The UK against other countries
How the UK compares with fifteen other economies on tax, spending, borrowing, debt and prices, all measured the same way by the IMF.
Suits: Geography, economics, citizenship, maths and statistics. Levels: ages 11–14, 14–16 and 16+. Rebuilt every night from the latest figures.
Of GDP, 2025. Rank 9 of 16.
Of GDP, 2025. Rank 9 of 16.
Gross debt, share of GDP. Rank 6 of 16.
Average over 2025. Rank 2 of 16.
Words to know
- IMF
- The International Monetary Fund, which collects comparable figures from countries.
- Revenue
- Money the whole government raised, mostly tax.
- Share of GDP
- A figure divided by the size of the economy.
- General government
- Central, devolved and local government together.
- Forecast
- An estimate of the future, which is revised.
- Rank
- Position when countries are put in order.
Charts
% of GDP. All 16 economies, highest first; the UK is highlighted.
Source: IMF World Economic Outlook and Fiscal Monitor
% of GDP. All 16 economies, highest first; the UK is highlighted.
Source: IMF World Economic Outlook and Fiscal Monitor
2025: revenue, spending, borrowing and debt, % of GDP
| Country | Revenue | Spending | Borrowing | Debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | 38.3% | 43.6% | 5.4% | 102% |
| United States | 30.9% | 37.7% | 6.8% | 124% |
| Germany | 47.9% | 50.5% | 2.7% | 63% |
| France | 52.4% | 57.5% | 5.1% | 116% |
| Italy | 47.9% | 51.1% | 3.1% | 137% |
| Japan | 35.8% | 36.9% | 1.1% | 206% |
| Canada | 42.2% | 44.0% | 1.8% | 114% |
| Spain | 42.2% | 44.7% | 2.5% | 100% |
| Netherlands | 43.3% | 45.1% | 1.8% | 43% |
| Sweden | 48.0% | 49.4% | 1.4% | 35% |
| Ireland | 23.2% | 21.6% | -1.5% | 33% |
| Poland | 42.9% | 50.0% | 7.0% | 59% |
| Australia | 36.7% | 39.5% | 2.8% | 51% |
| South Korea | 22.6% | 24.0% | 1.4% | 52% |
| China | 25.0% | 32.9% | 7.9% | 99% |
| India | 21.0% | 28.5% | 7.4% | 84% |
IMF World Economic Outlook and Fiscal Monitor. Borrowing is spending minus revenue (a minus sign means a surplus). Figures for the latest years can be revised.
Questions
How much of its economy did the UK government raise in revenue in 2025? Is that more or less than the middle of the other countries?
Answer. 38.3% of GDP. The middle of the others is 42.2%, so the UK is below it.
Which of the 16 countries raised the most in revenue, as a share of GDP, in 2025? Which the least?
Answer. Most: France (52.4%). Least: India (21.0%).
Which country spent the biggest share of its economy through government in 2025?
Answer. France: 57.5%.
These figures are a ‘share of GDP’, not pounds. Why is that fairer for comparing countries?
Answer. Countries differ in size. A share of GDP shows how much of each country’s own economy the government takes in or spends, whatever the currency or size.
UK government spending was 43.6% of GDP and revenue was 38.3%. Work out the borrowing as a share of GDP.
Answer. 43.6 − 38.3 = 5.4% of GDP. (The IMF’s own borrowing figure for the UK is 5.4%; small differences come from rounding and definitions.)
Spending was 57.5% in France and 43.6% in the UK. How many percentage points higher is that?
Answer. 13.8 percentage points.
Where does the UK rank for revenue, spending, inflation and debt among the 16 countries, highest first?
Answer. Revenue 9, spending 9, inflation 2, debt 6 (1 means highest of 16).
Use the two bar charts. Which countries both raised and spent a smaller share of GDP than the UK in 2025?
Answer. Countries below the UK on both charts: Australia, China, India, Ireland, Japan, South Korea, United States. (Check against the charts.)
A country with high government spending might not have ‘better’ public services. Give two reasons the share of GDP does not tell you this.
Answer. Countries pay for different things publicly; some fund health, pensions or childcare through government and others through private insurance or families. Spending can also be inefficient, and prices and needs differ.
The UK’s inflation rate was 3.4% and the middle of the others 2.3%. Does that show the UK’s cost of living is higher? Why or why not?
Answer. Not by itself. Inflation is the rate of change, not the level of prices, and baskets differ between countries. A country with high inflation may still be cheaper to live in.
Choose two countries from the chart with very different spending shares. What other facts would you gather before deciding which approach works better?
Answer. Open question. Look for: what government pays for, outcomes (health, education), tax paid by different groups, age of the population, and how fast each economy is growing.
Ideas for discussion
- Is a bigger government better, worse or just different? What would you measure?
- Why might it be unfair to rank countries on a single number?
- If you could change one thing about how the UK raises or spends money after looking at other countries, what would it be?
Answer sheet: The UK against other countries
Find. 38.3% of GDP. The middle of the others is 42.2%, so the UK is below it.
Find. Most: France (52.4%). Least: India (21.0%).
Find. France: 57.5%.
Explain. Countries differ in size. A share of GDP shows how much of each country’s own economy the government takes in or spends, whatever the currency or size.
Calculate. 43.6 − 38.3 = 5.4% of GDP. (The IMF’s own borrowing figure for the UK is 5.4%; small differences come from rounding and definitions.)
Calculate. 13.8 percentage points.
Find. Revenue 9, spending 9, inflation 2, debt 6 (1 means highest of 16).
Find. Countries below the UK on both charts: Australia, China, India, Ireland, Japan, South Korea, United States. (Check against the charts.)
Explain. Countries pay for different things publicly; some fund health, pensions or childcare through government and others through private insurance or families. Spending can also be inefficient, and prices and needs differ.
Judge. Not by itself. Inflation is the rate of change, not the level of prices, and baskets differ between countries. A country with high inflation may still be cheaper to live in.
Discuss. Open question. Look for: what government pays for, outcomes (health, education), tax paid by different groups, age of the population, and how fast each economy is growing.
Sources: IMF (World Economic Outlook, Fiscal Monitor). See also: UK against other countries · Tax and spending compared.