The government spent 44.5% of GDP and raised 40.1% in 2025-26
Total public spending and total receipts as a share of GDP, UK, 1900-01 to 2030-31. The gap between them is borrowing.
Latest figures
| Series | Period | Value |
|---|---|---|
| Spending | 2025-26 | 44.5% |
| Receipts | 2025-26 | 40.1% |
Findings
Notes
- Spending is total managed expenditure (TME); receipts are public sector current receipts (PSCR).
- Years from 1900-01 to 1945-46 use the Bank of England's historical series; later years use ONS public sector finances data.
Sources
More on public finances
- A salary of £32,100 pays £5,468 in income tax and National Insurance in 2026-27
- A full-time worker on typical pay of £39,863 paid 19.2% of it in income tax and National Insurance in 2025-26
- Debt interest cost 8.8p for every £1 the government raised in 2025-26
- Public spending on services was £1,228bn in 2025-26
- Income tax made up 26.7p of every £1 the public sector raised in 2025-26
- The top 1% of income tax payers paid 27.2% of all income tax in 2023-24
- Social protection and health were the largest areas of public spending in 2025-26
- Public sector net debt was 93.3% of GDP in 2025-26
- Spending on debt interest rose by £79bn after inflation between 2020-21 and 2025-26, more than any other area