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Wednesday April 15, 2026 
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Three Centuries Of UK National Debt

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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.
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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.
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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.
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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   
 
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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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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.

Three Centuries Of UK National Debt
Fiscal Years 1692 to 2019
YearInflationGDP-UK
£ billion nominal
Population-UK
million
Public Net Debt -total -total
percent GDP
1692-0.120.06499.1005.08a
16931.620.06689.1008.83a
1694-0.120.06879.1008.88a
1695-0.110.07079.10011.88a
1696-0.120.07279.10014.58a
1697-0.120.07489.10022.33a
16981.590.07699.10022.50a
1699-0.120.07919.10019.47a
1700-0.110.08149.10017.44a
1701-6.56MW gdp9.12916.71a
1702-0.15MW gdp9.15817.17a
1703-0.9MW gdp9.18817.87a
17042.1MW gdp9.21714.53a
1705-1.75MW gdp9.24715.13a
1706-2.37MW gdp9.27618.39a
1707-1.74MW gdp9.30618.54a
17083.53MW gdp9.33617.67a
17097.9MW gdp9.36623.49a
17102.94MW gdp9.39628.05a
1711-7.86MW gdp9.42629.02a
1712-2.37MW gdp9.45646.35a
17132.56MW gdp9.48746.89a
17141.35MW gdp9.51743.93a
1715-3.98MW gdp9.54748.70a
17160.38MW gdp9.57847.38a
17171.48MW gdp9.60945.86a
1718-0.63MW gdp9.64044.11a
1719-1.79MW gdp9.67047.93a
17203.64MW gdp9.70156.54a
1721-4.06MW gdp9.73362.46a
1722-2.09MW gdp9.76460.57a
17232.29MW gdp9.79561.68a
1724-0.04MW gdp9.82662.56a
17251.93MW gdp9.85858.62a
17262.2MW gdp9.88959.37a
1727-1.3MW gdp9.92160.64a
17285.87MW gdp9.95355.36a
1729-2.01MW gdp9.98559.20a
1730-6.61MW gdp10.01761.05a
1731-0.91MW gdp10.04962.97a
1732-3.72MW gdp10.08159.29a
17330.86MW gdp10.11457.41a
17340.36MW gdp10.14656.37a
17351.91MW gdp10.17856.86a
1736-0.75MW gdp10.21153.73a
1737-1.34MW gdp10.24456.20a
1738-1.53MW gdp10.27754.85a
17390.67MW gdp10.31054.16a
17407.8MW gdp10.34351.58a
17411.33MW gdp10.39350.94a
1742-2.4MW gdp10.44453.61a
1743-1.1MW gdp10.49457.90a
1744-0.77MW gdp10.54563.16a
1745-2.57MW gdp10.59767.23a
17462.79MW gdp10.64868.53a
1747-1.49MW gdp10.70071.11a
17481.89MW gdp10.75277.34a
17491.1MW gdp10.80578.67a
1750-0.44MW gdp10.85778.08a
17510.46MW gdp10.91079.53a
17522.82MW gdp10.96372.68a
1753-1.74MW gdp11.01671.50a
1754-0.82MW gdp11.07071.41a
1755-1.84MW gdp11.12470.87a
17564.72MW gdp11.18470.78a
17577.24MW gdp11.24565.32a
1758-0.8MW gdp11.30668.53a
1759-6.76MW gdp11.36880.37a
17600.53MW gdp11.43086.55a
1761-2.19MW gdp11.49295.48a
17621.95MW gdp11.555106.75a
17635.39MW gdp11.617106.42a
17641MW gdp11.681106.68a
17651.05MW gdp11.744105.95a
17661.04MW gdp11.808103.25a
17673.19MW gdp11.87299.85a
1768-3.38MW gdp11.937101.38a
1769-3.97MW gdp12.00297.97a
17700.7MW gdp12.067100.23a
17714.58MW gdp12.13392.93a
17723.13MW gdp12.19992.26a
17730.08MW gdp12.26590.71a
17741.73MW gdp12.33290.31a
17750.7MW gdp12.39986.66a
1776-2.02MW gdp12.46788.23a
17772.83MW gdp12.53486.90a
17780.12MW gdp12.60391.55a
1779-2.99MW gdp12.671101.46a
1780-0.4MW gdp12.740106.16a
178112.51MW gdp12.809104.79a
17820.45MW gdp12.916118.59a
1783-1.97MW gdp13.023131.56a
1784-3.86MW gdp13.131142.80a
17850.34MW gdp13.240144.84a
17865.8MW gdp13.349135.05a
1787-0.53MW gdp13.460137.86a
1788-3.25MW gdp13.572142.42a
1789-1.54MW gdp13.684140.97a
17902.68MW gdp13.798127.68a
17910.51MW gdp13.912126.08a
17926.09MW gdp14.134113.75a
1793-1.01MW gdp14.360117.46a
17940.96MW gdp14.589123.50a
179511.01MW gdp14.822108.57a
17962.96MW gdp15.059120.31a
17970.96MW gdp15.299138.90a
17984.34MW gdp15.544143.67a
17997.4MW gdp15.792142.39a
18008.54MW gdp16.044129.89a
18017.13MW gdp16.300124.24a
1802-14.54MW gdp16.508156.79a
18030.73MW gdp16.718164.62a
18046.46MW gdp16.931156.97a
18053.17MW gdp17.147148.04a
18061.73MW gdp17.365152.79a
18070.43MW gdp17.586147.58a
18082.3MW gdp17.811153.27a
18096.19MW gdp18.037142.01a
18103.73MW gdp18.267130.71a
1811-3.3MW gdp18.500137.11a
18125.82MW gdp18.736138.43a
18132.14MW gdp18.975134.11a
1814-2.29MW gdp19.217156.19a
1815-7.47MW gdp19.462155.38a
1816-5.88MW gdp19.710182.66a
18172.1MW gdp19.962170.76a
18184.01MW gdp20.217183.53a
1819-5MW gdp20.474196.81a
1820-6.67MW gdp20.736193.04a
1821-5.91MW gdp21.000201.08a
1822-6.65MW gdp21.291209.24a
18231.57MW gdp21.586201.42a
18242.06MW gdp21.886185.62a
18258.23MW gdp22.189166.30a
1826-6.97MW gdp22.497187.51a
1827-3.67MW gdp22.809180.04a
1828-0.35MW gdp23.125179.32a
1829-4.1MW gdp23.445184.16a
1830-0.71MW gdp23.770176.79a
1831-4.66MW gdp24.100176.95a
1832-0.77MW gdp24.366176.94a
1833-3.13MW gdp24.636180.29a
18342.61MW gdp24.908169.59a
1835-0.3MW gdp25.183159.05a
18365.73MW gdp25.462149.73a
1837-1.82MW gdp25.743153.93a
18380.38MW gdp26.028145.93a
18391.98MW gdp26.315140.10a
1840-4.21MW gdp26.606145.57a
1841-1.44MW gdp26.900152.23a
1842-4.32MW gdp26.959161.39a
1843-3.39MW gdp27.019160.82a
18440.73MW gdp27.079149.17a
18451.73MW gdp27.138139.09a
1846-0.98MW gdp27.198134.47a
18476.26MW gdp27.258127.95a
1848-8.45MW gdp27.319136.04a
1849-0.56MW gdp27.379134.47a
1850-6.6MW gdp27.439145.76a
1851-1.53MW gdp27.500140.59a
18520.7MW gdp27.656134.65a
18539.4MW gdp27.813118.85a
18545.41MW gdp27.971108.11a
18550.67MW gdp28.129108.67a
18560.39MW gdp28.289106.57a
1857-1.39MW gdp28.449108.37a
1858-4.73MW gdp28.611113.71a
18593.14MW gdp28.773105.85a
18600.17MW gdp28.936103.27a
18612.51MW gdp29.10098.88a
18620.85MW gdp29.34198.46a
18633.6MW gdp29.58490.23a
18644.14MW gdp29.82984.54a
1865-2.52MW gdp30.07582.64a
18662.11MW gdp30.32479.11a
1867-1.35MW gdp30.57579.64a
1868-2.78MW gdp30.82875.86a
1869-0.06MW gdp31.08374.05a
1870-0.85MW gdp31.34169.04a
18711.75MW gdp31.48563.43a
18725.12MW gdp31.87459.98a
18733.68MW gdp32.17856.97a
1874-4.41MW gdp32.50256.78a
1875-3.38MW gdp32.83957.49a
1876-1.92MW gdp33.20058.67a
1877-1.97MW gdp33.57659.56a
1878-2.17MW gdp33.94461.12a
1879-1.94MW gdp34.30463.93a
1880-0.12MW gdp34.62359.71a
1881-0.79MW gdp34.93558.24a
18821.34MW gdp35.20756.24a
1883-2.56MW gdp35.45055.87a
1884-1.87MW gdp35.72451.81a
1885-1.27MW gdp36.01652.91a
18860.22MW gdp36.31452.69a
1887-0.22MW gdp36.59950.54a
18880.47MW gdp36.88146.62a
18892.06MW gdp37.17943.96a
18901.47MW gdp37.48542.58a
1891-2.6MW gdp37.80242.41a
1892-0.11MW gdp38.13443.23a
18930.76MW gdp38.49043.02a
18940.61MW gdp38.85940.72a
1895-1.07MW gdp39.22139.43a
1896-0.98MW gdp39.59937.88a
18971.28MW gdp39.98736.13a
18980.82MW gdp40.38134.71a
18992.35MW gdp40.77432.58a
19004.12MW gdp41.15530.16a
1901-1.43MW gdp41.53833.11a
1902-1MW gdp41.89335.84a
1903-0.28MW gdp42.24737.95a
1904-1.08MW gdp42.61137.69a
19050.46MW gdp42.98136.16a
19061.42MW gdp43.36134.40a
19071.54MW gdp43.73832.43a
1908-0.72MW gdp44.12433.34a
1909-0.35MW gdp44.52032.41a
19101.43MW gdp44.91631.69a
19110.6MW gdp42.19029.26a
19122.6MW gdp42.37427.40a
1913-0.16MW gdp42.58225.86a
1914-0.81MW gdp42.95725.36a
191514.34MW gdp41.36236.77a
191614.79MW gdp40.53662.09a
191724.32MW gdp39.78194.99a
191816.81MW gdp39.582117.45a
191915.24MW gdp42.944138.66a
192016.64MW gdp43.646131.85a
1921-8.17MW gdp43.904155.36a
1922-14.46MW gdp44.332172.85a
1923-7.53MW gdp44.563183.27a
1924-2.09MW gdp44.886176.24a
1925-0.26MW gdp45.040169.72a
1926-0.42MW gdp45.218175.04a
1927-1.94MW gdp45.432165.44a
1928-0.89MW gdp45.622164.85a
1929-0.84MW gdp45.731160.99a
1930-0.84MW gdp45.889162.99a
1931-1.83MW gdp46.074172.97a
1932-2.24MW gdp46.335177.31a
1933-1.39MW gdp46.520179.11a
1934-0.87MW gdp46.666174.41a
19350.79MW gdp46.869166.45a
19360.9MW gdp47.081157.44a
19373.46MW gdp47.289147.22a
19382.36MW gdp47.494146.93a
19392.89MW gdp47.548139.28a
194011.13MW gdp46.029111.52a
194111.46MW gdp44.870121.79a
19427.49MW gdp44.323140.19a
19434.44MW gdp48.262160.23a
19445MW gdp48.460186.84a
19451.64MW gdp48.669221.57a
19462.81MW gdp48.988244.26a
19479.08MW gdp49.539245.70a
19486.34MW gdp50.033224.17a
19493.19MW gdp50.331206.77a
19501.34MW gdp50.382202.50a
19518.55MW gdp50.287181.21a
19527.11MW gdp50.429166.65a
19531.83MW gdp50.593156.16a
19541.13MW gdp50.765151.07a
19554.91MW gdp50.946140.51a
19567.05MW gdp51.184129.72a
19574.08MW gdp51.430122.18a
19583.7MW gdp51.653117.28a
19590.76MW gdp51.956112.25a
19601.11MW gdp52.373105.85a
19613.88MW gdp52.807101.20a
19623.65MW gdp53.29298.08a
19631.55MW gdp53.62595.98a
19643.77MW gdp53.99188.78a
19656.05MW gdp54.35082.66a
19665.42MW gdp54.64379.56a
19673.03MW gdp54.95976.75a
19684.44MW gdp55.21474.67a
19696.75MW gdp55.46168.29a
19709.92MW gdp55.63259.03a
19718.57MW gdp55.92853.19a
19727.9MW gdp56.09750.78a
19739.39MW gdp56.22345.10a
197415.8MW gdp56.23643.66a
197525.7MW gdp56.22645.27a
197616.02MW gdp56.21647.23a
197714.17MW gdp56.19046.06a
197812.31MW gdp56.17842.71a
197914.98MW gdp56.24040.09a
198019.69MW gdp56.33037.77a
198112.31MW gdp56.35839.22a
19828.16MW gdp56.29139.18a
19835.78MW gdp56.31637.71a
19845.34MW gdp56.40938.00a
19855.63MW gdp56.55437.87a
19864.6MW gdp56.68436.39a
19875.82MW gdp56.80433.78a
19886.47MW gdp56.91630.13a
19898.21MW gdp57.07725.01a
19908.58MW gdp57.23822.64a
19916.64MW gdp57.43921.41a
19923.29MW gdp57.58522.69a
19933.07MW gdp57.71426.23a
19941.91MW gdp57.86230.81a
19952.68MW gdp58.02534.04a
19964.24MW gdp58.16435.40a
1997-0.15MW gdp58.31436.40a
19981.33MW gdp58.47536.09a
19991.42MW gdp58.68434.80a
20001.17MW gdp58.88632.10a
20011.55MW gdp59.11328.09a
20022.16MW gdp59.36627.75a
20032.46MW gdp59.63729.34a
20042.65MW gdp59.95030.58a
20053.02MW gdp60.41332.95a
20062.86MW gdp60.82733.93a
20072.31MW gdp61.31934.65a
20083.42MW gdp61.82435.59a
20090.871582.762.26149.74a
20101.321558.162.76065.97a
20111.941627.263.28571.82a
20121.781672.363.70575.42a
20131.881727.564.10679.09a
20141.961800.864.59781.14a
20151.251879.565.11082.56a
20160.741931.565.64882.58a
20172.312015.866.04085.05a
20181.612099.866.43683.71a
20192.132170.266.79781.83a

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 2019:
GDP: OBR EFO supp. economy tables
Spending: HM Treasury PESA
Debt: OBR Public Finances Databank

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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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Data Sources for 1692_2019:

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 2019:

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

> spending data sources for other years

On March 11, 2026 we updated UK revenue forecast data for 2025-26 to 2030-31 from the Office of Budget Responsibility's March 2025 Economic and fiscal outlook report  in a zip file labeled "March 2026 Economic and fiscal outlook - charts and tables (zip file)" and a spreadsheet file named "efo-march-2026-charts-and-tables-annex-tables.xlsx" and Table A.5: Current Receipts in tab "TA.5".

UK Government Revenue Forecast
2025-26 ForecastMarch 2025
£ billion
March 2026
£ billion
Central Government£1,157.6£1,071.1
Local Authorities£71.4£67.9
Total UK Revenue£1,229.0£1,139.0

On March 11, 2026 we updated UK deficit forecast data for 2025-2065 to 2030-31 from the Office of Budget Responsibility's March 2026 Economic and fiscal outlook report Table 6.5 Components of Net Borrowing in tab "6.5" in a zip file labeled "March 2026 Economic and fiscal outlook - detailed forecast tables: aggregates" and a spreadsheet file named "efo-march-2026-detailed-forecast-tables-aggregates.xlsx".

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