General government total expenditure (current LCU) in United Kingdom
United Kingdom: General government total expenditure (current LCU) was 1.31 trillion current LCU in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
1.31 trillion current LCU
Change on year
up 4.1%
World rank
75th
of 197 countries
All-time high
1.31 trillion current LCU
in 2025
All-time low
101.49 billion current LCU
in 1980
Years of data
46
1980–2025
General government total expenditure in United Kingdom, 1980–2025
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in current LCU.
Analysis
In 2025, general government total expenditure in United Kingdom stood at 1.31 trillion current LCU. That is the highest value across all 46 years on record.
That represents a change of up 4.1% on the previous year and up 68.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, general government total expenditure in United Kingdom peaked at 1.31 trillion current LCU in 2025 and was at its lowest, 101.49 billion current LCU, in 1980.
That places United Kingdom 75th out of 197 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
General government total expenditure (current LCU) in United Kingdom, year by year
| Year | current LCU | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 101.49 billion current LCU | — |
| 1981 | 120.11 billion current LCU | +18.4% |
| 1982 | 130.61 billion current LCU | +8.7% |
| 1983 | 140.96 billion current LCU | +7.9% |
| 1984 | 152.26 billion current LCU | +8.0% |
| 1985 | 163.49 billion current LCU | +7.4% |
| 1986 | 171.12 billion current LCU | +4.7% |
| 1987 | 181.30 billion current LCU | +5.9% |
| 1988 | 190.64 billion current LCU | +5.2% |
| 1989 | 207.52 billion current LCU | +8.9% |
| 1990 | 235.05 billion current LCU | +13.3% |
| 1991 | 253.34 billion current LCU | +7.8% |
| 1992 | 276.44 billion current LCU | +9.1% |
| 1993 | 290.99 billion current LCU | +5.3% |
| 1994 | 304.11 billion current LCU | +4.5% |
| 1995 | 320.56 billion current LCU | +5.4% |
| 1996 | 325.02 billion current LCU | +1.4% |
| 1997 | 332.65 billion current LCU | +2.3% |
| 1998 | 344.14 billion current LCU | +3.5% |
| 1999 | 353.70 billion current LCU | +2.8% |
| 2000 | 373.55 billion current LCU | +5.6% |
| 2001 | 397.25 billion current LCU | +6.3% |
| 2002 | 428.22 billion current LCU | +7.8% |
| 2003 | 468.27 billion current LCU | +9.4% |
| 2004 | 503.10 billion current LCU | +7.4% |
| 2005 | 537.66 billion current LCU | +6.9% |
| 2006 | 565.48 billion current LCU | +5.2% |
| 2007 | 597.06 billion current LCU | +5.6% |
| 2008 | 652.70 billion current LCU | +9.3% |
| 2009 | 691.21 billion current LCU | +5.9% |
| 2010 | 719.10 billion current LCU | +4.0% |
| 2011 | 723.28 billion current LCU | +0.6% |
| 2012 | 746.37 billion current LCU | +3.2% |
| 2013 | 745.32 billion current LCU | -0.1% |
| 2014 | 767.06 billion current LCU | +2.9% |
| 2015 | 774.73 billion current LCU | +1.0% |
| 2016 | 789.33 billion current LCU | +1.9% |
| 2017 | 815.39 billion current LCU | +3.3% |
| 2018 | 836.63 billion current LCU | +2.6% |
| 2019 | 865.94 billion current LCU | +3.5% |
| 2020 | 1.05 trillion current LCU | +21.4% |
| 2021 | 1.05 trillion current LCU | -0.6% |
| 2022 | 1.11 trillion current LCU | +6.5% |
| 2023 | 1.22 trillion current LCU | +9.1% |
| 2024 | 1.26 trillion current LCU | +3.3% |
| 2025 | 1.31 trillion current LCU | +4.1% |
United Kingdom compared with similar countries
- United Kingdom's 1.31 trillion current LCU is above the median for high income countries, which is 134.14 billion current LCU, 9.7× the median. (68 countries reporting)
- United Kingdom's 1.31 trillion current LCU is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 281.45 billion current LCU, 4.6× the median. (51 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 155.95 billion current LCU | 101.49 billion current LCU | 207.52 billion current LCU | 10 |
| 1990s | 303.60 billion current LCU | 235.05 billion current LCU | 353.70 billion current LCU | 10 |
| 2000s | 521.45 billion current LCU | 373.55 billion current LCU | 691.21 billion current LCU | 10 |
| 2010s | 778.31 billion current LCU | 719.10 billion current LCU | 865.94 billion current LCU | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.16 trillion current LCU | 1.05 trillion current LCU | 1.31 trillion current LCU | 6 |
Countries ranked near United Kingdom
More population data for United Kingdom
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate -0.1791 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate 0.1389 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate -0.1791 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate -0.0706 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates 71,685 Persons (2050)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 0.2666 Percent per annum (2030)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.169 % change on previous year (2100)
- World population growth -0.2% (2100)
- Population density 307.14 people per km² (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 3.21 million people (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is general government total expenditure in United Kingdom?
- General government total expenditure in United Kingdom was 1.31 trillion current LCU in 2025, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest general government total expenditure recorded in United Kingdom?
- The highest recorded value was 1.31 trillion current LCU in 2025.
- What is the lowest general government total expenditure recorded in United Kingdom?
- The lowest recorded value was 101.49 billion current LCU in 1980.
- How does United Kingdom rank for general government total expenditure?
- United Kingdom ranks 75th out of 197 countries with data for 2025.
- Is general government total expenditure rising or falling in United Kingdom?
- Over the last ten years it is up 68.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this United Kingdom data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of General government total expenditure (current LCU). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 46 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
About this data
February 2026 Data Release