Expenditure, General government, Percent of GDP (Percent GDP) in United Kingdom
United Kingdom: Expenditure, General government, Percent of GDP (Percent GDP) was 42.79 in 2030. ▲ Rising
Expenditure, General government, Percent of GDP in United Kingdom, 1991–2030
Source: International Monetary Fund.
Analysis
The most recent figure for expenditure, general government, percent of gdp in United Kingdom is 42.79, measured in 2030.
That represents a change of down 0.8% on the previous year and down 14.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, expenditure, general government, percent of gdp in United Kingdom peaked at 49.99 in 2020 and was at its lowest, 33.9, in 1999.
That places United Kingdom 40th out of 195 countries with data for 2030, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 40 years of available data.
Expenditure, General government, Percent of GDP (Percent GDP) in United Kingdom, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 35.89 | — |
| 1992 | 37.82 | +5.4% |
| 1993 | 37.8 | -0.1% |
| 1994 | 37.51 | -0.8% |
| 1995 | 37.63 | +0.3% |
| 1996 | 35.72 | -5.1% |
| 1997 | 34.89 | -2.3% |
| 1998 | 34.47 | -1.2% |
| 1999 | 33.9 | -1.6% |
| 2000 | 33.94 | +0.1% |
| 2001 | 34.66 | +2.1% |
| 2002 | 35.94 | +3.7% |
| 2003 | 37.21 | +3.5% |
| 2004 | 38.04 | +2.2% |
| 2005 | 38.44 | +1.1% |
| 2006 | 38.41 | -0.1% |
| 2007 | 38.65 | +0.6% |
| 2008 | 40.96 | +6.0% |
| 2009 | 44.63 | +9.0% |
| 2010 | 44.7 | +0.2% |
| 2011 | 43.5 | -2.7% |
| 2012 | 43.55 | +0.1% |
| 2013 | 41.84 | -3.9% |
| 2014 | 41.18 | -1.6% |
| 2015 | 40.42 | -1.8% |
| 2016 | 39.63 | -2.0% |
| 2017 | 39.15 | -1.2% |
| 2018 | 38.87 | -0.7% |
| 2019 | 38.76 | -0.3% |
| 2020 | 49.99 | +29.0% |
| 2021 | 45.75 | -8.5% |
| 2022 | 44.1 | -3.6% |
| 2023 | 44.83 | +1.7% |
| 2024 | 44.04 | -1.8% |
| 2025 | 43.69 | -0.8% |
| 2026 | 43.82 | +0.3% |
| 2027 | 43.61 | -0.5% |
| 2028 | 43.39 | -0.5% |
| 2029 | 43.13 | -0.6% |
| 2030 | 42.79 | -0.8% |
United Kingdom compared with similar countries
- United Kingdom's 42.79 is above the median for high income countries, which is 39.25, 1.1× the median. (66 countries reporting)
- United Kingdom's 42.79 is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 42.81, 100% of the median. (50 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Expenditure, General government, Percent of GDP (Percent GDP) 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | +29.0% | 38.76 | 49.99 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 36.18 | 33.9 | 37.82 | 9 |
| 2000s | 38.09 | 33.94 | 44.63 | 10 |
| 2010s | 41.16 | 38.76 | 44.7 | 10 |
| 2020s | 44.63 | 43.13 | 49.99 | 10 |
| 2030s | 42.79 | 42.79 | 42.79 | 1 |
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 expenditure, general government, percent of gdp in United Kingdom?
- Expenditure, general government, percent of gdp in United Kingdom was 42.79 in 2030, according to International Monetary Fund.
- What is the highest expenditure, general government, percent of gdp recorded in United Kingdom?
- The highest recorded value was 49.99 in 2020.
- What is the lowest expenditure, general government, percent of gdp recorded in United Kingdom?
- The lowest recorded value was 33.9 in 1999.
- How does United Kingdom rank for expenditure, general government, percent of gdp?
- United Kingdom ranks 40th out of 195 countries with data for 2030.
- Is expenditure, general government, percent of gdp rising or falling in United Kingdom?
- Over the last ten years it is down 14.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this United Kingdom data come from?
- The figures come from International Monetary Fund, published as part of Expenditure, General government, Percent of GDP. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Fiscal Monitor (FM) 2025 October