Government spending in the United Kingdom

2023-24 (2023-24) UK government spending
Presented15 March 2023
Passed11 July 2023
Total revenue£1,058 billion
Total expenditures£1,189 billion
Deficit£131 billion
GDP£2,650 billion
Websitehttps://www.gov.uk/government/topical-events/spring-budget-2023

Government spending in the United Kingdom, also referred to as public spending, is the total spent by Central Government departments and certain other bodies as authorised by Parliament through the Estimates process.[1] It includes net spending by the three devolved governments: the Scottish Government, the Welsh Government and the Northern Ireland Executive.

For the financial year 2023-24, total government spending is expected to be £1,189 billion.[2]

The UK government has spent more than it has raised in taxation since financial year 2001-02,[3] creating a budget deficit and leading to growing debt interest payments.

Average government spending per person is higher in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland than it is in England. In financial year 2021-22, spending per head in England was £15.2k, whereas in Scotland it was £17.7k, in Wales it was £16.9k and in Northern Ireland it was £17.5k.[4]

  1. ^ "HMT Main Estimates". GOV.UK. 18 May 2023. Retrieved 19 October 2023.
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference UKBudgetspending was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ "The budget deficit: a short guide". UK Parliament. 8 June 2023. Retrieved 19 October 2023.
  4. ^ "Country and regional public sector finances, UK - Office for National Statistics". www.ons.gov.uk. Retrieved 19 October 2023.