Capital spending, Ratio of this level of government's … total in United Kingdom
United Kingdom: Capital spending, Ratio of this level of government's … total was 0.8366 in 2020. ◆ Volatile
Capital spending, Ratio of this level of government's expenditure on in United Kingdom, 1972–2020
Source: International Monetary Fund.
Analysis
United Kingdom recorded 0.8366 for capital spending, ratio of this level of government's expenditure on in 2020.
That represents a change of up 29.7% on the previous year and up 41.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, capital spending, ratio of this level of government's expenditure on in United Kingdom peaked at 1.35 in 1997 and was at its lowest, -1.6, in 2000.
That places United Kingdom 20th out of 78 countries with data for 2020, putting it in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Capital spending, Ratio of this level of government's … total in United Kingdom, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1972 | 0.2446 | — |
| 1973 | 0.2188 | -10.5% |
| 1974 | 0.221 | +1.0% |
| 1975 | 0.2488 | +12.6% |
| 1976 | 0.2594 | +4.3% |
| 1977 | 0.2768 | +6.7% |
| 1978 | 0.2837 | +2.5% |
| 1979 | 0.3008 | +6.0% |
| 1980 | 0.3278 | +9.0% |
| 1981 | 0.4019 | +22.6% |
| 1982 | 0.53 | +31.9% |
| 1983 | 0.4722 | -10.9% |
| 1984 | 0.4119 | -12.8% |
| 1985 | 0.5209 | +26.4% |
| 1986 | 0.4773 | -8.4% |
| 1987 | 0.4808 | +0.7% |
| 1988 | 0.5963 | +24.0% |
| 1989 | 0.5438 | -8.8% |
| 1990 | 0.5397 | -0.8% |
| 1991 | 0.6006 | +11.3% |
| 1992 | 0.5769 | -3.9% |
| 1993 | 0.5737 | -0.5% |
| 1994 | 0.5309 | -7.5% |
| 1995 | 0.6504 | +22.5% |
| 1996 | 0.7782 | +19.7% |
| 1997 | 1.35 | +74.1% |
| 1998 | 0.981 | -27.6% |
| 1999 | 0.8583 | -12.5% |
| 2000 | -1.6 | -287.0% |
| 2001 | 0.248 | -115.4% |
| 2002 | 0.1505 | -39.3% |
| 2003 | 0.1734 | +15.2% |
| 2004 | 0.5838 | +236.7% |
| 2005 | 0.7471 | +28.0% |
| 2006 | 0.6549 | -12.3% |
| 2007 | 0.6305 | -3.7% |
| 2008 | 0.6495 | +3.0% |
| 2009 | 0.604 | -7.0% |
| 2010 | 0.592 | -2.0% |
| 2011 | 0.5293 | -10.6% |
| 2012 | 0.5354 | +1.2% |
| 2013 | 0.5936 | +10.9% |
| 2014 | 0.685 | +15.4% |
| 2015 | 0.6516 | -4.9% |
| 2016 | 0.5695 | -12.6% |
| 2017 | 0.5379 | -5.5% |
| 2018 | 0.5622 | +4.5% |
| 2019 | 0.6452 | +14.8% |
| 2020 | 0.8366 | +29.7% |
United Kingdom compared with similar countries
- United Kingdom's 0.8366 is above the median for high income countries, which is 0.5506, 1.5× the median. (42 countries reporting)
- United Kingdom's 0.8366 is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 0.5683, 1.5× the median. (45 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Capital spending, Ratio of this level of government's … total in United Kingdom 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.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | -287.0% | 0.8583 | -1.6 |
| 2004 | +236.7% | 0.1734 | 0.5838 |
| 2001 | +115.4% | -1.6 | 0.248 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 0.2567 | 0.2188 | 0.3008 | 8 |
| 1980s | 0.4763 | 0.3278 | 0.5963 | 10 |
| 1990s | 0.7444 | 0.5309 | 1.35 | 10 |
| 2000s | 0.2837 | -1.6 | 0.7471 | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.5902 | 0.5293 | 0.685 | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.8366 | 0.8366 | 0.8366 | 1 |
Countries ranked near United Kingdom
More public sector data for United Kingdom
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- Elected parliament, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
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- Arms imports 609.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values (2025)
- Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values), per capita 9.28 SIPRI trend indicator values per person (2024)
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- Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values), annual growth rate 36.23 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is capital spending, ratio of this level of government's expenditure on in United Kingdom?
- Capital spending, ratio of this level of government's expenditure on in United Kingdom was 0.8366 in 2020, according to International Monetary Fund.
- What is the highest capital spending, ratio of this level of government's expenditure on recorded in United Kingdom?
- The highest recorded value was 1.35 in 1997.
- What is the lowest capital spending, ratio of this level of government's expenditure on recorded in United Kingdom?
- The lowest recorded value was -1.6 in 2000.
- How does United Kingdom rank for capital spending, ratio of this level of government's expenditure on?
- United Kingdom ranks 20th out of 78 countries with data for 2020.
- Is capital spending, ratio of this level of government's expenditure on rising or falling in United Kingdom?
- Over the last ten years it is up 41.3%. 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, published as part of Capital spending, Ratio of this level of government's expenditure on this item to total general government expenditure on this, Percent (Central government). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
The Fiscal Decentralization dataset includes fiscal decentralization indicators for a sample of IMF member countries. The following indicators are included in the dataset: Revenue and Expenditure Decentralization Shares; Transfer dependency and Vertical Fiscal Imbalances; Deficit and Debt; Allocation of expenditure (economic classification); Allocation of expenditure (functional classification); Allocation of non-Tax Revenues; and Allocation of Taxes.