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Sunday May 19, 2024 
compiled by Christopher Chantrill

UK Public Spending As Percent Of GDP

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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 add data series at same government level, this item will be shown as Remaining Spending.

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.

UK Public Spending As Percent Of GDP
Fiscal Years 1692 to 2010
YearInflationGDP-UK
£ billion nominal
Population-UK
million
Total Spending -total
percent GDP
1692MW gdp9.1007.24a
16930.4MW gdp9.1009.43a
16940.23MW gdp9.1009.45a
16950.23MW gdp9.10010.45a
16960.22MW gdp9.10013.40a
16970.22MW gdp9.10013.21a
16980.22MW gdp9.1006.87a
16990.39MW gdp9.1007.77a
17000.22MW gdp9.1005.28a
170159.89MW gdp9.1294.08a
1702-0.16MW gdp9.1586.11a
1703-0.97MW gdp9.1886.99a
17042MW gdp9.2176.01a
1705-1.43MW gdp9.2476.83a
1706-2.13MW gdp9.2769.43a
1707-2.5MW gdp9.30611.21a
17083.82MW gdp9.3369.00a
17097.55MW gdp9.36611.31a
17102.91MW gdp9.39612.86a
1711-7.71MW gdp9.42619.67a
1712-2.51MW gdp9.45610.49a
17132.95MW gdp9.4878.60a
17140.81MW gdp9.5177.54a
1715-3.29MW gdp9.5478.09a
17160.11MW gdp9.5788.85a
17171.86MW gdp9.6096.84a
1718-1MW gdp9.6407.06a
1719-1.57MW gdp9.6707.07a
17203.97MW gdp9.7016.25a
1721-4.43MW gdp9.7336.67a
1722-2.21MW gdp9.7648.02a
17232.41MW gdp9.7956.52a
1724-0.15MW gdp9.8266.32a
17252.04MW gdp9.8586.13a
17261.98MW gdp9.8896.23a
1727-1.64MW gdp9.9216.74a
17286.14MW gdp9.9536.85a
1729-1.81MW gdp9.9856.49a
1730-6.83MW gdp10.0176.64a
1731-0.8MW gdp10.0496.52a
1732-2.99MW gdp10.0815.85a
17330.14MW gdp10.1145.28a
17340.36MW gdp10.1467.31a
17352.37MW gdp10.1786.73a
1736-1.69MW gdp10.2116.29a
1737-1.17MW gdp10.2445.97a
1738-0.7MW gdp10.2775.43a
17390.67MW gdp10.3105.99a
17407.43MW gdp10.3436.70a
17411.43MW gdp10.3937.80a
1742-2.3MW gdp10.4448.89a
1743-1.82MW gdp10.4949.76a
1744-0.77MW gdp10.54510.44a
1745-2.59MW gdp10.59710.02a
17463.6MW gdp10.64810.32a
1747-1.4MW gdp10.70011.69a
17481.07MW gdp10.75211.23a
17491.61MW gdp10.80512.67a
1750-0.44MW gdp10.8577.19a
17510.17MW gdp10.9106.56a
17523.24MW gdp10.9636.64a
1753-1.83MW gdp11.0165.67a
1754-1.01MW gdp11.0703.00a
1755-2.04MW gdp11.1246.98a
17564.63MW gdp11.1849.13a
17577.57MW gdp11.2459.42a
1758-0.55MW gdp11.30611.00a
1759-6.59MW gdp11.36813.49a
17600.6MW gdp11.43015.25a
1761-2.29MW gdp11.49217.59a
17621.95MW gdp11.55516.84a
17635.37MW gdp11.61714.18a
17640.84MW gdp11.6818.48a
17650.81MW gdp11.7449.54a
17661.05MW gdp11.8088.00a
17673.19MW gdp11.8727.19a
1768-3.16MW gdp11.9376.98a
1769-4.12MW gdp12.0027.19a
17700.48MW gdp12.0678.10a
17715.06MW gdp12.1337.27a
17723.27MW gdp12.1997.66a
1773-0.35MW gdp12.2657.03a
17741.52MW gdp12.3326.78a
17751.06MW gdp12.3997.05a
1776-1.88MW gdp12.4679.43a
17772.47MW gdp12.5349.72a
17780.06MW gdp12.60311.50a
1779-2.93MW gdp12.67113.06a
1780-0.6MW gdp12.74014.40a
178113.08MW gdp12.80914.18a
17820.45MW gdp12.91616.15a
1783-2.25MW gdp13.02313.36a
1784-3.8MW gdp13.13114.26a
17850.7MW gdp13.24015.19a
17865.31MW gdp13.3499.33a
1787-0.53MW gdp13.4608.70a
1788-3.15MW gdp13.5729.49a
1789-1.66MW gdp13.6849.26a
17902.82MW gdp13.7988.80a
17910.62MW gdp13.9129.33a
17925.82MW gdp14.1348.00a
1793-0.74MW gdp14.3609.48a
17940.82MW gdp14.58914.21a
179510.92MW gdp14.82215.85a
17963.08MW gdp15.05916.42a
17971.11MW gdp15.29922.26a
17984.45MW gdp15.54417.37a
17997.99MW gdp15.79215.70a
18009.36MW gdp16.04414.35a
18015.48MW gdp16.30013.89a
1802-14.52MW gdp16.50820.60a
18030.83MW gdp16.71817.45a
18046.46MW gdp16.93115.87a
18053.21MW gdp17.14717.21a
18061.48MW gdp17.36519.35a
18070.51MW gdp17.58618.46a
18082.37MW gdp17.81118.99a
18096.18MW gdp18.03718.48a
18103.74MW gdp18.26717.53a
1811-3.27MW gdp18.50018.34a
18125.69MW gdp18.73619.31a
18132.09MW gdp18.97519.51a
1814-2.11MW gdp19.21723.91a
1815-7.66MW gdp19.46223.57a
1816-5.83MW gdp19.71023.36a
18172.07MW gdp19.96216.13a
18183.94MW gdp20.21712.79a
1819-4.9MW gdp20.47413.43a
1820-6.72MW gdp20.73613.22a
1821-5.84MW gdp21.00014.00a
1822-6.72MW gdp21.29114.21a
18231.59MW gdp21.58613.61a
18241.99MW gdp21.88612.17a
18258.29MW gdp22.18911.26a
1826-7.04MW gdp22.49712.52a
1827-3.53MW gdp22.80912.47a
1828-0.31MW gdp23.12512.42a
1829-4.18MW gdp23.44512.30a
1830-0.8MW gdp23.77011.91a
1831-4.61MW gdp24.10011.69a
1832-0.75MW gdp24.36611.63a
1833-3.15MW gdp24.63611.66a
18342.75MW gdp24.90810.59a
1835-0.41MW gdp25.18310.04a
18365.79MW gdp25.46212.35a
1837-1.8MW gdp25.74310.51a
18380.41MW gdp26.0289.45a
18391.89MW gdp26.3159.18a
1840-4.16MW gdp26.6069.85a
1841-1.5MW gdp26.90010.25a
1842-4.29MW gdp26.95911.04a
1843-3.49MW gdp27.01911.18a
18440.9MW gdp27.07910.39a
18451.67MW gdp27.1389.65a
1846-1.07MW gdp27.1989.18a
18476.38MW gdp27.2589.02a
1848-8.44MW gdp27.31910.14a
1849-0.56MW gdp27.3799.98a
1850-6.71MW gdp27.43910.20a
1851-1.4MW gdp27.5009.73a
18520.56MW gdp27.6569.26a
18539.46MW gdp27.8138.40a
18545.4MW gdp27.9717.79a
18550.78MW gdp28.1299.62a
18560.34MW gdp28.28912.30a
1857-1.46MW gdp28.44910.16a
1858-4.74MW gdp28.6119.59a
18593.19MW gdp28.7738.48a
18600.25MW gdp28.9368.91a
18612.47MW gdp29.1008.94a
18620.79MW gdp29.3418.85a
18633.65MW gdp29.5847.89a
18644.11MW gdp29.8297.21a
1865-2.5MW gdp30.0757.01a
18662.15MW gdp30.3246.72a
1867-1.39MW gdp30.5756.88a
1868-2.82MW gdp30.82810.64a
1869-0.04MW gdp31.08310.59a
1870-0.81MW gdp31.3418.99a
18711.76MW gdp31.4858.66a
18725.13MW gdp31.8748.48a
18733.61MW gdp32.1788.14a
1874-4.39MW gdp32.5028.90a
1875-3.39MW gdp32.8399.34a
1876-1.89MW gdp33.2009.81a
1877-1.97MW gdp33.57610.45a
1878-2.16MW gdp33.94411.06a
1879-1.97MW gdp34.30412.05a
1880-0.08MW gdp34.62310.97a
1881-0.77MW gdp34.93510.92a
18821.26MW gdp35.20711.05a
1883-2.52MW gdp35.45011.08a
1884-1.84MW gdp35.72411.23a
1885-1.34MW gdp36.01611.88a
18860.26MW gdp36.31412.06a
1887-0.18MW gdp36.59911.41a
18880.43MW gdp36.88110.85a
18892.09MW gdp37.17910.22a
18901.46MW gdp37.48510.36a
1891-2.6MW gdp37.80210.72a
1892-0.1MW gdp38.13411.57a
18930.76MW gdp38.49012.42a
18940.58MW gdp38.85912.38a
1895-1.09MW gdp39.22112.44a
1896-0.94MW gdp39.59912.45a
18971.24MW gdp39.98712.68a
18980.82MW gdp40.38112.57a
18992.36MW gdp40.77412.63a
19004.09MW gdp41.15514.06a
1901-1.38MW gdp41.53817.17a
1902-1.04MW gdp41.89318.31a
1903-0.25MW gdp42.24718.38a
1904-1.1MW gdp42.61116.37a
19050.48MW gdp42.98117.75a
19061.4MW gdp43.36115.17a
19071.58MW gdp43.73814.47a
1908-0.74MW gdp44.12414.81a
1909-0.35MW gdp44.52014.74a
19101.44MW gdp44.91615.97a
19110.58MW gdp42.19014.99a
19122.61MW gdp42.37414.83a
1913-0.17MW gdp42.58214.99a
1914-0.8MW gdp42.95715.65a
191514.36MW gdp41.36225.84a
191614.76MW gdp40.53651.46a
191724.35MW gdp39.78156.74a
191816.79MW gdp39.58258.09a
191915.24MW gdp42.94452.48a
192016.64MW gdp43.64633.51a
1921-8.17MW gdp43.90434.35a
1922-14.46MW gdp44.33236.71a
1923-7.53MW gdp44.56330.42a
1924-2.09MW gdp44.88627.44a
1925-0.26MW gdp45.04027.40a
1926-0.42MW gdp45.21830.16a
1927-1.94MW gdp45.43229.82a
1928-0.89MW gdp45.62229.43a
1929-0.84MW gdp45.73128.48a
1930-0.84MW gdp45.88929.64a
1931-1.83MW gdp46.07432.33a
1932-2.24MW gdp46.33533.38a
1933-1.39MW gdp46.52032.21a
1934-0.87MW gdp46.66629.47a
19350.79MW gdp46.86928.81a
19360.89MW gdp47.08128.89a
19373.46MW gdp47.28928.86a
19382.36MW gdp47.49429.13a
19392.88MW gdp47.54829.48a
194011.13MW gdp46.02930.13a
194111.47MW gdp44.87054.98a
19427.49MW gdp44.32360.96a
19434.44MW gdp48.26265.79a
19445.01MW gdp48.46067.06a
19451.63MW gdp48.66972.27a
19462.81MW gdp48.98866.76a
19479.08MW gdp49.53950.66a
19486.3MW gdp50.03341.10a
19493.18MW gdp50.33137.65a
19501.34MW gdp50.38237.50a
19518.55MW gdp50.28739.30a
19527.1MW gdp50.42940.22a
19531.83MW gdp50.59339.44a
19541.13MW gdp50.76537.35a
19554.92MW gdp50.94635.55a
19567.04MW gdp51.18435.31a
19574.08MW gdp51.43034.57a
19583.71MW gdp51.65334.88a
19590.76MW gdp51.95635.17a
19601.11MW gdp52.37334.92a
19613.88MW gdp52.80736.94a
19623.65MW gdp53.29237.64a
19631.55MW gdp53.62537.47a
19643.79MW gdp53.99137.43a
19656.06MW gdp54.35038.35a
19665.42MW gdp54.64338.81a
19673.05MW gdp54.95941.97a
19684.44MW gdp55.21441.68a
19696.76MW gdp55.46139.75a
19709.9MW gdp55.63238.52a
19718.57MW gdp55.92838.55a
19727.9MW gdp56.09737.40a
19739.37MW gdp56.22337.37a
197415.8MW gdp56.23642.35a
197525.7MW gdp56.22644.79a
197616MW gdp56.21642.71a
197714.17MW gdp56.19038.76a
197812.32MW gdp56.17838.69a
197914.97MW gdp56.24038.59a
198019.7MW gdp56.33040.00a
198112.31MW gdp56.35840.04a
19828.16MW gdp56.29140.11a
19835.78MW gdp56.31637.80a
19845.33MW gdp56.40937.20a
19855.62MW gdp56.55436.41a
19864.62MW gdp56.68435.51a
19875.69MW gdp56.80433.18a
19886.25MW gdp56.91631.25a
19898.03MW gdp57.07729.27a
19908.12MW gdp57.23830.03a
19916.56MW gdp57.43930.93a
19923.16MW gdp57.58532.33a
19932.79MW gdp57.71433.77a
19941.4MW gdp57.86233.54a
19952.5MW gdp58.02533.99a
19964.22MW gdp58.16433.54a
1997-0.07MW gdp58.31432.40a
19981.07MW gdp58.47531.93a
19990.97MW gdp58.68431.99a
20001.89MW gdp58.88631.10a
20011.15MW gdp59.11332.16a
20022.15MW gdp59.36632.76a
20032.45MW gdp59.63733.47a
20042.59MW gdp59.95034.54a
20052.78MW gdp60.41335.30a
20062.88MW gdp60.82735.60a
20072.76MW gdp61.31935.53a
20083.07MW gdp61.82436.64a
2009-0.261584.562.26140.00a
20101.321561.962.76043.10a

Legend:
a - actual outturn

Data Sources for 1692:
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 2010:
GDP: OBR EFO supp. economy tables
Spending: HM Treasury PESA
Debt: OBR Public Finances Databank

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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.

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Data Sources for 1692_2010:

Sources for 1692:

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

Sources for 2010:

GDP: OBR EFO supp. economy tables
Spending: 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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