Expenditure, General government, Percent of GDP in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland: Expenditure, General government, Percent of GDP was 42.79 in 2030. ▲ Rising

Latest (2030)
42.79
Change on year
down 0.8%
World rank
40th
of 195 countries
All-time high
49.99
in 2020
All-time low
33.9
in 1999
Years of data
40
1991–2030

Expenditure, General government, Percent of GDP in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, 1991–2030

010203040501991201020301991: 35.91992: 37.81993: 37.81994: 37.51995: 37.61996: 35.71997: 34.91998: 34.51999: 33.92000: 33.92001: 34.72002: 35.92003: 37.22004: 382005: 38.42006: 38.42007: 38.72008: 412009: 44.62010: 44.72011: 43.52012: 43.62013: 41.82014: 41.22015: 40.42016: 39.62017: 39.22018: 38.92019: 38.82020: 502021: 45.82022: 44.12023: 44.82024: 442025: 43.72026: 43.82027: 43.62028: 43.42029: 43.12030: 42.8

Source: International Monetary Fund.

Analysis

The most recent figure for expenditure, general government, percent of gdp in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 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 of Great Britain and Northern Ireland peaked at 49.99 in 2020 and was at its lowest, 33.9, in 1999.

That places United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 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 in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, year by year

Annual values for Expenditure, General government, Percent of GDP in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, 1991 to 2030.
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%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest 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 of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

  1. 37 Canada 43.18 compare
  2. 38 Iceland 42.84 compare
  3. 39 Dominica 42.79 compare
  4. 41 Ukraine 42.62 compare
  5. 42 Lithuania 42.44 compare
  6. 43 Belarus 42.43 compare

See the full ranking of 213 places →

More public sector 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 expenditure, general government, percent of gdp in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
Expenditure, general government, percent of gdp in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland was 42.79 in 2030, according to International Monetary Fund.
What is the highest expenditure, general government, percent of gdp recorded in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
The highest recorded value was 49.99 in 2020.
What is the lowest expenditure, general government, percent of gdp recorded in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
The lowest recorded value was 33.9 in 1999.
How does United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland rank for expenditure, general government, percent of gdp?
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ranks 40th out of 195 countries with data for 2030.
Is expenditure, general government, percent of gdp rising or falling in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
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 of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 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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Expenditure, General government, Percent of GDP in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Statizoid, drawing on International Monetary Fund. Retrieved 06 September 2026, from https://public-sector.statizoid.com/stat/expenditure-general-government-percent-of-gdp/united-kingdom/

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About this data

Indicator
Expenditure, General government, Percent of GDP
Source
International Monetary Fund
Licence
IMF Terms and Conditions (attribution required)
Coverage
213 places, 7,647 data points, 1991–2030
Last refreshed

Fiscal Monitor (FM) 2025 October