Expense in United Kingdom
United Kingdom: Expense was 1.13 trillion current LCU in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Expense in United Kingdom, 1972–2023
Source: Government Finance Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF). Measured in current LCU.
Analysis
United Kingdom recorded 1.13 trillion current LCU for expense in 2023. That is the highest value across all 52 years on record.
That represents a change of up 8.2% on the previous year and up 58.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, expense in United Kingdom peaked at 1.13 trillion current LCU in 2023 and was at its lowest, 20.08 billion current LCU, in 1972.
That places United Kingdom 57th out of 157 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Expense in United Kingdom, year by year
| Year | current LCU | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1972 | 20.08 billion current LCU | — |
| 1973 | 22.66 billion current LCU | +12.9% |
| 1974 | 29.32 billion current LCU | +29.4% |
| 1975 | 39.87 billion current LCU | +36.0% |
| 1976 | 47.18 billion current LCU | +18.3% |
| 1977 | 52.07 billion current LCU | +10.4% |
| 1978 | 60.41 billion current LCU | +16.0% |
| 1979 | 70.44 billion current LCU | +16.6% |
| 1980 | 86.44 billion current LCU | +22.7% |
| 1981 | 100.86 billion current LCU | +16.7% |
| 1982 | 111.06 billion current LCU | +10.1% |
| 1983 | 119.13 billion current LCU | +7.3% |
| 1984 | 127.74 billion current LCU | +7.2% |
| 1985 | 136.99 billion current LCU | +7.2% |
| 1986 | 143.52 billion current LCU | +4.8% |
| 1987 | 151.09 billion current LCU | +5.3% |
| 1988 | 158.48 billion current LCU | +4.9% |
| 1989 | 168.00 billion current LCU | +6.0% |
| 1990 | 200.60 billion current LCU | +19.4% |
| 1991 | 225.39 billion current LCU | +12.4% |
| 1992 | 253.01 billion current LCU | +12.3% |
| 1993 | 264.47 billion current LCU | +4.5% |
| 1994 | 276.32 billion current LCU | +4.5% |
| 1995 | 316.16 billion current LCU | +14.4% |
| 1996 | 326.35 billion current LCU | +3.2% |
| 1997 | 328.75 billion current LCU | +0.7% |
| 1998 | 339.54 billion current LCU | +3.3% |
| 1999 | 351.25 billion current LCU | +3.4% |
| 2000 | 375.32 billion current LCU | +6.9% |
| 2001 | 394.18 billion current LCU | +5.0% |
| 2002 | 425.96 billion current LCU | +8.1% |
| 2003 | 465.00 billion current LCU | +9.2% |
| 2004 | 494.85 billion current LCU | +6.4% |
| 2005 | 529.45 billion current LCU | +7.0% |
| 2006 | 560.97 billion current LCU | +6.0% |
| 2007 | 593.34 billion current LCU | +5.8% |
| 2008 | 656.85 billion current LCU | +10.7% |
| 2009 | 678.20 billion current LCU | +3.3% |
| 2010 | 709.98 billion current LCU | +4.7% |
| 2011 | 709.93 billion current LCU | -0.0% |
| 2012 | 742.59 billion current LCU | +4.6% |
| 2013 | 716.18 billion current LCU | -3.6% |
| 2014 | 734.02 billion current LCU | +2.5% |
| 2015 | 736.76 billion current LCU | +0.4% |
| 2016 | 742.00 billion current LCU | +0.7% |
| 2017 | 772.69 billion current LCU | +4.1% |
| 2018 | 807.75 billion current LCU | +4.5% |
| 2019 | 820.21 billion current LCU | +1.5% |
| 2020 | 1.01 trillion current LCU | +23.1% |
| 2021 | 997.51 billion current LCU | -1.2% |
| 2022 | 1.05 trillion current LCU | +5.2% |
| 2023 | 1.13 trillion current LCU | +8.2% |
United Kingdom compared with similar countries
- United Kingdom's 1.13 trillion current LCU is above the median for high income countries, which is 134.42 billion current LCU, 8.4× the median. (57 countries reporting)
- United Kingdom's 1.13 trillion current LCU is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 301.38 billion current LCU, 3.8× the median. (47 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Expense 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1975 | +36.0% | 29.32 billion current LCU | 39.87 billion current LCU |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 42.76 billion current LCU | 20.08 billion current LCU | 70.44 billion current LCU | 8 |
| 1980s | 130.33 billion current LCU | 86.44 billion current LCU | 168.00 billion current LCU | 10 |
| 1990s | 288.18 billion current LCU | 200.60 billion current LCU | 351.25 billion current LCU | 10 |
| 2000s | 517.41 billion current LCU | 375.32 billion current LCU | 678.20 billion current LCU | 10 |
| 2010s | 749.21 billion current LCU | 709.93 billion current LCU | 820.21 billion current LCU | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.05 trillion current LCU | 997.51 billion current LCU | 1.13 trillion current LCU | 4 |
Countries ranked near United Kingdom
More public sector data for United Kingdom
- Democracy, 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)
- Elected parliament, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
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- Democracy 7 (2025)
- Chief executive of the government is elected 1 (2025)
- Elected parliament 1 (2025)
- Men's universal right to vote 1 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is expense in United Kingdom?
- Expense in United Kingdom was 1.13 trillion current LCU in 2023, according to Government Finance Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF).
- What is the highest expense recorded in United Kingdom?
- The highest recorded value was 1.13 trillion current LCU in 2023.
- What is the lowest expense recorded in United Kingdom?
- The lowest recorded value was 20.08 billion current LCU in 1972.
- How does United Kingdom rank for expense?
- United Kingdom ranks 57th out of 157 countries with data for 2023.
- Is expense rising or falling in United Kingdom?
- Over the last ten years it is up 58.4%. 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 Expense (current LCU). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Expense is a decrease in net worth resulting from a transaction. 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.