Government consumption (% of GDP) — all countries

Government consumption (% of GDP) — United Kingdom

Government consumption (% of GDP) in the United Kingdom in 2025 — 21.2%. Ranked 29 in the world out of 132. Since 1960, the indicator has risen by 3.7 pp.

2025 21.2% +0.3 pp vs 2024
World rank 29of 132
Period maximum 22.4%1975
Period minimum 15.9%1998

Trend over time

1960–2025 · % of GDP

Government consumption (% of GDP) — United Kingdom, 1960–202514161820222419601967197419811988199520022009201620231960: 17.6%1962: 17.9%1964: 16.8%1966: 18%1968: 18.2%1970: 17.7%1972: 18.4%1974: 20.1%1976: 22.1%1978: 20.2%1980: 21.3%1982: 21.6%1984: 21.1%1986: 20.2%1988: 18.8%1990: 18.5%1992: 19.9%1994: 18.8%1996: 16.5%1998: 15.9%2000: 16.5%2002: 18.1%2004: 19.3%2006: 19.7%2008: 20.2%2010: 21.4%2012: 20.6%2014: 19.6%2016: 19%2018: 18.3%2020: 22.3%2022: 20.6%2024: 20.9%2025: 21.2%
Change over the period: +3.7 pp Annual average: 0.06 pp

Comparison, 2025

How the value compares with the world and the groups this territory belongs to: United Kingdom

United Kingdom 21.2%
Northern Europe computed 21.2%
Government consumption (% of GDP) — United Kingdom, by year United Kingdom All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2025 21.2 +0.3 pp
2024 20.9 +0.3 pp
2023 20.6 +0.1 pp
2022 20.6 −1.3 pp
2021 21.9 −0.4 pp
2020 22.3 +3.4 pp
2019 18.9 +0.6 pp
2018 18.3 −0.1 pp
2017 18.5 −0.6 pp
2016 19 −0.3 pp
2015 19.3 −0.3 pp
2014 19.6 −0.3 pp
2013 20 −0.7 pp
2012 20.6 −0.2 pp
2011 20.8 −0.6 pp
2010 21.4 −0.3 pp
2009 21.7 +1.5 pp
2008 20.2 +0.7 pp
2007 19.5 −0.1 pp
2006 19.7 +0.2 pp
2005 19.5 +0.2 pp
2004 19.3 +0.6 pp
2003 18.7 +0.6 pp
2002 18.1 +0.9 pp
2001 17.2 +0.6 pp
2000 16.5 +0.2 pp
1999 16.3 +0.4 pp
1998 15.9 −0 pp
1997 15.9 −0.6 pp
1996 16.5 −0.4 pp
1995 17 −1.9 pp
1994 18.8 −0.4 pp
1993 19.2 −0.7 pp
1992 19.9 +0.5 pp
1991 19.4 +0.9 pp
1990 18.5 +0.2 pp
1989 18.3 −0.4 pp
1988 18.8 −0.8 pp
1987 19.5 −0.7 pp
1986 20.2 −0 pp
1985 20.3 −0.8 pp
1984 21.1 −0.3 pp
1983 21.4 −0.2 pp
1982 21.6 −0.1 pp
1981 21.7 +0.4 pp
1980 21.3 +1.4 pp
1979 19.8 −0.4 pp
1978 20.2 −0.5 pp
1977 20.7 −1.4 pp
1976 22.1 −0.3 pp
1975 22.4 +2.3 pp
1974 20.1 +1.9 pp
1973 18.2 −0.2 pp
1972 18.4 +0.4 pp
1971 18.1 +0.3 pp
1970 17.7 +0 pp
1969 17.7 −0.5 pp
1968 18.2 −0.6 pp
1967 18.8 +0.8 pp
1966 18 +0.4 pp
1965 17.6 +0.8 pp
1964 16.8 −0.4 pp
1963 17.2 −0.7 pp
1962 17.9 +0.3 pp
1961 17.6 +0 pp
1960 17.6

Northern Europe, 2025

The same indicator for neighboring countries — with links to their pages

About the indicator

General government final consumption expenditure as a percent of GDP: compensation of public employees, purchases of goods and services for delivering public services, and spending on defense and security. It leaves out public investment and social transfers, so the indicator is lower than the overall size of the budget.

Source: World Development Indicators (World Bank), license CC BY 4.0.