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United Kingdom: Central government expenditure (% of GDP)

Percent of GDP · 1689–2024 · 336 observations · cgovexp_GDP

2024
41.3%percent of GDP
Change on 2023
−0.6 pointsfrom 41.9%
Average, 2015–2024
40.3%10 years
Record high and low
59.8% (1944)low 3.77% (1700)

Central government expenditure (% of GDP)

Report error
0%10%20%30%40%50%60%1700175018001850190019502000United KingdomUnited Kingdom
Percent of GDP

Compare with other countries →Definition of Central government expenditure (% of GDP)

Recent values

Percent of GDP

YearValue
202441.3
202341.9
202241.4
202143.6
202048.0
201936.7
201837.5
201737.1
201637.2
201538.4

Sources

  • Thomas, Hills & Dimsdale1689–2016
  • HM Treasury1700–2022
  • GPIH government budgets1799–1975
  • Mitchell1830–1993
  • Jordà-Schularick-Taylor1870–2020
  • Feinstein1900–1964
  • Sefton & Weale1920–1990
  • World Development Indicators1972–2023
  • IMF Government Finance Statistics1972–2024

Compare these sources →

United Kingdom documentation (PDF)

More for United Kingdom

Real GDP per capita (USD)Nominal GDPReal GDPInflationUnemployment rateGovernment debt (% of GDP)All 77 series →

Central government expenditure (% of GDP) elsewhere

United StatesJapanGermanyFranceIndiaBrazil

Please cite: Müller, K., Xu, C., Lehbib, M., & Chen, Z. (2025). The Global Macro Database: A New International Macroeconomic Dataset. NBER Working Paper 33714. BibTeX →

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