Gross public sector debt, Central Government, as a proportion of GDP in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland: Gross public sector debt, Central Government, as a proportion of GDP was 102.9% in 2024. ▲ Rising

Latest (2024)
102.9%
Change on year
up 0.4%
World rank
4th
of 53 countries
All-time high
110.6%
in 2020
All-time low
35.1%
in 2001
Years of data
25
2000–2024

Gross public sector debt, Central Government, as a proportion of GDP in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, 2000–2024

4060801001202000201220242000: 37.72001: 35.12002: 35.82003: 37.12004: 40.22005: 41.62006: 42.72007: 43.82008: 51.82009: 66.82010: 782011: 83.82012: 87.52013: 88.22014: 89.72015: 912016: 91.62017: 90.52018: 89.82019: 89.22020: 110.62021: 109.92022: 102.62023: 102.52024: 102.9

Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.

Analysis

The most recent figure for gross public sector debt, central government, as a proportion of gdp in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is 102.9%, measured in 2024.

The figure is up 0.4% on the previous year and up 14.7% over ten years.

Over the whole period, gross public sector debt, central government, as a proportion of gdp in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland peaked at 110.6% in 2020 and was at its lowest, 35.1%, in 2001.

That places United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 4th out of 53 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top 10%.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 25 years of available data.

Gross public sector debt, Central Government, as a proportion of GDP in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, year by year

Annual values for Gross public sector debt, Central Government, as a proportion of GDP (%) in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, 2000 to 2024.
Year Value Change
2000 37.7%
2001 35.1% -6.8%
2002 35.8% +1.9%
2003 37.1% +3.6%
2004 40.2% +8.3%
2005 41.6% +3.6%
2006 42.7% +2.6%
2007 43.8% +2.6%
2008 51.8% +18.2%
2009 66.8% +28.9%
2010 78.0% +16.8%
2011 83.8% +7.5%
2012 87.5% +4.4%
2013 88.2% +0.8%
2014 89.7% +1.7%
2015 91.0% +1.5%
2016 91.6% +0.6%
2017 90.5% -1.2%
2018 89.8% -0.8%
2019 89.2% -0.6%
2020 110.6% +24.0%
2021 109.9% -0.7%
2022 102.6% -6.6%
2023 102.5% -0.1%
2024 102.9% +0.4%

United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland compared with similar countries

  • United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland's 102.9% is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 54.4%, 1.9× the median. (31 countries reporting)
  • United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland's 102.9% is above the median for high income countries, which is 53.6%, 1.9× the median. (36 countries reporting)

Biggest year-on-year movements

Years where Gross public sector debt, Central Government, as a proportion of GDP in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.

YearChange FromTo
2009 +28.9% 51.8% 66.8%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 43.3% 35.1% 66.8% 10
2010s 87.9% 78.0% 91.6% 10
2020s 105.7% 102.5% 110.6% 5

Countries ranked near United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

  1. 1 Greece 166.1% compare
  2. 2 Italy 132.1% compare
  3. 3 United States of America 108.6% compare
  4. 4 United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 102.9% compare
  5. 6 Portugal 100.1% compare
  6. 7 France 97.9% compare

See the full ranking of 54 places →

More economy & growth data for United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

All data for United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland →

Frequently asked questions

What is gross public sector debt, central government, as a proportion of gdp in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
Gross public sector debt, central government, as a proportion of gdp in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland was 102.9% in 2024, according to United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
What is the highest gross public sector debt, central government, as a proportion of gdp recorded in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
The highest recorded value was 110.6% in 2020.
What is the lowest gross public sector debt, central government, as a proportion of gdp recorded in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
The lowest recorded value was 35.1% in 2001.
How does United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland rank for gross public sector debt, central government, as a proportion of gdp?
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ranks 4th out of 53 countries with data for 2024.
Is gross public sector debt, central government, as a proportion of gdp rising or falling in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
Over the last ten years it is up 14.7%. 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 United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database, published as part of Gross public sector debt, Central Government, as a proportion of GDP (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Gross public sector debt, Central Government, as a proportion of GDP in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Statizoid, drawing on United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database. Retrieved 15 September 2026, from https://economy.statizoid.com/stat/gross-public-sector-debt-central-government-as-a-proportion-of-gdp-percent/united-kingdom/

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About this data

Indicator
Gross public sector debt, Central Government, as a proportion of GDP (%)
Source
United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database
Licence
UN SDG Global Database (open, attribution requested)
Coverage
54 places, 1,115 data points, 2000–2024
Last refreshed