Claims on central government, etc. (% GDP) in United Kingdom
United Kingdom: Claims on central government, etc. (% GDP) was 21.9% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Claims on central government, etc. in United Kingdom, 1960–2024
Source: International Financial Statistics database, International Monetary Fund (IMF). Measured in % GDP.
Analysis
The most recent figure for claims on central government, etc. in United Kingdom is 21.9%, measured in 2024.
The figure is down 12.0% on the previous year and down 23.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, claims on central government, etc. in United Kingdom peaked at 47.0% in 1968 and was at its lowest, -0.3%, in 2007.
United Kingdom ranks 40th of 187 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Claims on central government, etc. (% GDP) in United Kingdom, year by year
| Year | % GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 29.6% | — |
| 1961 | 28.3% | -4.5% |
| 1962 | 43.6% | +54.0% |
| 1963 | 42.4% | -2.8% |
| 1964 | 41.7% | -1.6% |
| 1965 | 41.6% | -0.3% |
| 1966 | 40.8% | -1.8% |
| 1967 | 46.5% | +13.8% |
| 1968 | 47.0% | +1.3% |
| 1969 | 26.4% | -43.9% |
| 1970 | 42.1% | +59.6% |
| 1971 | 39.7% | -5.7% |
| 1972 | 37.6% | -5.4% |
| 1973 | 37.9% | +0.8% |
| 1974 | 37.3% | -1.6% |
| 1975 | 37.2% | -0.3% |
| 1976 | 31.3% | -15.7% |
| 1977 | 24.2% | -22.9% |
| 1978 | 22.7% | -5.9% |
| 1979 | 20.0% | -12.2% |
| 1980 | 19.4% | -2.8% |
| 1981 | 4.6% | -76.1% |
| 1982 | 4.9% | +5.4% |
| 1983 | 4.2% | -14.3% |
| 1984 | 3.2% | -22.4% |
| 1985 | 4.5% | +37.8% |
| 1986 | 3.2% | -29.5% |
| 1987 | 2.6% | -17.3% |
| 1988 | 1.6% | -38.7% |
| 1989 | 3.0% | +84.9% |
| 1990 | 4.2% | +42.7% |
| 1991 | 3.7% | -13.0% |
| 1992 | 2.6% | -29.1% |
| 1993 | 2.5% | -4.0% |
| 1994 | 5.4% | +117.2% |
| 1995 | 4.9% | -9.2% |
| 1996 | 4.9% | -0.2% |
| 1997 | 4.0% | -18.7% |
| 1998 | 2.5% | -37.0% |
| 1999 | 2.7% | +6.3% |
| 2000 | 0.5% | -81.5% |
| 2001 | 1.0% | +104.7% |
| 2002 | 1.9% | +86.5% |
| 2003 | 1.2% | -37.2% |
| 2004 | 1.8% | +48.4% |
| 2005 | 1.5% | -13.8% |
| 2006 | 0.2% | -87.7% |
| 2007 | -0.3% | -283.6% |
| 2008 | 0.3% | -183.0% |
| 2009 | 13.1% | +4494.7% |
| 2010 | 17.2% | +31.3% |
| 2011 | 23.0% | +33.1% |
| 2012 | 27.7% | +20.5% |
| 2013 | 27.0% | -2.5% |
| 2014 | 28.5% | +5.6% |
| 2015 | 27.4% | -3.9% |
| 2016 | 30.5% | +11.4% |
| 2017 | 28.7% | -6.0% |
| 2018 | 26.8% | -6.5% |
| 2019 | 27.0% | +0.8% |
| 2020 | 42.5% | +57.3% |
| 2021 | 42.5% | +0.0% |
| 2022 | 28.0% | -34.0% |
| 2023 | 24.9% | -11.4% |
| 2024 | 21.9% | -12.0% |
United Kingdom compared with similar countries
- United Kingdom's 21.9% is above the median for high income countries, which is 11.8%, 1.8× the median. (61 countries reporting)
- United Kingdom's 21.9% is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 8.5%, 2.6× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Claims on central government, etc. (% GDP) in United Kingdom changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | +4494.7% | 0.3% | 13.1% |
| 2007 | -283.6% | 0.2% | -0.3% |
| 2008 | +183.0% | -0.3% | 0.3% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 38.8% | 26.4% | 47.0% | 10 |
| 1970s | 33.0% | 20.0% | 42.1% | 10 |
| 1980s | 5.1% | 1.6% | 19.4% | 10 |
| 1990s | 3.7% | 2.5% | 5.4% | 10 |
| 2000s | 2.1% | -0.3% | 13.1% | 10 |
| 2010s | 26.4% | 17.2% | 30.5% | 10 |
| 2020s | 31.9% | 21.9% | 42.5% | 5 |
Countries ranked near United Kingdom
More financial sector data for United Kingdom
- Reserve position in the IMF, US dollar, annual growth rate 10.56 % change on previous year (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, US dollar, per unit of GDP 0.0018 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, US dollar, per capita 104.99 units per person (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, SDR, annual growth rate 5.29 % change on previous year (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, SDR, per unit of GDP 0.0013 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, SDR, per capita 76.66 units per person (2025)
- Reserve tranche position, US dollar, annual growth rate 10.56 % change on previous year (2025)
- Reserve tranche position, US dollar, per unit of GDP 0.0018 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Reserve tranche position, US dollar, per capita 104.99 units per person (2025)
- Reserve tranche position, SDR, annual growth rate 5.29 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is claims on central government, etc. in United Kingdom?
- Claims on central government, etc. in United Kingdom was 21.9% in 2024, according to International Financial Statistics database, International Monetary Fund (IMF).
- What is the highest claims on central government, etc. recorded in United Kingdom?
- The highest recorded value was 47.0% in 1968.
- What is the lowest claims on central government, etc. recorded in United Kingdom?
- The lowest recorded value was -0.3% in 2007.
- How does United Kingdom rank for claims on central government, etc.?
- United Kingdom ranks 40th out of 187 countries with data for 2024.
- Is claims on central government, etc. rising or falling in United Kingdom?
- Over the last ten years it is down 23.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this United Kingdom data come from?
- The figures come from International Financial Statistics database, International Monetary Fund (IMF), published as part of Claims on central government, etc. (% GDP). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Claims on central government include loans to central government institutions net of deposits. This indicator is expressed as a percentage of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) which is the total income earned through the production of goods and services in an economic territory during an accounting period.