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MacroUnited Kingdom

Government debt in United Kingdom

How indebted is the state my taxes would go to?

United Kingdom's government debt is 102.10 % — #113 of 125 countries on the atlas (lower is better). Period 2025.

102.10%

Checked 24 Oct 2026Period 2025

Source: IMF World Economic Outlook (general government gross debt, % of GDP)

The central government owes about 1.0 years' worth of the country's entire economic output.

Government debt in United Kingdom over time

104.40 %66.45 %28.50 %104.40 % · 202028.50 % · 19901980: 42.70 %1981: 44.80 %1982: 43.10 %1983: 41.90 %1984: 42.30 %1985: 41.40 %1986: 41.40 %1987: 39.30 %1988: 37.10 %1989: 32.60 %1990: 28.50 %1991: 28.50 %1992: 33.30 %1993: 38.00 %1994: 40.80 %1995: 43.70 %1996: 43.70 %1997: 44.10 %1998: 42.00 %1999: 40.40 %2000: 37.70 %2001: 35.00 %2002: 35.50 %2003: 36.80 %2004: 39.80 %2005: 41.00 %2006: 42.10 %2007: 43.10 %2008: 50.70 %2009: 64.60 %2010: 75.50 %2011: 81.00 %2012: 84.00 %2013: 84.80 %2014: 86.40 %2015: 87.30 %2016: 87.20 %2017: 85.90 %2018: 85.30 %2019: 84.50 %2020: 104.40 %2021: 103.00 %2022: 97.10 %2023: 98.30 %2024: 99.40 %2025: 102.10 %198020032025102.10 %
46 official observations, 1980 → 2025. Every point is a published value — never interpolated.
Rank
#113 of 125
lower is better
Ranked behind
10 %
12 of 125 countries
Latest move
▲ 2.70 pp
since 2024
Below its peak
2.30 pp
peak 104.40 % in 2020
Full series
▲ 59.40 pp
since 1980

In Europe: #32 of 37vs median 54.70 %: +47.40 pp (worse)

Among 125 countries

6 of 125 countries between 12.30 % and 17.90 %2 of 125 countries between 17.90 % and 23.49 %10 of 125 countries between 23.49 % and 29.09 %11 of 125 countries between 29.09 % and 34.68 %8 of 125 countries between 34.68 % and 40.28 %9 of 125 countries between 40.28 % and 45.88 %7 of 125 countries between 45.88 % and 51.47 %13 of 125 countries between 51.47 % and 57.07 %8 of 125 countries between 57.07 % and 62.66 %10 of 125 countries between 62.66 % and 68.26 %4 of 125 countries between 68.26 % and 73.85 %3 of 125 countries between 73.85 % and 79.45 %7 of 125 countries between 79.45 % and 85.05 %6 of 125 countries between 85.05 % and 90.64 %2 of 125 countries between 90.64 % and 96.24 %6 of 125 countries between 96.24 % and 101.83 %2 of 125 countries between 101.83 % and 107.43 %1 of 125 countries between 107.43 % and 113.02 %2 of 125 countries between 113.02 % and 118.62 %1 of 125 countries between 124.22 % and 129.81 %2 of 125 countries between 135.41 % and 141.00 %5 of 125 countries between 141.00 % and 146.60 %median 54.70 %United Kingdom: ahead of 10 % of the 125 countries with a published government debtUnited Kingdom 102.10 %12.30 %146.60 %
Half of all 125 countries sit between 36.10 % and 81.70 %. United Kingdom is ahead of 10 % of them. Axis trimmed to the 2nd–98th percentile; 5 values beyond it sit in the end bars.

The neighbourhood

#CountryGovernment debtvs United Kingdom
111 Spain100.50 %−1.60 pp
112 Zambia100.60 %−1.50 pp
113 United Kingdom102.10 %—
114 Ukraine107.10 %+5.00 pp
115 Belgium107.90 %+5.80 pp

General government gross debt as a share of GDP (IMF World Economic Outlook, annual).

How to read this figure

Central government debt as a share of GDP (World Bank). General government debt (including local government and social funds) can be meaningfully higher; comparisons across countries are indicative.

Next, about United Kingdom

Debt per personGDP growthInflation rate
Government debt, all countries ranked →Compare United Kingdom with another country →Everything about United Kingdom →
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