Subsidies and other transfers in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland: Subsidies and other transfers was 47.2% in 2023. ▲ Rising

Latest (2023)
47.2%
Change on year
up 1.8%
World rank
52nd
of 152 countries
All-time high
60.4%
in 1992
All-time low
25.6%
in 1975
Years of data
52
1972–2023

Subsidies and other transfers in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, 1972–2023

0204060197219972023

Source: Government Finance Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF). Measured in % of expense.

Analysis

In 2023, subsidies and other transfers in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland stood at 47.2%.

That represents a change of up 1.8% on the previous year and down 10.5% over ten years.

Over the whole period, subsidies and other transfers in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland peaked at 60.4% in 1992 and was at its lowest, 25.6%, in 1975.

United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ranks 52nd of 152 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 52 years of available data.

Subsidies and other transfers in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, year by year

Annual values for Subsidies and other transfers (% of expense) in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, 1972 to 2023.
Year % of expense Change
1972 28.7%
1973 27.9% -2.7%
1974 26.4% -5.4%
1975 25.6% -3.1%
1976 26.8% +4.9%
1977 28.7% +7.0%
1978 29.5% +2.5%
1979 30.1% +2.1%
1980 34.8% +15.6%
1981 36.4% +4.8%
1982 37.4% +2.6%
1983 35.5% -5.1%
1984 35.5% +0.1%
1985 36.7% +3.2%
1986 36.9% +0.7%
1987 36.7% -0.7%
1988 35.7% -2.7%
1989 34.7% -2.7%
1990 52.8% +52.1%
1991 58.4% +10.5%
1992 60.4% +3.5%
1993 59.0% -2.3%
1994 58.1% -1.6%
1995 52.3% -10.1%
1996 51.7% -1.0%
1997 51.6% -0.3%
1998 51.4% -0.3%
1999 51.6% +0.4%
2000 51.9% +0.6%
2001 51.4% -1.0%
2002 52.1% +1.3%
2003 52.8% +1.4%
2004 52.8% -0.1%
2005 52.2% -1.1%
2006 52.1% -0.2%
2007 51.5% -1.1%
2008 49.4% -4.1%
2009 51.5% +4.3%
2010 51.8% +0.5%
2011 51.8% +0.1%
2012 51.8% -0.0%
2013 52.7% +1.7%
2014 52.4% -0.6%
2015 53.0% +1.1%
2016 52.1% -1.6%
2017 50.3% -3.5%
2018 49.5% -1.6%
2019 49.9% +0.7%
2020 54.3% +9.0%
2021 50.5% -7.1%
2022 46.3% -8.2%
2023 47.2% +1.8%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1970s 28.0% 25.6% 30.1% 8
1980s 36.0% 34.7% 37.4% 10
1990s 54.7% 51.4% 60.4% 10
2000s 51.8% 49.4% 52.8% 10
2010s 51.5% 49.5% 53.0% 10
2020s 49.6% 46.3% 54.3% 4

Countries ranked near United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

  1. 49 Cyprus 47.9% compare
  2. 50 Poland 47.6% compare
  3. 51 Lebanon 47.2% compare
  4. 53 Slovakia 46.7% compare
  5. 54 Bolivia, Plurinational State of 46.7% compare
  6. 55 Tunisia 46.2% compare

See the full ranking of 192 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 subsidies and other transfers in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
Subsidies and other transfers in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland was 47.2% in 2023, according to Government Finance Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF).
What is the highest subsidies and other transfers recorded in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
The highest recorded value was 60.4% in 1992.
What is the lowest subsidies and other transfers recorded in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
The lowest recorded value was 25.6% in 1975.
How does United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland rank for subsidies and other transfers?
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ranks 52nd out of 152 countries with data for 2023.
Is subsidies and other transfers rising or falling in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
Over the last ten years it is down 10.5%. 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 Government Finance Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF), published as part of Subsidies and other transfers (% of expense). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Subsidies and other transfers in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Statizoid, drawing on Government Finance Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF). Retrieved 05 September 2026, from https://public-sector.statizoid.com/stat/subsidies-and-other-transfers-percent-of-expense/united-kingdom/

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About this data

Indicator
Subsidies and other transfers (% of expense)
Unit
% of expense
Source
Government Finance Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF)
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
192 places, 4,500 data points, 1972–2024
Last refreshed

Subsidies are current unrequited payments that government units, including nonresident government units, make to enterprises on the basis of the levels of their production activities or the quantities or values of the goods or services that they produce, sell, export or import. This indicator is expressed as percentage of total expenses which is any decrease in net worth resulting from a transaction.