Net lending (+) / net borrowing (-) (% of GDP) in United Kingdom
United Kingdom: Net lending (+) / net borrowing (-) (% of GDP) was -6.9% 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 % of GDP.
Analysis
The most recent figure for net lending (+) / net borrowing (-) in United Kingdom is -6.9%, measured in 2024.
That represents a change of up 1.6% on the previous year and down 0.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, net lending (+) / net borrowing (-) in United Kingdom peaked at 1.1% in 1989 and was at its lowest, -14.8%, in 2020.
United Kingdom ranks 140th of 156 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Net lending (+) / net borrowing (-) (% of GDP) in United Kingdom, year by year
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1972 | 0.8% | — |
| 1973 | -0.4% | -155.2% |
| 1974 | -1.0% | +129.4% |
| 1975 | -3.2% | +222.8% |
| 1976 | -3.4% | +7.8% |
| 1977 | -2.2% | -36.8% |
| 1978 | -3.8% | +77.2% |
| 1979 | -3.7% | -4.1% |
| 1980 | -2.6% | -28.3% |
| 1981 | -3.8% | +44.7% |
| 1982 | -2.0% | -47.2% |
| 1983 | -2.7% | +32.0% |
| 1984 | -2.6% | -2.5% |
| 1985 | -1.7% | -33.4% |
| 1986 | -1.7% | -3.8% |
| 1987 | -1.1% | -31.4% |
| 1988 | 0.8% | -171.6% |
| 1989 | 1.1% | +33.4% |
| 1990 | -0.9% | -183.5% |
| 1991 | -2.3% | +156.7% |
| 1992 | -6.1% | +161.4% |
| 1993 | -7.5% | +22.7% |
| 1994 | -6.2% | -17.2% |
| 1995 | -7.0% | +13.0% |
| 1996 | -5.9% | -16.4% |
| 1997 | -3.8% | -34.6% |
| 1998 | -2.2% | -42.9% |
| 1999 | -1.4% | -36.3% |
| 2000 | -1.3% | -7.3% |
| 2001 | -2.0% | +51.2% |
| 2002 | -4.5% | +128.4% |
| 2003 | -5.9% | +32.1% |
| 2004 | -5.6% | -4.9% |
| 2005 | -5.4% | -2.8% |
| 2006 | -5.3% | -2.2% |
| 2007 | -5.2% | -2.0% |
| 2008 | -7.6% | +46.7% |
| 2009 | -12.5% | +63.1% |
| 2010 | -6.6% | -47.1% |
| 2011 | -9.6% | +45.3% |
| 2012 | -9.9% | +2.9% |
| 2013 | -6.6% | -33.3% |
| 2014 | -6.8% | +4.1% |
| 2015 | -5.6% | -18.4% |
| 2016 | -3.8% | -32.3% |
| 2017 | -3.4% | -9.6% |
| 2018 | -3.9% | +12.7% |
| 2019 | -3.5% | -8.1% |
| 2020 | -14.8% | +318.2% |
| 2021 | -9.2% | -38.1% |
| 2022 | -5.6% | -38.9% |
| 2023 | -7.0% | +24.6% |
| 2024 | -6.9% | -1.6% |
United Kingdom compared with similar countries
- United Kingdom's -6.9% is below the median for high income countries, which is -1.8%, 3.8× the median. (57 countries reporting)
- United Kingdom's -6.9% is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is -1.5%, 4.7× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Net lending (+) / net borrowing (-) (% of 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 | -318.2% | -3.5% | -14.8% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | -2.1% | -3.8% | 0.8% | 8 |
| 1980s | -1.6% | -3.8% | 1.1% | 10 |
| 1990s | -4.3% | -7.5% | -0.9% | 10 |
| 2000s | -5.5% | -12.5% | -1.3% | 10 |
| 2010s | -6.0% | -9.9% | -3.4% | 10 |
| 2020s | -8.7% | -14.8% | -5.6% | 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 -6.9% 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 1.1% in 1989.
- What is the lowest net lending (+) / net borrowing (-) recorded in United Kingdom?
- The lowest recorded value was -14.8% in 2020.
- How does United Kingdom rank for net lending (+) / net borrowing (-)?
- United Kingdom ranks 140th 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 0.3%. 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 (-) (% of GDP). 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 as a percentage of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) which is the total income earned through the production of goods and services in an economic territory during an accounting period.