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Saturday May 30, 2026 
compiled by Christopher Chantrill

Time Series Chart of UK Public 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 (2019), 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 2019) 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.

Defence
Fiscal Years 1700 to 2015
YearInflationGDP-UK
£ billion nominal
Population-UK
million
Defence -total -total
percent GDP
17000.250.08149.1001.45a
1701-5.29MW gdp9.1291.76a
1702-0.15MW gdp9.1583.89a
1703-0.9MW gdp9.1884.59a
17042.1MW gdp9.2174.05a
1705-1.75MW gdp9.2474.56a
1706-2.37MW gdp9.2766.63a
1707-1.74MW gdp9.3066.89a
17083.53MW gdp9.3365.92a
17097.9MW gdp9.3667.49a
17102.94MW gdp9.3969.02a
1711-7.86MW gdp9.42615.97a
1712-2.37MW gdp9.4566.13a
17132.56MW gdp9.4873.68a
17141.35MW gdp9.5172.34a
1715-3.98MW gdp9.5472.77a
17160.38MW gdp9.5783.68a
17171.48MW gdp9.6091.66a
1718-0.63MW gdp9.6402.84a
1719-1.79MW gdp9.6702.86a
17203.64MW gdp9.7012.25a
1721-4.06MW gdp9.7331.66a
1722-2.09MW gdp9.7643.08a
17232.29MW gdp9.7951.98a
1724-0.04MW gdp9.8261.73a
17251.93MW gdp9.8581.53a
17262.2MW gdp9.8891.89a
1727-1.3MW gdp9.9212.32a
17285.87MW gdp9.9533.06a
1729-2.01MW gdp9.9852.52a
1730-6.61MW gdp10.0172.66a
1731-0.91MW gdp10.0492.64a
1732-3.72MW gdp10.0812.03a
17330.86MW gdp10.1141.55a
17340.36MW gdp10.1463.20a
17351.91MW gdp10.1782.98a
1736-0.75MW gdp10.2112.78a
1737-1.34MW gdp10.2442.05a
1738-1.53MW gdp10.2771.81a
17390.67MW gdp10.3102.37a
17407.8MW gdp10.3433.29a
17411.33MW gdp10.3937.51a
1742-2.4MW gdp10.4445.56a
1743-1.1MW gdp10.4946.08a
1744-0.77MW gdp10.5456.57a
1745-2.57MW gdp10.5976.13a
17462.79MW gdp10.6486.46a
1747-1.49MW gdp10.7007.02a
17481.89MW gdp10.7527.66a
17491.1MW gdp10.8058.03a
1750-0.44MW gdp10.8575.73a
17510.46MW gdp10.9102.32a
17522.82MW gdp10.9632.67a
1753-1.74MW gdp11.0161.90a
1754-0.82MW gdp11.0701.99a
1755-1.84MW gdp11.1243.14a
17564.72MW gdp11.1844.85a
17577.24MW gdp11.2455.71a
1758-0.8MW gdp11.3067.08a
1759-6.76MW gdp11.3689.43a
17600.53MW gdp11.43010.88a
1761-2.19MW gdp11.49212.69a
17621.95MW gdp11.55512.37a
17635.39MW gdp11.6179.23a
17641MW gdp11.6813.48a
17651.05MW gdp11.7444.64a
17661.04MW gdp11.8083.32a
17673.19MW gdp11.8722.50a
1768-3.38MW gdp11.9372.22a
1769-3.97MW gdp12.0022.23a
17700.7MW gdp12.0672.78a
17714.58MW gdp12.1332.58a
17723.13MW gdp12.1993.04a
17730.08MW gdp12.2652.37a
17741.73MW gdp12.3322.52a
17750.7MW gdp12.3992.40a
1776-2.02MW gdp12.4674.70a
17772.83MW gdp12.5345.22a
17780.12MW gdp12.6036.42a
1779-2.99MW gdp12.6717.53a
1780-0.4MW gdp12.7408.60a
178112.51MW gdp12.8098.54a
17820.45MW gdp12.91610.28a
1783-1.97MW gdp13.0236.99a
1784-3.86MW gdp13.1317.50a
17850.34MW gdp13.2408.40a
17865.8MW gdp13.3492.80a
1787-0.53MW gdp13.4602.13a
1788-3.25MW gdp13.5722.53a
1789-1.54MW gdp13.6842.29a
17902.68MW gdp13.7982.45a
17910.51MW gdp13.9122.80a
17926.09MW gdp14.1342.43a
1793-1.01MW gdp14.3603.53a
17940.96MW gdp14.5897.59a
179511.01MW gdp14.8229.86a
17962.96MW gdp15.0599.98a
17970.96MW gdp15.29915.05a
17984.34MW gdp15.5449.89a
17997.4MW gdp15.7928.64a
18008.54MW gdp16.0449.41a
18017.13MW gdp16.3008.17a
1802-14.54MW gdp16.50811.91a
18030.73MW gdp16.7188.52a
18046.46MW gdp16.9317.21a
18053.17MW gdp17.1479.75a
18061.73MW gdp17.36511.20a
18070.43MW gdp17.58610.48a
18082.3MW gdp17.81111.14a
18096.19MW gdp18.03710.73a
18103.73MW gdp18.26710.50a
1811-3.3MW gdp18.50010.90a
18125.82MW gdp18.73611.90a
18132.14MW gdp18.97512.14a
1814-2.29MW gdp19.21716.02a
1815-7.47MW gdp19.46215.17a
1816-5.88MW gdp19.71013.30a
18172.1MW gdp19.9626.45a
18184.01MW gdp20.2173.98a
1819-5MW gdp20.4743.73a
1820-6.67MW gdp20.7363.92a
1821-5.91MW gdp21.0004.08a
1822-6.65MW gdp21.2914.28a
18231.57MW gdp21.5863.73a
18242.06MW gdp21.8863.28a
18258.23MW gdp22.1893.15a
1826-6.97MW gdp22.4973.56a
1827-3.67MW gdp22.8093.81a
1828-0.35MW gdp23.1253.73a
1829-4.1MW gdp23.4453.54a
1830-0.71MW gdp23.7703.45a
1831-4.66MW gdp24.1003.20a
1832-0.77MW gdp24.3663.34a
1833-3.13MW gdp24.6363.28a
18342.61MW gdp24.9082.78a
1835-0.3MW gdp25.1832.58a
18365.73MW gdp25.4622.31a
1837-1.82MW gdp25.7432.39a
18380.38MW gdp26.0282.48a
18391.98MW gdp26.3152.32a
1840-4.21MW gdp26.6062.61a
1841-1.44MW gdp26.9002.74a
1842-4.32MW gdp26.9593.00a
1843-3.39MW gdp27.0192.99a
18440.73MW gdp27.0792.73a
18451.73MW gdp27.1382.44a
1846-0.98MW gdp27.1982.65a
18476.26MW gdp27.2582.75a
1848-8.45MW gdp27.3193.16a
1849-0.56MW gdp27.3793.15a
1850-6.6MW gdp27.4392.85a
1851-1.53MW gdp27.5002.69a
18520.7MW gdp27.6562.53a
18539.4MW gdp27.8132.44a
18545.41MW gdp27.9712.49a
18550.67MW gdp28.1293.88a
18560.39MW gdp28.2896.45a
1857-1.39MW gdp28.4495.08a
1858-4.73MW gdp28.6113.43a
18593.14MW gdp28.7732.86a
18600.17MW gdp28.9363.36a
18612.51MW gdp29.1003.90a
18620.85MW gdp29.3413.81a
18633.6MW gdp29.5843.32a
18644.14MW gdp29.8292.86a
1865-2.52MW gdp30.0752.76a
18662.11MW gdp30.3242.64a
1867-1.35MW gdp30.5752.70a
1868-2.78MW gdp30.8283.00a
1869-0.06MW gdp31.0833.20a
1870-0.85MW gdp31.3412.15a
18711.75MW gdp31.4851.98a
18725.12MW gdp31.8742.03a
18733.68MW gdp32.1781.84a
1874-4.41MW gdp32.5021.95a
1875-3.38MW gdp32.8392.02a
1876-1.92MW gdp33.2002.07a
1877-1.97MW gdp33.5762.15a
1878-2.17MW gdp33.9442.45a
1879-1.94MW gdp34.3042.68a
1880-0.12MW gdp34.6232.35a
1881-0.79MW gdp34.9352.10a
18821.34MW gdp35.2072.17a
1883-2.56MW gdp35.4502.34a
1884-1.87MW gdp35.7242.26a
1885-1.27MW gdp36.0162.53a
18860.22MW gdp36.3143.22a
1887-0.22MW gdp36.5992.50a
18880.47MW gdp36.8812.32a
18892.06MW gdp37.1792.02a
18901.47MW gdp37.4852.30a
1891-2.6MW gdp37.8022.35a
1892-0.11MW gdp38.1342.39a
18930.76MW gdp38.4902.39a
18940.61MW gdp38.8592.29a
1895-1.07MW gdp39.2212.37a
1896-0.98MW gdp39.5992.48a
18971.28MW gdp39.9872.55a
18980.82MW gdp40.3812.42a
18992.35MW gdp40.7742.52a
19004.12MW gdp41.1553.78a
1901-1.43MW gdp41.5386.48a
1902-1MW gdp41.8936.89a
1903-0.28MW gdp42.2476.04a
1904-1.08MW gdp42.6113.94a
19050.46MW gdp42.9813.48a
19061.42MW gdp43.3613.16a
19071.54MW gdp43.7382.90a
1908-0.72MW gdp44.1243.00a
1909-0.35MW gdp44.5202.96a
19101.43MW gdp44.9163.04a
19110.6MW gdp42.1903.14a
19122.6MW gdp42.3743.13a
1913-0.16MW gdp42.5823.09a
1914-0.81MW gdp42.9573.21a
191514.34MW gdp41.36215.00a
191614.79MW gdp40.53641.29a
191724.32MW gdp39.78147.05a
191816.81MW gdp39.58248.27a
191915.24MW gdp42.94441.13a
192016.64MW gdp43.64611.71a
1921-8.17MW gdp43.9046.11a
1922-14.46MW gdp44.3325.02a
1923-7.53MW gdp44.5632.92a
1924-2.09MW gdp44.8862.86a
1925-0.26MW gdp45.0402.67a
1926-0.42MW gdp45.2182.95a
1927-1.94MW gdp45.4322.72a
1928-0.89MW gdp45.6222.75a
1929-0.84MW gdp45.7312.56a
1930-0.84MW gdp45.8892.59a
1931-1.83MW gdp46.0742.73a
1932-2.24MW gdp46.3352.70a
1933-1.39MW gdp46.5202.60a
1934-0.87MW gdp46.6662.60a
19350.79MW gdp46.8692.61a
19360.9MW gdp47.0812.94a
19373.46MW gdp47.2893.69a
19382.36MW gdp47.4943.78a
19392.89MW gdp47.5484.55a
194011.13MW gdp46.0299.09a
194111.46MW gdp44.87037.98a
19427.49MW gdp44.32344.04a
19434.44MW gdp48.26249.25a
19445MW gdp48.46049.98a
19451.64MW gdp48.66953.44a
19462.81MW gdp48.98845.95a
19479.08MW gdp49.53916.74a
19486.34MW gdp50.0337.99a
19493.19MW gdp50.3316.74a
19501.34MW gdp50.3826.31a
19518.55MW gdp50.28710.19a
19527.11MW gdp50.42911.50a
19531.83MW gdp50.59311.25a
19541.13MW gdp50.76510.33a
19554.91MW gdp50.9468.99a
19567.05MW gdp51.1848.65a
19574.08MW gdp51.4307.79a
19583.7MW gdp51.6537.38a
19590.76MW gdp51.9567.04a
19601.11MW gdp52.3736.71a
19613.88MW gdp52.8076.66a
19623.65MW gdp53.2927.07a
19631.55MW gdp53.6256.85a
19643.77MW gdp53.9916.67a
19656.05MW gdp54.3506.53a
19665.42MW gdp54.6436.38a
19673.03MW gdp54.9596.55a
19684.44MW gdp55.2146.00a
19696.75MW gdp55.4615.25a
19709.92MW gdp55.6325.00a
19718.57MW gdp55.9285.06a
19727.9MW gdp56.0974.93a
19739.39MW gdp56.2235.02a
197415.8MW gdp56.2365.12a
197525.7MW gdp56.2265.07a
197616.02MW gdp56.2165.31a
197714.17MW gdp56.1905.12a
197812.31MW gdp56.1785.12a
197914.98MW gdp56.2405.12a
198019.69MW gdp56.3305.19a
198112.31MW gdp56.3585.02a
19828.16MW gdp56.2915.24a
19835.78MW gdp56.3164.61a
19845.34MW gdp56.4094.60a
19855.63MW gdp56.5544.61a
19864.6MW gdp56.6844.50a
19875.82MW gdp56.8044.11a
19886.47MW gdp56.9163.76a
19898.21MW gdp57.0773.50a
19908.58MW gdp57.2383.47a
19916.64MW gdp57.4393.46a
19923.29MW gdp57.5853.56a
19933.07MW gdp57.7143.42a
19941.91MW gdp57.8623.21a
19952.68MW gdp58.0253.00a
19964.24MW gdp58.1642.71a
1997-0.15MW gdp58.3142.63a
19981.33MW gdp58.4752.44a
19991.42MW gdp58.6842.56a
20001.17MW gdp58.8862.52a
20011.55MW gdp59.1132.61a
20022.16MW gdp59.3662.38a
20032.46MW gdp59.6372.39a
20042.65MW gdp59.9502.45a
20053.02MW gdp60.4132.39a
20062.86MW gdp60.8272.39a
20072.31MW gdp61.3192.37a
20083.42MW gdp61.8242.40a
20090.871582.762.2612.59a
20101.321558.162.7602.73a
20111.941627.263.2852.76a
20121.781672.363.7052.64a
20131.881727.564.1062.43a
20141.961800.864.5972.44a
20151.251879.565.1102.41a

Legend:
a - actual outturn

Data Sources for 1700:
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 2015:
GDP: OBR EFO supp. economy tables
Spending: HM Treasury PESA
Debt: OBR Public Finances Databank

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Top Spending Requests:

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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.

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Top Links

tablechartspend/gdpdebt/gdpuk gdpuk real gdp2016breakdowncentral+localcentrallocaluk budgethealtheducationdefencetransport2015

Data Sources for 1700_2015:

Sources for 1700:

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

Sources for 2015:

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

> spending data sources for other years

On April 23, 2026 the Office for National Statistics (ONS) published its annual Public Sector Finances report. On April 30, 2026 we updated ukpublicrevenue.co.uk with the new public finance data.

UK Government Revenue
£ billion2025-26
forecast
2025-26
actual
Central Government£1,071.9£1,136.9
Local Authorities£69.1£70.1
Total UK Revenue£1,141.0£1,207.0

Revenue outturn data comes from the Office for National Statistics' March 2026 Public Sector Finances report using a spreadsheet file pusf.csv labeled "Public sector finances time series". Outturn revenue data for ukpublicrevenue.co.uk now extends from 1692 to 2025-26. 

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