How much does the UK government spend?
The UK government spent £1,360 billion in 2025-26: 44% of GDP, about £19,574 for every person in the UK. It collected £1,209bn and borrowed the other £151bn.
Total managed expenditure, 2025-26.
A year, for each of the 69.5 million people in the UK.
So £151bn was borrowed.
What the money was spent on, 2025-26
The Treasury’s spending headings. “General public services” includes interest on the national debt. See it as a chart →
| Spending heading | Spent | Share of spending | Per person |
|---|---|---|---|
| Social protection | £407.3bn | 29.9% | £5,862 |
| Health | £257.5bn | 18.9% | £3,706 |
| General public services | £165.5bn | 12.2% | £2,382 |
| Education | £125.7bn | 9.2% | £1,809 |
| Economic affairs | £94.0bn | 6.9% | £1,353 |
| Defence | £65.4bn | 4.8% | £941 |
| Public order and safety | £55.7bn | 4.1% | £802 |
| Housing and community amenities | £22.5bn | 1.7% | £324 |
| Environment protection | £19.2bn | 1.4% | £276 |
| Recreation, culture and religion | £15.1bn | 1.1% | £217 |
Spending, tax and borrowing over time
What’s this?
Everything the UK public sector spends in a year, as a share of everything the UK economy produces (GDP). Financial years run April to March.
What it cannot tell you: It does not say whether spending is too high or too low, or how well the money is used. Each year is shown as a share of that year's economy.
What’s this?
Taxes and other income collected by the public sector, as a share of the economy.
What it cannot tell you: It does not show who pays the tax, or how tax rates have changed.
What’s this?
When spending is higher than money collected, the government borrows the difference. This is that gap in one year, as a share of the economy.
What it cannot tell you: It is one year's gap. It does not say whether the borrowing was necessary or wise.
Questions people ask
How much does the UK government spend?
£1,360 billion in 2025-26, which is 44% of the whole economy.
What is the biggest area of government spending?
Social protection (pensions and benefits) was the largest, at £407bn, 30% of the total.
How much does the UK spend on the NHS and health?
£258bn on health across the UK in 2025-26, 19% of government spending.
How much does the UK spend on defence?
£65bn, 4.8% of government spending, in 2025-26.
How much does the UK spend on education?
£126bn, 9% of government spending, in 2025-26.
Where does the money come from?
Mostly taxes: £1,209bn was collected in 2025-26. The rest of spending, £151bn, was borrowed. See where it comes from.
Sources: HM Treasury (Public Expenditure Statistical Analyses) and the ONS, 2025-26. Latest published outturn; it can be revised. Updated every night.
See also: Where the money comes from and goes · UK national debt · Spending per person · Where does my tax go?