Civometry

OBR · 5 July 2024 – present

Public spending since 1900, per cent of GDP during the Labour 2024– government

Year ending March 2024 → Year ending March 2031 · 7 periods

↑ 0.5%+0.2% of GDP

Public spending since 1900, per cent of GDP rose by 0.5% over the period, from 44.1% of GDP (Year ending March 2024, the level when the government took office) to 44.3% (Year ending March 2031, the latest available).

  1. Inherited level Year ending March 2024: 44.1%
  2. Latest Year ending March 2031: 44.3%
  3. method: latest complete period before start / before end

Changes during this period do not by themselves show what the government caused. Statistics reflect many influences, including earlier decisions, the economy and how the data is collected.

Public spending since 1900, per cent of GDP: Year ending March 1901 to Year ending March 2031ConservativeConservativeConservativeConservativeLabourLabourLabourCoalitionConservativeConservativeConservativeLabour0%20%40%60%1910192019301940195019601970198019902000201020202030Year ending March 1901: 14.4% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 1902: 15.5% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 1903: 14.9% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 1904: 13.8% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 1905: 13.2% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 1906: 12.5% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 1907: 11.8% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 1908: 11.6% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 1909: 12.2% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 1910: 12.5% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 1911: 12.4% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 1912: 12.4% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 1913: 12.5% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 1914: 14% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 1915: 24.5% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 1916: 42% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 1917: 45.9% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 1918: 47.2% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 1919: 42.2% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 1920: 27.8% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 1921: 22.7% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 1922: 27.7% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 1923: 26.8% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 1924: 25.3% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 1925: 24.8% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 1926: 25.7% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 1927: 26.9% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 1928: 25.5% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 1929: 25.5% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 1930: 25.9% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 1931: 27.4% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 1932: 29.4% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 1933: 28.7% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 1934: 26.8% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 1935: 26% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 1936: 26.2% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 1937: 26.3% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 1938: 27.4% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 1939: 30.8% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 1940: 40.1% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 1941: 55.5% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 1942: 59.7% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 1943: 60.9% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 1944: 62.2% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 1945: 61.8% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 1946: 55.1% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 1947: 43.5% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 1948: 37.7% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 1949: 38.6% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 1950: 38.5% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 1951: 39.2% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 1952: 40.6% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 1953: 41.3% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 1954: 40.5% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 1955: 38.9% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 1956: 35.8% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 1957: 36% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 1958: 35.2% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 1959: 35.9% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 1960: 35.9% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 1961: 35.9% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 1962: 37.6% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 1963: 37.3% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 1964: 37.3% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 1965: 37% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 1966: 38.5% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 1967: 40% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 1968: 42.9% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 1969: 41.4% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 1970: 40.1% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 1971: 39.5% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 1972: 39.3% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 1973: 38.5% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 1974: 40.3% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 1975: 44.7% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 1976: 46.5% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 1977: 45.1% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 1978: 42.3% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 1979: 41.4% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 1980: 40.9% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 1981: 42.8% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 1982: 42.8% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 1983: 43.1% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 1984: 42.7% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 1985: 42.4% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 1986: 40.3% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 1987: 39.2% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 1988: 37% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 1989: 34.4% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 1990: 34.6% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 1991: 34.8% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 1992: 36.7% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 1993: 38.2% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 1994: 37.8% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 1995: 37.4% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 1996: 37.2% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 1997: 35.4% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 1998: 35.5% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 1999: 35% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 2000: 34.6% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 2001: 34.9% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 2002: 36.1% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 2003: 37.4% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 2004: 38.7% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 2005: 39.7% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 2006: 39.7% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 2007: 39.7% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 2008: 40% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 2009: 43% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 2010: 46% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 2011: 45.5% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 2012: 44.4% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 2013: 43.8% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 2014: 42.2% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 2015: 41.6% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 2016: 40.8% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 2017: 40% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 2018: 39.7% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 2019: 39.1% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 2020: 39.1% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 2021: 52.3% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 2022: 43.4% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 2023: 44.1% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 2024: 44.1% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 2025: 44% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 2026: 44.3% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 2027: 44.9% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 2028: 44.9% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 2029: 44.6% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 2030: 44.4% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 2031: 44.3% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026
Published valueProvisional or revisedLatestShaded bands: governments (see labels)Hover, tap or use arrow keys to read a value; tap again to unpin
The chart as a table
PeriodPublic spending since 1900, per cent of GDP
Year ending March 190114.4%
Year ending March 190215.5%
Year ending March 190314.9%
Year ending March 190413.8%
Year ending March 190513.2%
Year ending March 190612.5%
Year ending March 190711.8%
Year ending March 190811.6%
Year ending March 190912.2%
Year ending March 191012.5%
Year ending March 191112.4%
Year ending March 191212.4%
Year ending March 191312.5%
Year ending March 191414%
Year ending March 191524.5%
Year ending March 191642%
Year ending March 191745.9%
Year ending March 191847.2%
Year ending March 191942.2%
Year ending March 192027.8%
Year ending March 192122.7%
Year ending March 192227.7%
Year ending March 192326.8%
Year ending March 192425.3%
Year ending March 192524.8%
Year ending March 192625.7%
Year ending March 192726.9%
Year ending March 192825.5%
Year ending March 192925.5%
Year ending March 193025.9%
Year ending March 193127.4%
Year ending March 193229.4%
Year ending March 193328.7%
Year ending March 193426.8%
Year ending March 193526%
Year ending March 193626.2%
Year ending March 193726.3%
Year ending March 193827.4%
Year ending March 193930.8%
Year ending March 194040.1%
Year ending March 194155.5%
Year ending March 194259.7%
Year ending March 194360.9%
Year ending March 194462.2%
Year ending March 194561.8%
Year ending March 194655.1%
Year ending March 194743.5%
Year ending March 194837.7%
Year ending March 194938.6%
Year ending March 195038.5%
Year ending March 195139.2%
Year ending March 195240.6%
Year ending March 195341.3%
Year ending March 195440.5%
Year ending March 195538.9%
Year ending March 195635.8%
Year ending March 195736%
Year ending March 195835.2%
Year ending March 195935.9%
Year ending March 196035.9%
Year ending March 196135.9%
Year ending March 196237.6%
Year ending March 196337.3%
Year ending March 196437.3%
Year ending March 196537%
Year ending March 196638.5%
Year ending March 196740%
Year ending March 196842.9%
Year ending March 196941.4%
Year ending March 197040.1%
Year ending March 197139.5%
Year ending March 197239.3%
Year ending March 197338.5%
Year ending March 197440.3%
Year ending March 197544.7%
Year ending March 197646.5%
Year ending March 197745.1%
Year ending March 197842.3%
Year ending March 197941.4%
Year ending March 198040.9%
Year ending March 198142.8%
Year ending March 198242.8%
Year ending March 198343.1%
Year ending March 198442.7%
Year ending March 198542.4%
Year ending March 198640.3%
Year ending March 198739.2%
Year ending March 198837%
Year ending March 198934.4%
Year ending March 199034.6%
Year ending March 199134.8%
Year ending March 199236.7%
Year ending March 199338.2%
Year ending March 199437.8%
Year ending March 199537.4%
Year ending March 199637.2%
Year ending March 199735.4%
Year ending March 199835.5%
Year ending March 199935%
Year ending March 200034.6%
Year ending March 200134.9%
Year ending March 200236.1%
Year ending March 200337.4%
Year ending March 200438.7%
Year ending March 200539.7%
Year ending March 200639.7%
Year ending March 200739.7%
Year ending March 200840%
Year ending March 200943%
Year ending March 201046%
Year ending March 201145.5%
Year ending March 201244.4%
Year ending March 201343.8%
Year ending March 201442.2%
Year ending March 201541.6%
Year ending March 201640.8%
Year ending March 201740%
Year ending March 201839.7%
Year ending March 201939.1%
Year ending March 202039.1%
Year ending March 202152.3%
Year ending March 202243.4%
Year ending March 202344.1%
Year ending March 202444.1%
Year ending March 202544%
Year ending March 202644.3%
Year ending March 202744.9%
Year ending March 202844.9%
Year ending March 202944.6%
Year ending March 203044.4%
Year ending March 203144.3%

Definition and caveats

Total managed expenditure as a share of GDP for every financial year since 1900-01, as compiled by the OBR; years after the stated outturn date are the OBR's forecast.

Doesn’t measure: Spending on any single service, or spending in cash terms.