How fast is the UK economy growing?
The UK economy grew 1.3% in 2025, the 11th highest of 16 economies we compare. Growth is how much more the economy produced than a year earlier, after allowing for rising prices.
In 2025. The middle of the other 15 economies is 1.9%.
The IMF’s estimate, revised twice a year.
Economic output per person in 2025, adjusted for local prices: 9th highest of 16.
Economic growth by country
Real GDP growth for each year, highest in 2025 first. Years marked forecast are IMF estimates. Compare other figures →
| Country | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 (forecast) | 2027 (forecast) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ireland | 16.3% | 7.5% | -2.5% | 2.6% | 12.3% | 2.5% | 2.4% |
| India | 9.7% | 7.6% | 7.2% | 7.1% | 7.6% | 6.5% | 6.5% |
| China | 8.6% | 3.1% | 5.4% | 5.0% | 5.0% | 4.4% | 4.0% |
| Poland | 6.9% | 5.3% | 0.2% | 3.0% | 3.6% | 3.3% | 2.4% |
| Spain | 6.7% | 6.4% | 2.5% | 3.5% | 2.8% | 2.1% | 1.8% |
| United States | 6.2% | 2.5% | 2.9% | 2.8% | 2.1% | 2.3% | 2.1% |
| Australia | 5.4% | 4.2% | 2.1% | 1.0% | 2.0% | 2.0% | 1.7% |
| Netherlands | 6.3% | 5.0% | -0.6% | 1.1% | 1.9% | 1.2% | 1.4% |
| Canada | 6.0% | 4.7% | 2.0% | 2.0% | 1.7% | 1.5% | 1.9% |
| Sweden | 5.2% | 1.3% | -0.2% | 1.0% | 1.5% | 2.0% | 1.9% |
| United Kingdom | 8.5% | 5.1% | 0.3% | 1.1% | 1.3% | 0.8% | 1.3% |
| Japan | 3.6% | 1.3% | 0.7% | -0.2% | 1.2% | 0.7% | 0.6% |
| South Korea | 4.6% | 2.7% | 1.6% | 2.0% | 1.0% | 1.9% | 2.1% |
| France | 6.8% | 2.8% | 1.6% | 1.1% | 0.9% | 0.9% | 0.9% |
| Italy | 8.9% | 4.8% | 0.9% | 0.8% | 0.5% | 0.5% | 0.5% |
| Germany | 3.9% | 1.8% | -0.9% | -0.5% | 0.2% | 0.8% | 1.2% |
Questions people ask
What is economic growth?
It is how much more an economy produces in a year than the year before, measured as GDP (gross domestic product) after taking out the effect of rising prices.
How fast is the UK economy growing?
The IMF puts UK growth at 1.3% in 2025 and forecasts 0.8% for 2026. The ONS publishes the official quarterly figures.
How does UK growth compare with other countries?
The UK was 11th highest of 16 economies in 2025. See the table above, or the full comparison.
Is growth the same as people getting better off?
Not necessarily. Growth measures the whole economy, not how it is shared or how the population is changing. Income per head is a closer measure.
Source: International Monetary Fund, World Economic Outlook. Figures for 2025 and earlier are reported; later years are estimates and forecasts. Updated with each IMF release.
See also: The UK against other countries · Inflation · UK government spending · UK national debt