Proportion of total government spending on essential services in United Kingdom
United Kingdom: Proportion of total government spending on essential services was 10.3% in 2023. ▼ Falling
Proportion of total government spending on essential services in United Kingdom, 2000–2023
Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
Analysis
The most recent figure for proportion of total government spending on essential services in United Kingdom is 10.3%, measured in 2023. That is the lowest value across all 24 years on record.
That represents a change of down 3.5% on the previous year and down 15.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, proportion of total government spending on essential services in United Kingdom peaked at 14.7% in 2002 and was at its lowest, 10.3%, in 2023.
United Kingdom ranks 88th of 129 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 24 years of available data.
Proportion of total government spending on essential services in United Kingdom, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 13.3% | — |
| 2001 | 13.6% | +2.7% |
| 2002 | 14.7% | +8.2% |
| 2003 | 14.5% | -1.7% |
| 2004 | 13.9% | -4.1% |
| 2005 | 13.4% | -3.7% |
| 2006 | 13.8% | +2.9% |
| 2007 | 13.8% | +0.2% |
| 2008 | 13.0% | -5.5% |
| 2009 | 13.1% | +0.8% |
| 2010 | 13.2% | +0.6% |
| 2011 | 12.7% | -3.9% |
| 2012 | 12.2% | -3.6% |
| 2013 | 12.1% | -1.3% |
| 2014 | 12.3% | +2.0% |
| 2015 | 12.3% | -0.6% |
| 2016 | 12.2% | -0.4% |
| 2017 | 12.2% | +0.3% |
| 2018 | 12.1% | -1.4% |
| 2019 | 12.0% | -0.8% |
| 2020 | 10.4% | -12.9% |
| 2021 | 11.1% | +6.1% |
| 2022 | 10.6% | -3.9% |
| 2023 | 10.3% | -3.5% |
United Kingdom compared with similar countries
- United Kingdom's 10.3% is below the median for high income countries, which is 11.1%, 92% of the median. (54 countries reporting)
- United Kingdom's 10.3% is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 10.6%, 97% of the median. (46 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 13.7% | 13.0% | 14.7% | 10 |
| 2010s | 12.3% | 12.0% | 13.2% | 10 |
| 2020s | 10.6% | 10.3% | 11.1% | 4 |
Countries ranked near United Kingdom
More education data for United Kingdom
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 388,714 (2023)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 0 (2012)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 830,495 (2023)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 790,556 (2023)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 6.40 million (2023)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 4.86 million (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate -0.0111 % change on previous year (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.071 units per person (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is proportion of total government spending on essential services in United Kingdom?
- Proportion of total government spending on essential services in United Kingdom was 10.3% in 2023, according to United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
- What is the highest proportion of total government spending on essential services recorded in United Kingdom?
- The highest recorded value was 14.7% in 2002.
- What is the lowest proportion of total government spending on essential services recorded in United Kingdom?
- The lowest recorded value was 10.3% in 2023.
- How does United Kingdom rank for proportion of total government spending on essential services?
- United Kingdom ranks 88th out of 129 countries with data for 2023.
- Is proportion of total government spending on essential services rising or falling in United Kingdom?
- Over the last ten years it is down 15.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this United Kingdom data come from?
- The figures come from United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database, published as part of Proportion of total government spending on essential services, education (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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