Net lending (+) / net borrowing (-) (current LCU) in United Kingdom
United Kingdom: Net lending (+) / net borrowing (-) (current LCU) was -198.42 billion current LCU in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Net lending (+) / net borrowing (-) in United Kingdom, 1972–2024
Source: Government Finance Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF). Measured in current LCU.
Analysis
In 2024, net lending (+) / net borrowing (-) in United Kingdom stood at -198.42 billion current LCU.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 3.3% on the previous year and down 54.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, net lending (+) / net borrowing (-) in United Kingdom peaked at 6.17 billion current LCU in 1989 and was at its lowest, -314.65 billion current LCU, in 2020.
United Kingdom ranks 112th of 156 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.
Net lending (+) / net borrowing (-) (current LCU) in United Kingdom, year by year
| Year | current LCU | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1972 | 530.00 million current LCU | — |
| 1973 | -338.00 million current LCU | -163.8% |
| 1974 | -870.00 million current LCU | +157.4% |
| 1975 | -3.48 billion current LCU | +300.0% |
| 1976 | -4.44 billion current LCU | +27.7% |
| 1977 | -3.27 billion current LCU | -26.4% |
| 1978 | -6.73 billion current LCU | +105.8% |
| 1979 | -7.64 billion current LCU | +13.5% |
| 1980 | -6.43 billion current LCU | -15.9% |
| 1981 | -10.29 billion current LCU | +60.1% |
| 1982 | -5.95 billion current LCU | -42.2% |
| 1983 | -8.60 billion current LCU | +44.6% |
| 1984 | -9.01 billion current LCU | +4.8% |
| 1985 | -6.60 billion current LCU | -26.8% |
| 1986 | -6.83 billion current LCU | +3.5% |
| 1987 | -5.21 billion current LCU | -23.8% |
| 1988 | 4.18 billion current LCU | -180.3% |
| 1989 | 6.17 billion current LCU | +47.7% |
| 1990 | -5.60 billion current LCU | -190.7% |
| 1991 | -15.13 billion current LCU | +170.2% |
| 1992 | -41.02 billion current LCU | +171.2% |
| 1993 | -52.98 billion current LCU | +29.2% |
| 1994 | -46.22 billion current LCU | -12.8% |
| 1995 | -59.89 billion current LCU | +29.6% |
| 1996 | -53.51 billion current LCU | -10.7% |
| 1997 | -36.71 billion current LCU | -31.4% |
| 1998 | -21.93 billion current LCU | -40.3% |
| 1999 | -14.58 billion current LCU | -33.5% |
| 2000 | -14.26 billion current LCU | -2.2% |
| 2001 | -22.46 billion current LCU | +57.5% |
| 2002 | -53.27 billion current LCU | +137.1% |
| 2003 | -74.34 billion current LCU | +39.6% |
| 2004 | -74.30 billion current LCU | -0.1% |
| 2005 | -76.33 billion current LCU | +2.7% |
| 2006 | -78.61 billion current LCU | +3.0% |
| 2007 | -80.84 billion current LCU | +2.8% |
| 2008 | -122.46 billion current LCU | +51.5% |
| 2009 | -194.39 billion current LCU | +58.7% |
| 2010 | -106.57 billion current LCU | -45.2% |
| 2011 | -160.07 billion current LCU | +50.2% |
| 2012 | -169.74 billion current LCU | +6.0% |
| 2013 | -117.59 billion current LCU | -30.7% |
| 2014 | -128.29 billion current LCU | +9.1% |
| 2015 | -107.69 billion current LCU | -16.1% |
| 2016 | -75.86 billion current LCU | -29.6% |
| 2017 | -71.70 billion current LCU | -5.5% |
| 2018 | -83.65 billion current LCU | +16.7% |
| 2019 | -79.79 billion current LCU | -4.6% |
| 2020 | -314.65 billion current LCU | +294.4% |
| 2021 | -213.08 billion current LCU | -32.3% |
| 2022 | -144.58 billion current LCU | -32.1% |
| 2023 | -192.02 billion current LCU | +32.8% |
| 2024 | -198.42 billion current LCU | +3.3% |
United Kingdom compared with similar countries
- United Kingdom's -198.42 billion current LCU is below the median for high income countries, which is -2.76 billion current LCU, 72.0× the median. (57 countries reporting)
- United Kingdom's -198.42 billion current LCU is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is -6.97 billion current LCU, 28.5× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | -3.28 billion current LCU | -7.64 billion current LCU | 530.00 million current LCU | 8 |
| 1980s | -4.86 billion current LCU | -10.29 billion current LCU | 6.17 billion current LCU | 10 |
| 1990s | -34.76 billion current LCU | -59.89 billion current LCU | -5.60 billion current LCU | 10 |
| 2000s | -79.13 billion current LCU | -194.39 billion current LCU | -14.26 billion current LCU | 10 |
| 2010s | -110.10 billion current LCU | -169.74 billion current LCU | -71.70 billion current LCU | 10 |
| 2020s | -212.55 billion current LCU | -314.65 billion current LCU | -144.58 billion current LCU | 5 |
Countries ranked near United Kingdom
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Frequently asked questions
- What is net lending (+) / net borrowing (-) in United Kingdom?
- Net lending (+) / net borrowing (-) in United Kingdom was -198.42 billion current LCU in 2024, according to Government Finance Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF).
- What is the highest net lending (+) / net borrowing (-) recorded in United Kingdom?
- The highest recorded value was 6.17 billion current LCU in 1989.
- What is the lowest net lending (+) / net borrowing (-) recorded in United Kingdom?
- The lowest recorded value was -314.65 billion current LCU in 2020.
- How does United Kingdom rank for net lending (+) / net borrowing (-)?
- United Kingdom ranks 112th out of 156 countries with data for 2024.
- Is net lending (+) / net borrowing (-) rising or falling in United Kingdom?
- Over the last ten years it is down 54.7%. 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 Net lending (+) / net borrowing (-) (current LCU). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Net lending (+) / net borrowing (–) equals government revenue minus expense, minus net investment in nonfinancial assets. It is also equal to the net result of transactions in financial assets and liabilities. Net lending/net borrowing is a summary measure indicating the extent to which government is either putting financial resources at the disposal of other sectors in the economy or abroad, or utilizing the financial resources generated by other sectors in the economy or from abroad. 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.