322 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | -9.5% |
| 2004 | 0.2051 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | -11.7% |
| 2005 | 0.1999 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | -2.5% |
| 2006 | 0.1911 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | -4.4% |
| 2007 | 0.1696 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | -11.3% |
| 2008 | 0.1824 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | +7.6% |
| 2009 | 0.2242 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | +22.9% |
| 2010 | 0.2181 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | -2.7% |
| 2011 | 0.2029 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | -7.0% |
| 2012 | 0.2025 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | -0.2% |
| 2013 | 0.197 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | -2.7% |
| 2014 | 0.1827 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | -7.2% |
| 2015 | 0.1933 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | +5.8% |
| 2016 | 0.2122 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | +9.8% |
| 2017 | 0.215 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | +1.3% |
| 2018 | 0.2016 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | -6.2% |
| 2019 | 0.209 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | +3.7% |
| 2020 | 0.2075 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | -0.7% |
| 2021 | 0.2 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | -3.6% |
| 2022 | 0.2009 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | +0.5% |
| 2023 | 0.1907 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | -5.1% |
| 2024 | 0.1817 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | -4.7% |
| 2025 | 0.1706 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | -6.1% |
United Kingdom compared with similar countries
- United Kingdom's 0.1706 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP is above the median for high income countries, which is 0.1423 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP, 1.2× the median. (60 countries reporting)
- United Kingdom's 0.1706 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 0.1195 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP, 1.4× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 1.4 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | 0.7444 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | 2 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | 10 |
| 1980s | 0.5812 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | 0.3803 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | 0.7478 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | 10 |
| 1990s | 0.292 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | 0.2366 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | 0.3498 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | 10 |
| 2000s | 0.218 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | 0.1696 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | 0.2666 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.2034 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | 0.1827 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | 0.2181 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.1919 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | 0.1706 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | 0.2075 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | 6 |
Countries ranked near United Kingdom
- 37 Denmark 0.1768 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP compare
- 38 Brazil 0.1729 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP compare
- 39 New Zealand 0.1716 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP compare
- 41 Saudi Arabia 0.168 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP compare
- 42 Oman 0.168 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP compare
- 43 South Africa 0.1676 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP 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$), annual growth rate 22.77 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is government spending vs. gdp, per unit of gdp in United Kingdom?
- Government spending vs. gdp, per unit of gdp in United Kingdom was 0.1706 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP in 2025, according to Statizoid (derived).
- What is the highest government spending vs. gdp, per unit of gdp recorded in United Kingdom?
- The highest recorded value was 2 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP in 1970.
- What is the lowest government spending vs. gdp, per unit of gdp recorded in United Kingdom?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.1696 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP in 2007.
- How does United Kingdom rank for government spending vs. gdp, per unit of gdp?
- United Kingdom ranks 40th out of 166 countries with data for 2025.
- Is government spending vs. gdp, per unit of gdp rising or falling in United Kingdom?
- Over the last ten years it is down 11.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this United Kingdom data come from?
- The figures come from Statizoid (derived), published as part of Government spending vs. GDP, per unit of GDP. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 56 observations, free to reuse under Derived by Statizoid from the sources named on the page.
How this figure is calculated
Government spending vs. GDP divided by GDP (current US$), matched on country and year. Neither publisher issues this ratio as a series; it is computed here from both.
Government spending vs. GDP ÷ GDP (current US$)
Computed from
- Government spending vs. GDP National statistical organizations and central banks, OECD national accounts, and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – processed by Our World in Data
- GDP Country official statistics, National Statistical Organizations and/or Central Banks
Statizoid computes this series; the underlying measurements belong to the publishers named above. The arithmetic is applied to every country and year where both inputs report, and nothing is estimated unless the page says so.
About this data
Government spending vs. GDP divided by GDP (current US$), matched on country and year. Neither publisher issues this ratio as a series; it is computed here from both.