Share of central government spending funded by taxes in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland: Share of central government spending funded by taxes was 62.7% in 2023. ▼ Falling

Latest (2023)
62.7%
Change on year
up 0.2%
World rank
67th
of 174 countries
All-time high
73.9%
in 2000
All-time low
50.9%
in 2020
Years of data
24
2000–2023

Share of central government spending funded by taxes in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, 2000–2023

0204060802000201120232000: 73.9 %2001: 71.3 %2002: 67 %2003: 64.4 %2004: 64 %2005: 63.2 %2006: 64.3 %2007: 64.5 %2008: 60.8 %2009: 52.6 %2010: 55 %2011: 58.4 %2012: 57.3 %2013: 60.9 %2014: 61.5 %2015: 63.3 %2016: 65.9 %2017: 66.2 %2018: 65.4 %2019: 65.4 %2020: 50.9 %2021: 58.9 %2022: 62.6 %2023: 62.7 %

Source: International Monetary Fund – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.

Analysis

The most recent figure for share of central government spending funded by taxes in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is 62.7%, measured in 2023.

That represents a change of up 0.2% on the previous year and up 3.0% over ten years.

Over the whole period, share of central government spending funded by taxes in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland peaked at 73.9% in 2000 and was at its lowest, 50.9%, in 2020.

That places United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 67th out of 174 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.

The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 24 years of available data.

Share of central government spending funded by taxes in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, year by year

Annual values for Share of central government spending funded by taxes in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, 2000 to 2023.
Year % Change
2000 73.9%
2001 71.3% -3.5%
2002 67.0% -6.1%
2003 64.4% -3.9%
2004 64.0% -0.7%
2005 63.2% -1.3%
2006 64.3% +1.9%
2007 64.5% +0.2%
2008 60.8% -5.7%
2009 52.6% -13.5%
2010 55.0% +4.7%
2011 58.4% +6.1%
2012 57.3% -1.8%
2013 60.9% +6.3%
2014 61.5% +1.0%
2015 63.3% +2.9%
2016 65.9% +4.1%
2017 66.2% +0.5%
2018 65.4% -1.2%
2019 65.4% -0.0%
2020 50.9% -22.1%
2021 58.9% +15.7%
2022 62.6% +6.4%
2023 62.7% +0.2%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 64.6% 52.6% 73.9% 10
2010s 61.9% 55.0% 66.2% 10
2020s 58.8% 50.9% 62.7% 4

Countries ranked near United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

  1. 64 Samoa 63.6% compare
  2. 65 Switzerland 63.3% compare
  3. 66 Uganda 63.2% compare
  4. 68 Israel 62.5% compare
  5. 69 Luxembourg 62.5% compare
  6. 70 Kenya 61.6% compare

See the full ranking of 174 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 share of central government spending funded by taxes in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
Share of central government spending funded by taxes in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland was 62.7% in 2023, according to International Monetary Fund – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
What is the highest share of central government spending funded by taxes recorded in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
The highest recorded value was 73.9% in 2000.
What is the lowest share of central government spending funded by taxes recorded in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
The lowest recorded value was 50.9% in 2020.
How does United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland rank for share of central government spending funded by taxes?
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ranks 67th out of 174 countries with data for 2023.
Is share of central government spending funded by taxes rising or falling in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
Over the last ten years it is up 3.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
Where does this United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland data come from?
The figures come from International Monetary Fund – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of central government spending funded by taxes. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Share of central government spending funded by taxes in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Statizoid, drawing on International Monetary Fund – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Retrieved 12 September 2026, from https://economy.statizoid.com/stat/share-of-central-government-expenditures-funded-by-taxes/united-kingdom/

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About this data

Indicator
Share of central government spending funded by taxes
Unit
%
Source
International Monetary Fund – with minor processing by Our World in Data
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage
174 places, 3,268 data points, 2000–2023
Last refreshed

Spending refers to the budgetary central government which includes the core institutions of the national government. Funds only include taxes; Fines, penalties, and most social security contributions are excluded.