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Saturday May 18, 2024 
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Total Spending And Defence Spending

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Use the table below to change the data series


You can display a maximum of five data series at once.

Spending Units: By default, public spending is displayed in billions of pounds. By using a dropdown control in the table heading you can select £ bln (2018), and percent of GDP.
Chart Title: You can create a title for your chart. Use the title text box to enter a title and click the button to the right of the text field.
UK or Country: By default, the chart shows overall United Kingdom government spending. But you can select spending for individual countries by selecting the country dropdown control in the table heading.
View: There are two ways to view the spending data. The default view breaks down spending into functions. There is also a COFOG view that categorizes spending using the UN standard methodology.
General Help: You can use controls on the table below to change the following variables: spending units—e.g. percent of GDP, etc.— and year. You can select the HM Treasury Budget fiscal year.
Line/Bar: By default, the data series are displayed as line charts. But you can also select a bar chart.
Data Stack: By default, the data series are “stacked” when displayed on the chart. But you can change the setting to “un stack” the data series.
Chart Size: By default, the chart is displayed at medium size. But you can use the dropdown control to change the size.
Color: By default charts are displayed with color data lines and fill. You can change this to grayscale if you want.

Data Range

Start Year: You can select any start year you want using the dropdown control in the table heading. At the top and bottom of the dropdown only years ending in “0” are shown. Select a start year to get close, then select the start year you want.
End Year: You can select any end year you want using the dropdown control in the table heading. At the top and bottom of the dropdown only years ending in “0” are shown. Select an end year to get close, then select the end year you want.
Category (max 7)Sub-categoryCentral 
Gov.
General 
Gov.
Local 
Auth.
Total   
 
Data Series: You can select up to five data series to display on your chart. Click on a checkbox to add or delete a data series from the chart. Once you get to five data series you will have to delete a series before you can add one. Click a [+] expand control to drill down to more detailed data series.
 
 
 All Categories

If you’d like to create your own custom chart of spending data you should use the table above to make your selections.

  • Select the year range: Select the start year and the end year you want by selecting the years you want in the two year dropdown boxes.
  • Select spending items: Just select the spending item you want from the dropdown control. Then click a radio button to select the level of government: federal, state, or local. If you select from the < select > you will add another data series to your chart. Up to 5 data series are allowed at once. Click the “X” link to remove a data series from the chart.
  • Select units: You can select the display in billions of nominal (i.e. inflated) pounds, billions of real (i.e. year 2018) pounds, or as percent of GDP.
  • Choose chart features: You can select the size of the chart, switch from bar chart to line chart, select color or black and white, stacked or not. You can also blow up the chart to fill the screen with the “fullsize” tab control above the chart display.

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Download Data File

 

Click button to download CSV file of dataset in chart.

Download Tab-delimited Data

Copy and Paste: Here is the dataset you have just charted. The table also includes nominal or chained GDP for each year charted. If you’d like the data for analysis, just copy the tab-delimited text in the textbox below (click cursor in text box, then press ctrl-A then press ctrl-C) and paste it into your spreadsheet.

View Data Series

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Below is a formatted version of the dataset displayed in the chart. Included is a column of nominal or chained GDP for each year charted.

Total Spending And Defence Spending
Fiscal Years 1800 to 2009
YearInflationGDP-UK
£ billion nominal
Population-UK
million
Total Spending -total
percent GDP
Defence -total
percent GDP
18009.36MW gdp16.04414.35a9.26a
18015.48MW gdp16.30013.89a8.18a
1802-14.52MW gdp16.50820.60a11.91a
18030.83MW gdp16.71817.45a8.51a
18046.46MW gdp16.93115.87a7.20a
18053.21MW gdp17.14717.21a9.74a
18061.48MW gdp17.36519.35a11.21a
18070.51MW gdp17.58618.46a10.48a
18082.37MW gdp17.81118.99a11.14a
18096.18MW gdp18.03718.48a10.72a
18103.74MW gdp18.26717.53a10.49a
1811-3.27MW gdp18.50018.34a10.89a
18125.69MW gdp18.73619.31a11.91a
18132.09MW gdp18.97519.51a12.15a
1814-2.11MW gdp19.21723.91a16.00a
1815-7.66MW gdp19.46223.57a15.19a
1816-5.83MW gdp19.71023.36a13.31a
18172.07MW gdp19.96216.13a6.45a
18183.94MW gdp20.21712.79a3.98a
1819-4.9MW gdp20.47413.43a3.73a
1820-6.72MW gdp20.73613.22a3.92a
1821-5.84MW gdp21.00014.00a4.08a
1822-6.72MW gdp21.29114.21a4.28a
18231.59MW gdp21.58613.61a3.73a
18241.99MW gdp21.88612.17a3.29a
18258.29MW gdp22.18911.26a3.16a
1826-7.04MW gdp22.49712.52a3.56a
1827-3.53MW gdp22.80912.47a3.81a
1828-0.31MW gdp23.12512.42a3.73a
1829-4.18MW gdp23.44512.30a3.54a
1830-0.8MW gdp23.77011.91a3.45a
1831-4.61MW gdp24.10011.69a3.20a
1832-0.75MW gdp24.36611.63a3.34a
1833-3.15MW gdp24.63611.66a3.29a
18342.75MW gdp24.90810.59a2.77a
1835-0.41MW gdp25.18310.04a2.58a
18365.79MW gdp25.46212.35a2.31a
1837-1.8MW gdp25.74310.51a2.39a
18380.41MW gdp26.0289.45a2.47a
18391.89MW gdp26.3159.18a2.32a
1840-4.16MW gdp26.6069.85a2.61a
1841-1.5MW gdp26.90010.25a2.74a
1842-4.29MW gdp26.95911.04a3.00a
1843-3.49MW gdp27.01911.18a2.99a
18440.9MW gdp27.07910.39a2.72a
18451.67MW gdp27.1389.65a2.44a
1846-1.07MW gdp27.1989.18a2.65a
18476.38MW gdp27.2589.02a2.75a
1848-8.44MW gdp27.31910.14a3.16a
1849-0.56MW gdp27.3799.98a3.15a
1850-6.71MW gdp27.43910.20a2.85a
1851-1.4MW gdp27.5009.73a2.69a
18520.56MW gdp27.6569.26a2.53a
18539.46MW gdp27.8138.40a2.44a
18545.4MW gdp27.9717.79a2.49a
18550.78MW gdp28.1299.62a3.88a
18560.34MW gdp28.28912.30a6.45a
1857-1.46MW gdp28.44910.16a5.08a
1858-4.74MW gdp28.6119.59a3.43a
18593.19MW gdp28.7738.48a2.86a
18600.25MW gdp28.9368.91a3.36a
18612.47MW gdp29.1008.94a3.90a
18620.79MW gdp29.3418.85a3.81a
18633.65MW gdp29.5847.89a3.32a
18644.11MW gdp29.8297.21a2.86a
1865-2.5MW gdp30.0757.01a2.76a
18662.15MW gdp30.3246.72a2.63a
1867-1.39MW gdp30.5756.88a2.70a
1868-2.82MW gdp30.82810.64a3.00a
1869-0.04MW gdp31.08310.59a3.20a
1870-0.81MW gdp31.3418.99a2.15a
18711.76MW gdp31.4858.66a1.98a
18725.13MW gdp31.8748.48a2.03a
18733.61MW gdp32.1788.14a1.84a
1874-4.39MW gdp32.5028.90a1.95a
1875-3.39MW gdp32.8399.34a2.02a
1876-1.89MW gdp33.2009.81a2.07a
1877-1.97MW gdp33.57610.45a2.15a
1878-2.16MW gdp33.94411.06a2.45a
1879-1.97MW gdp34.30412.05a2.68a
1880-0.08MW gdp34.62310.97a2.35a
1881-0.77MW gdp34.93510.92a2.10a
18821.26MW gdp35.20711.05a2.17a
1883-2.52MW gdp35.45011.08a2.34a
1884-1.84MW gdp35.72411.23a2.25a
1885-1.34MW gdp36.01611.88a2.53a
18860.26MW gdp36.31412.06a3.22a
1887-0.18MW gdp36.59911.41a2.50a
18880.43MW gdp36.88110.85a2.32a
18892.09MW gdp37.17910.22a2.02a
18901.46MW gdp37.48510.36a2.30a
1891-2.6MW gdp37.80210.72a2.35a
1892-0.1MW gdp38.13411.57a2.39a
18930.76MW gdp38.49012.42a2.39a
18940.58MW gdp38.85912.38a2.29a
1895-1.09MW gdp39.22112.44a2.37a
1896-0.94MW gdp39.59912.45a2.48a
18971.24MW gdp39.98712.68a2.55a
18980.82MW gdp40.38112.57a2.42a
18992.36MW gdp40.77412.63a2.52a
19004.09MW gdp41.15514.06a3.78a
1901-1.38MW gdp41.53817.17a6.48a
1902-1.04MW gdp41.89318.31a6.90a
1903-0.25MW gdp42.24718.38a6.04a
1904-1.1MW gdp42.61116.37a3.94a
19050.48MW gdp42.98117.75a3.48a
19061.4MW gdp43.36115.17a3.16a
19071.58MW gdp43.73814.47a2.90a
1908-0.74MW gdp44.12414.81a3.00a
1909-0.35MW gdp44.52014.74a2.96a
19101.44MW gdp44.91615.97a3.04a
19110.58MW gdp42.19014.99a3.14a
19122.61MW gdp42.37414.83a3.13a
1913-0.17MW gdp42.58214.99a3.09a
1914-0.8MW gdp42.95715.65a3.21a
191514.36MW gdp41.36225.84a15.00a
191614.76MW gdp40.53651.46a41.30a
191724.35MW gdp39.78156.74a47.04a
191816.79MW gdp39.58258.09a48.27a
191915.24MW gdp42.94452.48a41.13a
192016.64MW gdp43.64633.51a11.71a
1921-8.17MW gdp43.90434.35a6.11a
1922-14.46MW gdp44.33236.71a5.02a
1923-7.53MW gdp44.56330.42a2.92a
1924-2.09MW gdp44.88627.44a2.86a
1925-0.26MW gdp45.04027.40a2.67a
1926-0.42MW gdp45.21830.16a2.95a
1927-1.94MW gdp45.43229.82a2.72a
1928-0.89MW gdp45.62229.43a2.75a
1929-0.84MW gdp45.73128.48a2.56a
1930-0.84MW gdp45.88929.64a2.59a
1931-1.83MW gdp46.07432.33a2.73a
1932-2.24MW gdp46.33533.38a2.70a
1933-1.39MW gdp46.52032.21a2.60a
1934-0.87MW gdp46.66629.47a2.60a
19350.79MW gdp46.86928.81a2.61a
19360.89MW gdp47.08128.89a2.94a
19373.46MW gdp47.28928.86a3.69a
19382.36MW gdp47.49429.13a3.78a
19392.88MW gdp47.54829.48a4.55a
194011.13MW gdp46.02930.13a9.09a
194111.47MW gdp44.87054.98a37.98a
19427.49MW gdp44.32360.96a44.04a
19434.44MW gdp48.26265.79a49.25a
19445.01MW gdp48.46067.06a49.97a
19451.63MW gdp48.66972.27a53.44a
19462.81MW gdp48.98866.76a45.95a
19479.08MW gdp49.53950.66a16.74a
19486.3MW gdp50.03341.10a7.99a
19493.18MW gdp50.33137.65a6.74a
19501.34MW gdp50.38237.50a6.31a
19518.55MW gdp50.28739.30a10.19a
19527.1MW gdp50.42940.22a11.50a
19531.83MW gdp50.59339.44a11.26a
19541.13MW gdp50.76537.35a10.34a
19554.92MW gdp50.94635.55a9.00a
19567.04MW gdp51.18435.31a8.65a
19574.08MW gdp51.43034.57a7.79a
19583.71MW gdp51.65334.88a7.38a
19590.76MW gdp51.95635.17a7.04a
19601.11MW gdp52.37334.92a6.71a
19613.88MW gdp52.80736.94a6.66a
19623.65MW gdp53.29237.64a7.08a
19631.55MW gdp53.62537.47a6.85a
19643.79MW gdp53.99137.43a6.67a
19656.06MW gdp54.35038.35a6.53a
19665.42MW gdp54.64338.81a6.38a
19673.05MW gdp54.95941.97a6.55a
19684.44MW gdp55.21441.68a6.00a
19696.76MW gdp55.46139.75a5.25a
19709.9MW gdp55.63238.52a4.99a
19718.57MW gdp55.92838.55a5.06a
19727.9MW gdp56.09737.40a4.93a
19739.37MW gdp56.22337.37a5.02a
197415.8MW gdp56.23642.35a5.13a
197525.7MW gdp56.22644.79a5.07a
197616MW gdp56.21642.71a5.31a
197714.17MW gdp56.19038.76a5.13a
197812.32MW gdp56.17838.69a5.13a
197914.97MW gdp56.24038.59a5.13a
198019.7MW gdp56.33040.00a5.20a
198112.31MW gdp56.35840.04a5.03a
19828.16MW gdp56.29140.11a5.24a
19835.78MW gdp56.31637.80a4.61a
19845.33MW gdp56.40937.20a4.61a
19855.62MW gdp56.55436.41a4.61a
19864.62MW gdp56.68435.51a4.50a
19875.69MW gdp56.80433.18a4.11a
19886.25MW gdp56.91631.25a3.76a
19898.03MW gdp57.07729.27a3.50a
19908.12MW gdp57.23830.03a3.48a
19916.56MW gdp57.43930.93a3.46a
19923.16MW gdp57.58532.33a3.56a
19932.79MW gdp57.71433.77a3.42a
19941.4MW gdp57.86233.54a3.22a
19952.5MW gdp58.02533.99a3.01a
19964.22MW gdp58.16433.54a2.72a
1997-0.07MW gdp58.31432.40a2.64a
19981.07MW gdp58.47531.93a2.44a
19990.97MW gdp58.68431.99a2.57a
20001.89MW gdp58.88631.10a2.53a
20011.15MW gdp59.11332.16a2.62a
20022.15MW gdp59.36632.76a2.39a
20032.45MW gdp59.63733.47a2.39a
20042.59MW gdp59.95034.54a2.46a
20052.78MW gdp60.41335.30a2.40a
20062.88MW gdp60.82735.60a2.40a
20072.76MW gdp61.31935.53a2.37a
20083.07MW gdp61.82436.64a2.41a
2009-0.261584.562.26140.00a2.59a

Legend:
a - actual outturn

Data Sources for 1800:
GDP: data from measuringworth.com (but now unsupported)
Spending: B.R. Mitchell, British Historical Statistics
Debt: B.R. Mitchell, British Historical Statistics

Data Sources for 2009:
GDP: OBR EFO supp. economy tables
Spending: Archived HM Treasury PESA
Debt: OBR Public Finances Databank

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Top Spending Requests:

Find NATIONAL DEBT today and history.

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DOWNLOAD spending or national debt.

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See PIE CHARTS of total spending, central spending.

See CHART GALLERY of spending.

See COUNTRY SPENDING for England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland.

See REGIONAL SPENDING for London etc.

See BAR CHARTS of spending, debt.

See PIE CHARTS here.

Make your own CUSTOM CHART.

Spending Data Sources

Expenditure data since 1983 comes from HM Treasury’s Public Expenditure Statistical Analysis reports.

Detailed table of spending data sources here.

Gross Domestic Product data comes from measuringworth.com.

Central government spending data begins in 1692.

Local authority spending data begins in 1868.

Site Search

Top Links

tablechartspend/gdpdebt/gdpuk gdpuk real gdp2016breakdowncentral+localcentrallocaluk budgethealtheducationdefencetransport2015

Data Sources for 1800_2009:

Sources for 1800:

GDP: data from measuringworth.com (but now unsupported)
Spending: B.R. Mitchell, British Historical Statistics
Debt: B.R. Mitchell, British Historical Statistics

Sources for 2009:

GDP: OBR EFO supp. economy tables
Spending: Archived HM Treasury PESA
Debt: OBR Public Finances Databank

> spending data sources for other years

On April 23, 2024 the Office for National Statistics (ONS) published its annual Public Sector Finances report. On May 6, 2024 we updated ukpublicrevenue.co.uk with the new public finance data.

UK Government Revenue
£ billion2023-24
forecast
2023-24
actual
Central Government£1,035.1£1,101.0
Local Authorities£66.9£63.3
Total UK Revenue£1,102.0£1,073.3

Revenue outturn data comes from the Office for National Statistics' March 2024 Public Sector Finances report using a spreadsheet file labeled "Public sector finances time series". Outturn revenue data for ukpublicrevenue.co.uk now extends from 1692 to 2023-24. 

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