In this section: Public services
Where the £ goes: public spending by function
Last updated . Figures refresh every night. How each figure is worked out.
The UK public sector spent £1,360.1bn in 2025-26, £19,573 per resident and 44.3% of GDP (HM Treasury). The largest items were social protection, including the state pension (£407.3bn), health (£257.5bn) and general public services (£165.5bn).
Figure as of 16 July 2026. Source: HM Treasury.
Key figures
- £1,360.1bnTotal managed expenditure, 2025-26 +1.9% in real terms on a year earlier
- £19,573Per resident, 2025-26
- 44.3%Of GDP, 2025-26
- £407.3bnSocial protection, 2025-26
- £257.5bnHealth, 2025-26
Sources: HM Treasury, Office for National Statistics.
By function, 2025-26
| Function | Cash | Per resident | Share of GDP | Real change on a year earlier |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Social protection, including the state pensionDetails for Social protection, including the state pension | £407.3bn | £5,862 | 13.3% | +1.9% |
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HealthDetails for Health | £257.5bn | £3,706 | 8.4% | +2.7% |
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General public servicesDetails for General public services | £165.5bn | £2,382 | 5.4% | −0.1% |
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Debt interestDetails for Debt interest | £130.3bn | £1,875 | 4.2% | −0.4% |
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EducationDetails for Education | £125.7bn | £1,809 | 4.1% | −1.2% |
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Economic affairs, including transportDetails for Economic affairs, including transport | £94.0bn | £1,353 | 3.1% | +3.3% |
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DefenceDetails for Defence | £65.4bn | £941 | 2.1% | −0.8% |
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Public order and safetyDetails for Public order and safety | £55.7bn | £802 | 1.8% | +3.9% |
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Housing and community amenitiesDetails for Housing and community amenities | £22.5bn | £324 | 0.7% | +0.2% |
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Environment protectionDetails for Environment protection | £19.2bn | £276 | 0.6% | +7.3% |
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Recreation, culture and religionDetails for Recreation, culture and religion | £15.1bn | £217 | 0.5% | +7.3% |
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Source: HM Treasury, PESA 2026: chapters 4 and 5 tables, published 16 July 2026; Office for National Statistics, Population estimates (UK and nations time series; local authorities on Nomis); HM Treasury, GDP deflators at market prices, and money GDP.
Over time, in real terms
Public sector expenditure on services by COFOG function. General public services includes debt interest, which the table lists separately. Figures before 1998-99 are on a cash basis and later ones on an accruals basis; 2020-21 to 2022-23 include Covid spending.
The numbers behind this chart
| Year | Social protection | Health | General public services | Education | Economic affairs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1988-89Details for 1988-89 | £159.7bn | £63.0bn | £73.1bn | £64.9bn | £52.6bn |
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1989-90Details for 1989-90 | £159.5bn | £62.9bn | £72.8bn | £67.4bn | £51.0bn |
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1990-91Details for 1990-91 | £163.7bn | £65.0bn | £67.4bn | £67.4bn | £51.8bn |
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1991-92Details for 1991-92 | £181.6bn | £69.9bn | £60.9bn | £70.9bn | £48.4bn |
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1992-93Details for 1992-93 | £200.7bn | £75.4bn | £61.7bn | £73.2bn | £51.3bn |
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1993-94Details for 1993-94 | £210.6bn | £78.4bn | £63.8bn | £74.3bn | £51.0bn |
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1994-95Details for 1994-95 | £215.0bn | £83.0bn | £69.1bn | £76.3bn | £50.4bn |
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1995-96Details for 1995-96 | £219.8bn | £84.6bn | £74.2bn | £75.6bn | £47.8bn |
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1996-97Details for 1996-97 | £222.9bn | £84.6bn | £74.1bn | £74.7bn | £46.0bn |
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1997-98Details for 1997-98 | £225.7bn | £87.7bn | £76.7bn | £76.1bn | £42.4bn |
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1998-99Details for 1998-99 | £223.9bn | £91.1bn | £77.4bn | £77.7bn | £38.1bn |
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1999-00Details for 1999-00 | £236.1bn | £94.8bn | £71.2bn | £81.0bn | £41.3bn |
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2000-01Details for 2000-01 | £244.5bn | £103.1bn | £73.6bn | £87.3bn | £45.3bn |
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2001-02Details for 2001-02 | £256.3bn | £111.6bn | £67.3bn | £95.5bn | £51.9bn |
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2002-03Details for 2002-03 | £265.6bn | £121.0bn | £65.8bn | £100.0bn | £56.3bn |
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2003-04Details for 2003-04 | £277.6bn | £133.6bn | £86.9bn | £108.8bn | £58.9bn |
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2004-05Details for 2004-05 | £284.3bn | £143.6bn | £93.5bn | £112.8bn | £58.0bn |
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2005-06Details for 2005-06 | £288.3bn | £151.4bn | £97.8bn | £117.7bn | £59.4bn |
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2006-07Details for 2006-07 | £289.7bn | £155.0bn | £100.8bn | £119.5bn | £61.2bn |
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2007-08Details for 2007-08 | £302.8bn | £162.3bn | £105.3bn | £126.4bn | £59.9bn |
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2008-09Details for 2008-09 | £314.8bn | £168.2bn | £107.4bn | £128.5bn | £76.8bn |
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2009-10Details for 2009-10 | £340.8bn | £178.6bn | £99.6bn | £135.2bn | £74.3bn |
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2010-11Details for 2010-11 | £346.2bn | £180.1bn | £117.0bn | £137.5bn | £59.9bn |
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2011-12Details for 2011-12 | £360.1bn | £178.4bn | £116.7bn | £127.2bn | £55.5bn |
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2012-13Details for 2012-13 | £366.4bn | £179.7bn | £108.2bn | £121.6bn | £52.9bn |
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2013-14Details for 2013-14 | £360.1bn | £183.3bn | £108.9bn | £120.0bn | £57.8bn |
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2014-15Details for 2014-15 | £364.7bn | £187.3bn | £105.7bn | £118.9bn | £57.3bn |
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2015-16Details for 2015-16 | £367.5bn | £192.1bn | £106.0bn | £117.8bn | £65.1bn |
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2016-17Details for 2016-17 | £360.9bn | £193.9bn | £109.1bn | £115.5bn | £66.8bn |
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2017-18Details for 2017-18 | £360.8bn | £197.8bn | £113.3bn | £115.6bn | £71.2bn |
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2018-19Details for 2018-19 | £360.8bn | £200.8bn | £106.2bn | £115.7bn | £79.7bn |
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2019-20Details for 2019-20 | £352.8bn | £209.9bn | £104.1bn | £115.9bn | £85.2bn |
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2020-21Details for 2020-21 | £363.9bn | £265.7bn | £87.5bn | £116.1bn | £238.6bn |
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2021-22Details for 2021-22 | £364.2bn | £262.2bn | £132.4bn | £121.4bn | £118.5bn |
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2022-23Details for 2022-23 | £365.1bn | £241.0bn | £188.3bn | £121.6bn | £141.1bn |
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2023-24Details for 2023-24 | £393.1bn | £239.0bn | £176.3bn | £122.9bn | £101.6bn |
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2024-25Details for 2024-25 | £399.6bn | £250.8bn | £165.7bn | £127.2bn | £91.0bn |
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2025-26Details for 2025-26 | £407.3bn | £257.5bn | £165.5bn | £125.7bn | £94.0bn |
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Figure as of 16 July 2026. Source: HM Treasury, HM Treasury.
The longest run: health, education and defence since 1955
Before 1988-89 the series are the OBR’s historical figures (from the IFS); from 1988-89 HM Treasury’s PESA. Share of GDP uses HM Treasury’s money GDP.
The numbers behind this chart
| Year | Health | Education | Defence |
|---|---|---|---|
1955-56Details for 1955-56 | 2.8% | 2.8% | 7.6% |
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1956-57Details for 1956-57 | 2.8% | 3.0% | 7.3% |
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1957-58Details for 1957-58 | 2.9% | 3.2% | 6.8% |
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1958-59Details for 1958-59 | 3.0% | 3.3% | 6.4% |
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1959-60Details for 1959-60 | 3.0% | 3.4% | 6.1% |
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1960-61Details for 1960-61 | 3.1% | 3.4% | 5.9% |
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1961-62Details for 1961-62 | 3.1% | 3.6% | 6.0% |
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1962-63Details for 1962-63 | 3.1% | 3.9% | 6.0% |
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1963-64Details for 1963-64 | 3.1% | 4.0% | 5.8% |
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1964-65Details for 1964-65 | 3.1% | 4.0% | 5.5% |
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1965-66Details for 1965-66 | 3.3% | 4.2% | 5.4% |
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1966-67Details for 1966-67 | 3.4% | 4.3% | 5.4% |
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1967-68Details for 1967-68 | 3.5% | 4.4% | 5.5% |
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1968-69Details for 1968-69 | 3.4% | 4.4% | 4.9% |
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1969-70Details for 1969-70 | 3.3% | 4.4% | 4.4% |
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1970-71Details for 1970-71 | 3.3% | 4.4% | 4.2% |
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1971-72Details for 1971-72 | 3.4% | 4.5% | 4.2% |
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1972-73Details for 1972-73 | 3.4% | 4.6% | 4.1% |
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1973-74Details for 1973-74 | 3.6% | 4.8% | 4.2% |
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1974-75Details for 1974-75 | 4.0% | 5.1% | 4.2% |
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1975-76Details for 1975-76 | 4.2% | 5.4% | 4.3% |
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1976-77Details for 1976-77 | 4.2% | 5.1% | 4.3% |
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1977-78Details for 1977-78 | 4.0% | 5.0% | 4.1% |
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1978-79Details for 1978-79 | 3.9% | 4.9% | 4.0% |
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1979-80Details for 1979-80 | 3.9% | 4.7% | 4.1% |
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1980-81Details for 1980-81 | 4.1% | 5.0% | 4.3% |
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1981-82Details for 1981-82 | 4.2% | 4.8% | 4.3% |
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1982-83Details for 1982-83 | 4.1% | 4.8% | 4.5% |
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1983-84Details for 1983-84 | 4.0% | 4.6% | 4.4% |
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1984-85Details for 1984-85 | 4.0% | 4.4% | 4.6% |
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1985-86Details for 1985-86 | 3.9% | 4.1% | 4.3% |
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1986-87Details for 1986-87 | 3.9% | 4.2% | 4.1% |
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1987-88Details for 1987-88 | 4.0% | 4.1% | 3.7% |
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1988-89Details for 1988-89 | 3.9% | 4.0% | 3.4% |
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1989-90Details for 1989-90 | 3.8% | 4.1% | 3.3% |
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1990-91Details for 1990-91 | 4.0% | 4.1% | 3.2% |
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1991-92Details for 1991-92 | 4.3% | 4.4% | 3.2% |
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1992-93Details for 1992-93 | 4.6% | 4.5% | 3.2% |
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1993-94Details for 1993-94 | 4.7% | 4.4% | 3.0% |
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1994-95Details for 1994-95 | 4.8% | 4.4% | 2.8% |
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1995-96Details for 1995-96 | 4.8% | 4.3% | 2.6% |
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1996-97Details for 1996-97 | 4.6% | 4.1% | 2.4% |
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1997-98Details for 1997-98 | 4.6% | 4.0% | 2.2% |
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1998-99Details for 1998-99 | 4.6% | 3.9% | 2.4% |
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1999-00Details for 1999-00 | 4.7% | 4.0% | 2.4% |
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2000-01Details for 2000-01 | 4.9% | 4.1% | 2.3% |
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2001-02Details for 2001-02 | 5.2% | 4.4% | 2.2% |
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2002-03Details for 2002-03 | 5.5% | 4.5% | 2.2% |
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2003-04Details for 2003-04 | 5.9% | 4.8% | 2.3% |
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2004-05Details for 2004-05 | 6.2% | 4.8% | 2.2% |
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2005-06Details for 2005-06 | 6.3% | 4.9% | 2.2% |
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2006-07Details for 2006-07 | 6.3% | 4.9% | 2.2% |
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2007-08Details for 2007-08 | 6.4% | 5.0% | 2.1% |
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2008-09Details for 2008-09 | 6.8% | 5.2% | 2.3% |
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2009-10Details for 2009-10 | 7.5% | 5.7% | 2.4% |
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2010-11Details for 2010-11 | 7.3% | 5.6% | 2.4% |
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2011-12Details for 2011-12 | 7.2% | 5.2% | 2.3% |
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2012-13Details for 2012-13 | 7.2% | 4.9% | 2.1% |
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2013-14Details for 2013-14 | 7.1% | 4.7% | 2.0% |
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2014-15Details for 2014-15 | 7.1% | 4.5% | 1.9% |
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2015-16Details for 2015-16 | 7.1% | 4.4% | 1.9% |
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2016-17Details for 2016-17 | 7.0% | 4.2% | 1.8% |
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2017-18Details for 2017-18 | 7.0% | 4.1% | 1.8% |
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2018-19Details for 2018-19 | 7.0% | 4.0% | 1.8% |
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2019-20Details for 2019-20 | 7.3% | 4.0% | 1.9% |
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2020-21Details for 2020-21 | 10.4% | 4.5% | 2.1% |
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2021-22Details for 2021-22 | 9.0% | 4.2% | 2.0% |
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2022-23Details for 2022-23 | 8.1% | 4.1% | 2.1% |
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2023-24Details for 2023-24 | 8.0% | 4.1% | 2.0% |
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2024-25Details for 2024-25 | 8.3% | 4.2% | 2.2% |
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2025-26Details for 2025-26 | 8.4% | 4.1% | 2.1% |
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Figure as of unknown date. Source: Office for Budget Responsibility, HM Treasury.
Per resident, by nation
Spending that can be identified as for the people of one nation, divided by that nation’s population, so the nations compare like for like. It leaves out spending for the UK as a whole (defence, debt interest, most overseas spending), so it does not add up to the UK total and is never mixed with it.
| Function | England | Scotland | Wales | Northern Ireland |
|---|---|---|---|---|
HealthDetails for Health | £3,462 | £3,539 | £3,758 | £3,659 |
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EducationDetails for Education | £1,722 | £2,129 | £1,850 | £2,111 |
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Public order and safetyDetails for Public order and safety | £653 | £707 | £688 | £831 |
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Social protectionDetails for Social protection | £5,322 | £6,123 | £6,471 | £6,627 |
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Economic affairsDetails for Economic affairs | £1,191 | £1,638 | £1,172 | £1,438 |
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Housing and community amenitiesDetails for Housing and community amenities | £277 | £543 | £452 | £667 |
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Source: HM Treasury, Country and regional analysis 2025: B tables, published 19 November 2025; Office for National Statistics, Population estimates (UK and nations time series; local authorities on Nomis).
What these figures do and don't show
- Functions, not departments. Spending is grouped by what it is for (the UN’s COFOG classification), whoever spends it, so it does not follow machinery-of-government changes between departments.
- Cash, real terms and per head are all shown. Real terms use HM Treasury’s GDP deflator in 2025-26 prices; per head uses ONS mid-year population.
- The long run joins sources. Before 1988-89 health, education and defence come from the OBR’s historical database; the join is at matching figures and is marked.
- Nations and the UK are different measures. Nation figures are identifiable spending only and never add up to the UK figure.
Use this data
The figures belong to the bodies that published them and are used under their terms, listed in Sources for this page; most are Crown copyright under the Open Government Licence. Only our own words, analysis, charts and derived calculations are ours, published under CC BY 4.0: reuse them, including commercially, if you credit Tekstak Ltd and link back to this page.
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Sources for this page
| Source | Publisher | Figures as of | Updated | Licence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PESA 2026: chapters 4 and 5 tables | HM Treasury | 16 July 2026 | annual | Open Government Licence v3.0 |
| Population estimates (UK and nations time series; local authorities on Nomis) | Office for National Statistics | — | annual | Open Government Licence v3.0 |
| GDP deflators at market prices, and money GDP | HM Treasury | — | annual | Open Government Licence v3.0 |
| PESA 2011: chapter 4 and 5 tables | HM Treasury | — | annual | Open Government Licence v3.0 |
| Historical public finances database | Office for Budget Responsibility | — | annual | Open Government Licence v3.0 |
Each source's figures are used under the licence shown. Our own words, analysis, charts and derived calculations are ours, under CC BY 4.0.