Proportion of total government spending on essential services (%) in United Kingdom
United Kingdom: Proportion of total government spending on essential services (%) was 61.8% in 2023. ▬ Flat
Latest (2023)
61.8%
Change on year
down 1.1%
World rank
26th
of 128 countries
All-time high
67.9%
in 2016
All-time low
61.7%
in 2020
Years of data
24
2000–2023
Proportion of total government spending on essential services in United Kingdom, 2000–2023
Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database. Measured in %.
Analysis
United Kingdom recorded 61.8% for proportion of total government spending on essential services in 2023.
The figure is down 1.1% on the previous year and down 7.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, proportion of total government spending on essential services in United Kingdom peaked at 67.9% in 2016 and was at its lowest, 61.7%, in 2020.
That places United Kingdom 26th out of 128 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the top quarter.
Proportion of total government spending on essential services (%) in United Kingdom, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 64.6% | — |
| 2001 | 65.4% | +1.2% |
| 2002 | 66.3% | +1.4% |
| 2003 | 66.2% | -0.1% |
| 2004 | 65.7% | -0.8% |
| 2005 | 63.8% | -3.0% |
| 2006 | 64.3% | +0.9% |
| 2007 | 64.3% | +0.0% |
| 2008 | 61.8% | -4.0% |
| 2009 | 64.6% | +4.6% |
| 2010 | 64.6% | -0.1% |
| 2011 | 65.0% | +0.7% |
| 2012 | 65.5% | +0.7% |
| 2013 | 66.5% | +1.5% |
| 2014 | 67.0% | +0.8% |
| 2015 | 67.7% | +1.1% |
| 2016 | 67.9% | +0.2% |
| 2017 | 66.7% | -1.8% |
| 2018 | 66.9% | +0.3% |
| 2019 | 66.8% | -0.2% |
| 2020 | 61.7% | -7.6% |
| 2021 | 64.8% | +5.0% |
| 2022 | 62.4% | -3.6% |
| 2023 | 61.8% | -1.1% |
United Kingdom compared with similar countries
- United Kingdom's 61.8% is above the median for high income countries, which is 60.9%, 1.0× the median. (54 countries reporting)
- United Kingdom's 61.8% is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 60.9%, 1.0× the median. (46 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 64.7% | 61.8% | 66.3% | 10 |
| 2010s | 66.4% | 64.6% | 67.9% | 10 |
| 2020s | 62.7% | 61.7% | 64.8% | 4 |
Countries ranked near United Kingdom
- 23 Canada 63.8% compare
- 24 Cyprus 63.1% compare
- 25 San Marino 62.6% compare
- 26 United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 61.8% compare
- 28 Andorra 61.6% compare
- 29 Switzerland 61.6% compare
More infrastructure data for United Kingdom
- Mobile cellular subscriptions 84.10 million (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions 121.64 per 100 people (2024)
- Fixed telephone subscriptions 23.77 million (2024)
- Fixed telephone subscriptions 34.38 per 100 people (2024)
- Fixed telephone subscriptions, per capita 0.3431 units per person (2024)
- Fixed telephone subscriptions, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Fixed telephone subscriptions, annual growth rate -11.55 % change on previous year (2024)
- Fixed telephone subscriptions, gaps filled 23.77 million (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions, per capita 1.21 units per person (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
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 61.8% 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 67.9% in 2016.
- What is the lowest proportion of total government spending on essential services recorded in United Kingdom?
- The lowest recorded value was 61.7% in 2020.
- How does United Kingdom rank for proportion of total government spending on essential services?
- United Kingdom ranks 26th out of 128 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 7.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- 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 (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 24 observations, free to reuse under UN SDG Global Database (open, attribution requested).