Central government debt, total (current LCU) in United Kingdom
United Kingdom: Central government debt, total (current LCU) was 3.78 trillion current LCU in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Central government debt, total in United Kingdom, 1990–2024
Source: Government Finance Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF). Measured in current LCU.
Analysis
In 2024, central government debt, total in United Kingdom stood at 3.78 trillion current LCU.
The figure is up 0.9% on the previous year and up 34.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, central government debt, total in United Kingdom peaked at 4.27 trillion current LCU in 2021 and was at its lowest, 185.95 billion current LCU, in 1990.
United Kingdom ranks 24th of 83 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Central government debt, total (current LCU) in United Kingdom, year by year
| Year | current LCU | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 185.95 billion current LCU | — |
| 1991 | 189.17 billion current LCU | +1.7% |
| 1992 | 204.34 billion current LCU | +8.0% |
| 1993 | 249.93 billion current LCU | +22.3% |
| 1994 | 301.66 billion current LCU | +20.7% |
| 1995 | 754.20 billion current LCU | +150.0% |
| 1996 | 796.57 billion current LCU | +5.6% |
| 1997 | 845.65 billion current LCU | +6.2% |
| 1998 | 903.51 billion current LCU | +6.8% |
| 1999 | 913.76 billion current LCU | +1.1% |
| 2000 | 964.28 billion current LCU | +5.5% |
| 2001 | 966.94 billion current LCU | +0.3% |
| 2002 | 1.03 trillion current LCU | +6.5% |
| 2003 | 1.09 trillion current LCU | +6.0% |
| 2004 | 1.20 trillion current LCU | +9.7% |
| 2005 | 1.29 trillion current LCU | +7.7% |
| 2006 | 1.36 trillion current LCU | +5.2% |
| 2007 | 1.45 trillion current LCU | +6.8% |
| 2008 | 1.68 trillion current LCU | +15.9% |
| 2009 | 1.92 trillion current LCU | +14.1% |
| 2010 | 2.11 trillion current LCU | +10.0% |
| 2011 | 2.39 trillion current LCU | +13.3% |
| 2012 | 2.52 trillion current LCU | +5.4% |
| 2013 | 2.52 trillion current LCU | +0.1% |
| 2014 | 2.80 trillion current LCU | +11.2% |
| 2015 | 2.84 trillion current LCU | +1.1% |
| 2016 | 3.12 trillion current LCU | +10.0% |
| 2017 | 3.36 trillion current LCU | +7.7% |
| 2018 | 3.40 trillion current LCU | +1.4% |
| 2019 | 3.58 trillion current LCU | +5.2% |
| 2020 | 4.14 trillion current LCU | +15.5% |
| 2021 | 4.27 trillion current LCU | +3.2% |
| 2022 | 3.57 trillion current LCU | -16.4% |
| 2023 | 3.75 trillion current LCU | +5.0% |
| 2024 | 3.78 trillion current LCU | +0.9% |
United Kingdom compared with similar countries
- United Kingdom's 3.78 trillion current LCU is above the median for high income countries, which is 359.73 billion current LCU, 10.5× the median. (28 countries reporting)
- United Kingdom's 3.78 trillion current LCU is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 444.37 billion current LCU, 8.5× the median. (22 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Central government debt, total (current LCU) 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | +150.0% | 301.66 billion current LCU | 754.20 billion current LCU |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 534.47 billion current LCU | 185.95 billion current LCU | 913.76 billion current LCU | 10 |
| 2000s | 1.29 trillion current LCU | 964.28 billion current LCU | 1.92 trillion current LCU | 10 |
| 2010s | 2.86 trillion current LCU | 2.11 trillion current LCU | 3.58 trillion current LCU | 10 |
| 2020s | 3.90 trillion current LCU | 3.57 trillion current LCU | 4.27 trillion current LCU | 5 |
Countries ranked near United Kingdom
More public sector data for United Kingdom
- Democracy, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Chief executive of the government is elected, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Elected parliament, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Men's universal right to vote, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Universal right to vote, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Universal right to vote in practice, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- 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)
- Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values), per unit of GDP 0.0002 SIPRI trend indicator values per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values), annual growth rate 36.23 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is central government debt, total in United Kingdom?
- Central government debt, total in United Kingdom was 3.78 trillion current LCU in 2024, according to Government Finance Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF).
- What is the highest central government debt, total recorded in United Kingdom?
- The highest recorded value was 4.27 trillion current LCU in 2021.
- What is the lowest central government debt, total recorded in United Kingdom?
- The lowest recorded value was 185.95 billion current LCU in 1990.
- How does United Kingdom rank for central government debt, total?
- United Kingdom ranks 24th out of 83 countries with data for 2024.
- Is central government debt, total rising or falling in United Kingdom?
- Over the last ten years it is up 34.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this United Kingdom data come from?
- The figures come from Government Finance Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF), published as part of Central government debt, total (current LCU). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Debt is the entire stock of direct government fixed-term contractual obligations to others outstanding on a particular date. It includes domestic and foreign liabilities such as currency and money deposits, securities other than shares, and loans. It is the gross amount of government liabilities reduced by the amount of equity and financial derivatives held by the government. Because debt is a stock rather than a flow, it is measured as of a given date, usually the last day of the fiscal year. Central government is the part of general government that includes all administrative departments of the national executive, legislative, and judicial functions, other central agencies and those non-market producers controlled by the central government, whose competence extends normally over the whole economic territory. This indicator is expressed in current prices, meaning no adjustment has been made to account for price changes over time. This series is expressed in local currency units.