Overall primary balance, Transactions (Statement of operations) in United Kingdom
United Kingdom: Overall primary balance, Transactions (Statement of operations) was -63.92 billion in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Overall primary balance, Transactions in United Kingdom, 1999–2025
Source: International Monetary Fund.
Analysis
United Kingdom recorded -63.92 billion for overall primary balance, transactions in 2025.
That represents a change of up 37.6% on the previous year and down 20.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, overall primary balance, transactions in United Kingdom peaked at 14.63 billion in 2000 and was at its lowest, -252.75 billion, in 2020.
United Kingdom ranks 32nd of 35 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Overall primary balance, Transactions (Statement of operations) in United Kingdom, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1999 | 8.72 billion | — |
| 2000 | 14.63 billion | +67.7% |
| 2001 | 2.07 billion | -85.8% |
| 2002 | -27.81 billion | -1442.4% |
| 2003 | -44.63 billion | +60.5% |
| 2004 | -40.88 billion | -8.4% |
| 2005 | -34.24 billion | -16.2% |
| 2006 | -38.99 billion | +13.9% |
| 2007 | -38.26 billion | -1.9% |
| 2008 | -73.05 billion | +90.9% |
| 2009 | -152.50 billion | +108.8% |
| 2010 | -33.34 billion | -78.1% |
| 2011 | -98.31 billion | +194.9% |
| 2012 | -117.67 billion | +19.7% |
| 2013 | -62.19 billion | -47.2% |
| 2014 | -64.51 billion | +3.7% |
| 2015 | -53.04 billion | -17.8% |
| 2016 | -25.60 billion | -51.7% |
| 2017 | -9.63 billion | -62.4% |
| 2018 | -26.32 billion | +173.3% |
| 2019 | -27.12 billion | +3.0% |
| 2020 | -252.75 billion | +831.9% |
| 2021 | -127.42 billion | -49.6% |
| 2022 | -24.64 billion | -80.7% |
| 2023 | -91.19 billion | +270.1% |
| 2024 | -102.37 billion | +12.3% |
| 2025 | -63.92 billion | -37.6% |
United Kingdom compared with similar countries
- United Kingdom's -63.92 billion is below the median for high income countries, which is 864.22 million. (32 countries reporting)
- United Kingdom's -63.92 billion is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 915.45 million. (29 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Overall primary balance, Transactions (Statement of operations) 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | -1442.4% | 2.07 billion | -27.81 billion |
| 2020 | -831.9% | -27.12 billion | -252.75 billion |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 8.72 billion | 8.72 billion | 8.72 billion | 1 |
| 2000s | -43.37 billion | -152.50 billion | 14.63 billion | 10 |
| 2010s | -51.77 billion | -117.67 billion | -9.63 billion | 10 |
| 2020s | -110.38 billion | -252.75 billion | -24.64 billion | 6 |
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 overall primary balance, transactions in United Kingdom?
- Overall primary balance, transactions in United Kingdom was -63.92 billion in 2025, according to International Monetary Fund.
- What is the highest overall primary balance, transactions recorded in United Kingdom?
- The highest recorded value was 14.63 billion in 2000.
- What is the lowest overall primary balance, transactions recorded in United Kingdom?
- The lowest recorded value was -252.75 billion in 2020.
- How does United Kingdom rank for overall primary balance, transactions?
- United Kingdom ranks 32nd out of 35 countries with data for 2025.
- Is overall primary balance, transactions rising or falling in United Kingdom?
- Over the last ten years it is down 20.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this United Kingdom data come from?
- The figures come from International Monetary Fund, published as part of Overall primary balance, Transactions (Statement of operations, General government). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
The Government Finance Statistics (GFS) includes government revenues and expenditures, government net lending / net borrowing (the surplus / deficit) financing transactions and balance sheet data on government assets and liabilities. Statistics are available for different levels of government including budgetary central government, central government and general government.