Central government debt, total in United Kingdom
United Kingdom: Central government debt, total was 3.78 trillion current LCU in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Central government debt, total in United Kingdom, 1990–2024
Source: Government Finance Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF). Measured in current LCU.
Analysis
In 2024, central government debt, total in United Kingdom stood at 3.78 trillion current LCU.
The figure is up 0.9% on the previous year and up 34.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, central government debt, total in United Kingdom peaked at 4.27 trillion current LCU in 2021 and was at its lowest, 185.95 billion current LCU, in 1990.
United Kingdom ranks 24th of 83 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 534.47 billion current LCU | 185.95 billion current LCU | 913.76 billion current LCU | 10 |
| 2000s | 1.29 trillion current LCU | 964.28 billion current LCU | 1.92 trillion current LCU | 10 |
| 2010s | 2.86 trillion current LCU | 2.11 trillion current LCU | 3.58 trillion current LCU | 10 |
| 2020s | 3.90 trillion current LCU | 3.57 trillion current LCU | 4.27 trillion current LCU | 5 |
Countries ranked near United Kingdom
More public sector data for United Kingdom
- Arms imports 643.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values (2024)
- Tax revenue 26.9% (2024)
- Taxes on income, profits and capital gains 40.6% (2024)
- Taxes on goods and services 31.1% (2024)
- Net investment in nonfinancial assets 2.4% (2024)
- Net lending (+) / net borrowing (-) -6.9% (2024)
- Interest payments 8.3% (2024)
- Grants and other revenue 5.6% (2024)
- Interest payments 7.8% (2023)
- Other taxes 4.9% (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is central government debt, total in United Kingdom?
- Central government debt, total in United Kingdom was 3.78 trillion current LCU in 2024, according to Government Finance Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF).
- What is the highest central government debt, total recorded in United Kingdom?
- The highest recorded value was 4.27 trillion current LCU in 2021.
- What is the lowest central government debt, total recorded in United Kingdom?
- The lowest recorded value was 185.95 billion current LCU in 1990.
- How does United Kingdom rank for central government debt, total?
- United Kingdom ranks 24th out of 83 countries with data for 2024.
- Is central government debt, total rising or falling in United Kingdom?
- Over the last ten years it is up 34.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this United Kingdom data come from?
- The figures come from Government Finance Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF), published as part of Central government debt, total (current LCU). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Debt is the entire stock of direct government fixed-term contractual obligations to others outstanding on a particular date. It includes domestic and foreign liabilities such as currency and money deposits, securities other than shares, and loans. It is the gross amount of government liabilities reduced by the amount of equity and financial derivatives held by the government. Because debt is a stock rather than a flow, it is measured as of a given date, usually the last day of the fiscal year. Central government is the part of general government that includes all administrative departments of the national executive, legislative, and judicial functions, other central agencies and those non-market producers controlled by the central government, whose competence extends normally over the whole economic territory. This indicator is expressed in current prices, meaning no adjustment has been made to account for price changes over time. This series is expressed in local currency units.