Europe & Central Asia · OECD · G20 · NATO
Data checked 28 Oct 2026 · next scheduled check 1 Jan 2027 · UN World Population Prospects (via World Bank) released 1 Jul 2026 · World Bank WDI released 8 Oct 2026
Total spending · 2025
44.3%
+7.1 pts since 1995
Welfare · 2025
13.3%
-1.1 pts since 1995
Healthcare · 2025
8.39%
+3.5 pts since 1995
Defence · 2025
2.13%
-0.5 pts since 1995
Education · 2025
4.10%
-0.2 pts since 1995
Debt interest · 2025
4.24%
+1.2 pts since 1995
Gross debt · 2025
102.1%
of GDP · +58 pts since 1995
Population · 2025
69.5m
19.8% since 1995
Public-sector employment
- 4,077,000 central government employees, headcount (ONS definition: includes the NHS and armed forces) (central/federal government) · Office for National Statistics, Public sector employment, G6NQ · as of Jun 2026
- 5,258,000 public sector employees (full-time equivalent) (all government) · Office for National Statistics, Public sector employment, G7G3 · as of Jun 2026
- 557,000 Civil Service employees, headcount (civil service) · Office for National Statistics, Public sector employment, C9KE · as of Jun 2026
Welfare rose from 14.4% to 16.8% of GDP between 1995 and 2012, then fell to 13.3% by 2025.
Healthcare rose from 4.9% to 9.9% of GDP between 1995 and 2020, then fell to 8.4% by 2025.
Defence fell from 2.6% to 1.8% of GDP between 1995 and 2018, then rose to 2.1% by 2025.
Education rose from 4.3% to 6.3% of GDP between 1995 and 2009, then fell to 4.1% by 2025.
Debt interest fell from 3.1% to 1.8% of GDP between 1995 and 2003, then rose to 4.2% by 2025.
Total spending rose from 37.2% to 52.3% of GDP between 1995 and 2020, then fell to 44.3% by 2030.
Gross debt fell from 43.7% to 35.0% of GDP between 1995 and 2001, then rose to 102.1% by 2025.
Population grew from 58.0 million in 1995 to 69.5 million in 2025; the UN projects 74.9 million by 2050.