Proportion of total government spending on essential services in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland: 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 127 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 of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, 2000–2023

02040602000201120232000: 64.6 %2001: 65.4 %2002: 66.3 %2003: 66.2 %2004: 65.7 %2005: 63.8 %2006: 64.3 %2007: 64.3 %2008: 61.8 %2009: 64.6 %2010: 64.6 %2011: 65 %2012: 65.5 %2013: 66.5 %2014: 67 %2015: 67.7 %2016: 67.9 %2017: 66.7 %2018: 66.9 %2019: 66.8 %2020: 61.7 %2021: 64.8 %2022: 62.4 %2023: 61.8 %

Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database. Measured in %.

Analysis

United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 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 of Great Britain and Northern Ireland peaked at 67.9% in 2016 and was at its lowest, 61.7%, in 2020.

That places United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 26th out of 127 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the top quarter.

Proportion of total government spending on essential services in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, year by year

Annual values for Proportion of total government spending on essential services (%) in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, 2000 to 2023.
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%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest 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 of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

  1. 23 Canada 63.8% compare
  2. 24 Cyprus 63.1% compare
  3. 25 San Marino 62.6% compare
  4. 26 United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 61.8% compare
  5. 28 Andorra 61.6% compare
  6. 29 Switzerland 61.6% compare

See the full ranking of 131 places →

More infrastructure data for United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

All data for United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland →

Frequently asked questions

What is proportion of total government spending on essential services in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
Proportion of total government spending on essential services in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 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 of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
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 of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
The lowest recorded value was 61.7% in 2020.
How does United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland rank for proportion of total government spending on essential services?
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ranks 26th out of 127 countries with data for 2023.
Is proportion of total government spending on essential services rising or falling in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
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 of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 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.

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Proportion of total government spending on essential services in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Statizoid, drawing on United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database. Retrieved 05 September 2026, from https://infrastructure.statizoid.com/stat/proportion-of-total-government-spending-on-essential-services-percent/united-kingdom/

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About this data

Indicator
Proportion of total government spending on essential services (%)
Unit
%
Source
United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database
Licence
UN SDG Global Database (open, attribution requested)
Coverage
131 places, 2,402 data points, 2000–2024
Last refreshed