Gross debt, General government, Percent of fiscal year GDP in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland: Gross debt, General government, Percent of fiscal year GDP was 88.98 in 2015. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2015)
88.98
Change on year
up 1.2%
World rank
23rd
of 188 countries
All-time high
269.8
in 1946
All-time low
27.27
in 1914
Years of data
216
1800–2015
Gross debt, General government, Percent of fiscal year GDP in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, 1800–2015
Source: International Monetary Fund.
Analysis
In 2015, gross debt, general government, percent of fiscal year gdp in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland stood at 88.98.
That represents a change of up 1.2% on the previous year and up 122.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, gross debt, general government, percent of fiscal year gdp in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland peaked at 269.8 in 1946 and was at its lowest, 27.27, in 1914.
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ranks 23rd of 188 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Gross debt, General government, Percent of fiscal year GDP in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1800 | 176.84 | — |
| 1801 | 177.47 | +0.4% |
| 1802 | 188.99 | +6.5% |
| 1803 | 190.67 | +0.9% |
| 1804 | 188.4 | -1.2% |
| 1805 | 189.07 | +0.4% |
| 1806 | 192.64 | +1.9% |
| 1807 | 193.88 | +0.6% |
| 1808 | 191.51 | -1.2% |
| 1809 | 188.99 | -1.3% |
| 1810 | 186.69 | -1.2% |
| 1811 | 182.51 | -2.2% |
| 1812 | 188.11 | +3.1% |
| 1813 | 196.74 | +4.6% |
| 1814 | 219.62 | +11.6% |
| 1815 | 226.31 | +3.0% |
| 1816 | 237.32 | +4.9% |
| 1817 | 231.09 | -2.6% |
| 1818 | 259.04 | +12.1% |
| 1819 | 260.29 | +0.5% |
| 1820 | 259.95 | -0.1% |
| 1821 | 260.34 | +0.2% |
| 1822 | 246.73 | -5.2% |
| 1823 | 237.29 | -3.8% |
| 1824 | 224.8 | -5.3% |
| 1825 | 212.72 | -5.4% |
| 1826 | 201.07 | -5.5% |
| 1827 | 191.97 | -4.5% |
| 1828 | 182.7 | -4.8% |
| 1829 | 173.55 | -5.0% |
| 1830 | 181.57 | +4.6% |
| 1831 | 177.91 | -2.0% |
| 1832 | 187.29 | +5.3% |
| 1833 | 190.05 | +1.5% |
| 1834 | 177.49 | -6.6% |
| 1835 | 164.52 | -7.3% |
| 1836 | 155.71 | -5.4% |
| 1837 | 163.34 | +4.9% |
| 1838 | 151.86 | -7.0% |
| 1839 | 143.47 | -5.5% |
| 1840 | 154.68 | +7.8% |
| 1841 | 164.18 | +6.1% |
| 1842 | 172.85 | +5.3% |
| 1843 | 172.99 | +0.1% |
| 1844 | 157.05 | -9.2% |
| 1845 | 147.12 | -6.3% |
| 1846 | 135.7 | -7.8% |
| 1847 | 130.09 | -4.1% |
| 1848 | 136.74 | +5.1% |
| 1849 | 135.15 | -1.2% |
| 1850 | 148.51 | +9.9% |
| 1851 | 139.75 | -5.9% |
| 1852 | 137.36 | -1.7% |
| 1853 | 131.65 | -4.2% |
| 1854 | 125.09 | -5.0% |
| 1855 | 120.9 | -3.4% |
| 1856 | 120.04 | -0.7% |
| 1857 | 121.58 | +1.3% |
| 1858 | 125.04 | +2.8% |
| 1859 | 117.58 | -6.0% |
| 1860 | 115.5 | -1.8% |
| 1861 | 108.47 | -6.1% |
| 1862 | 106.62 | -1.7% |
| 1863 | 100.91 | -5.4% |
| 1864 | 95.23 | -5.6% |
| 1865 | 91.06 | -4.4% |
| 1866 | 86.95 | -4.5% |
| 1867 | 87.67 | +0.8% |
| 1868 | 84.58 | -3.5% |
| 1869 | 83.12 | -1.7% |
| 1870 | 77.35 | -6.9% |
| 1871 | 71.71 | -7.3% |
| 1872 | 67.41 | -6.0% |
| 1873 | 61.84 | -8.3% |
| 1874 | 63.08 | +2.0% |
| 1875 | 63.65 | +0.9% |
| 1876 | 65.43 | +2.8% |
| 1877 | 65.81 | +0.6% |
| 1878 | 67.46 | +2.5% |
| 1879 | 70.28 | +4.2% |
| 1880 | 65.4 | -6.9% |
| 1881 | 64.36 | -1.6% |
| 1882 | 61.55 | -4.4% |
| 1883 | 61.5 | -0.1% |
| 1884 | 56.05 | -8.9% |
| 1885 | 57.79 | +3.1% |
| 1886 | 57.48 | -0.5% |
| 1887 | 55.43 | -3.6% |
| 1888 | 51.32 | -7.4% |
| 1889 | 47.15 | -8.1% |
| 1890 | 45.9 | -2.6% |
| 1891 | 46.43 | +1.2% |
| 1892 | 47.47 | +2.2% |
| 1893 | 47.39 | -0.2% |
| 1894 | 44.12 | -6.9% |
| 1895 | 43.11 | -2.3% |
| 1896 | 41.1 | -4.7% |
| 1897 | 40.38 | -1.8% |
| 1898 | 37.77 | -6.5% |
| 1899 | 35.09 | -7.1% |
| 1900 | 32.44 | -7.5% |
| 1901 | 35.8 | +10.3% |
| 1902 | 38.97 | +8.9% |
| 1903 | 41.2 | +5.7% |
| 1904 | 40.71 | -1.2% |
| 1905 | 39.03 | -4.1% |
| 1906 | 37.41 | -4.2% |
| 1907 | 35.33 | -5.5% |
| 1908 | 35.68 | +1.0% |
| 1909 | 34.88 | -2.2% |
| 1910 | 34.51 | -1.0% |
| 1911 | 31.61 | -8.4% |
| 1912 | 29.79 | -5.8% |
| 1913 | 27.9 | -6.4% |
| 1914 | 27.27 | -2.2% |
| 1915 | 39.28 | +44.0% |
| 1916 | 65.58 | +67.0% |
| 1917 | 97.85 | +49.2% |
| 1918 | 119.1 | +21.7% |
| 1919 | 142.77 | +19.9% |
| 1920 | 137.79 | -3.5% |
| 1921 | 158.41 | +15.0% |
| 1922 | 183.48 | +15.8% |
| 1923 | 195.54 | +6.6% |
| 1924 | 188.81 | -3.4% |
| 1925 | 176.97 | -6.3% |
| 1926 | 187.12 | +5.7% |
| 1927 | 177.45 | -5.2% |
| 1928 | 175.78 | -0.9% |
| 1929 | 170.52 | -3.0% |
| 1930 | 171 | +0.3% |
| 1931 | 184.83 | +8.1% |
| 1932 | 190.15 | +2.9% |
| 1933 | 193.97 | +2.0% |
| 1934 | 186.63 | -3.8% |
| 1935 | 178.09 | -4.6% |
| 1936 | 170.19 | -4.4% |
| 1937 | 158.69 | -6.8% |
| 1938 | 155.08 | -2.3% |
| 1939 | 149.68 | -3.5% |
| 1940 | 121.06 | -19.1% |
| 1941 | 133.69 | +10.4% |
| 1942 | 153.2 | +14.6% |
| 1943 | 173.99 | +13.6% |
| 1944 | 200.63 | +15.3% |
| 1945 | 234.69 | +17.0% |
| 1946 | 269.8 | +15.0% |
| 1947 | 264.12 | -2.1% |
| 1948 | 239.57 | -9.3% |
| 1949 | 220.27 | -8.1% |
| 1950 | 216.92 | -1.5% |
| 1951 | 196.76 | -9.3% |
| 1952 | 180.86 | -8.1% |
| 1953 | 169.76 | -6.1% |
| 1954 | 163.23 | -3.8% |
| 1955 | 154.19 | -5.5% |
| 1956 | 143.76 | -6.8% |
| 1957 | 135.74 | -5.6% |
| 1958 | 131.13 | -3.4% |
| 1959 | 124.87 | -4.8% |
| 1960 | 117.94 | -5.5% |
| 1961 | 113.75 | -3.6% |
| 1962 | 110.52 | -2.8% |
| 1963 | 108.55 | -1.8% |
| 1964 | 101.08 | -6.9% |
| 1965 | 94.61 | -6.4% |
| 1966 | 91.95 | -2.8% |
| 1967 | 89.15 | -3.0% |
| 1968 | 88.55 | -0.7% |
| 1969 | 82.84 | -6.4% |
| 1970 | 73.24 | -11.6% |
| 1971 | 65.55 | -10.5% |
| 1972 | 62.04 | -5.4% |
| 1973 | 54.56 | -12.1% |
| 1974 | 51.6 | -5.4% |
| 1975 | 46.68 | -9.5% |
| 1976 | 48.88 | +4.7% |
| 1977 | 50.46 | +3.2% |
| 1978 | 51.63 | +2.3% |
| 1979 | 45.3 | -12.3% |
| 1980 | 42.77 | -5.6% |
| 1981 | 45.09 | +5.4% |
| 1982 | 43.39 | -3.8% |
| 1983 | 42.18 | -2.8% |
| 1984 | 42.59 | +1.0% |
| 1985 | 41.54 | -2.5% |
| 1986 | 41.52 | -0.1% |
| 1987 | 39.62 | -4.6% |
| 1988 | 37.34 | -5.7% |
| 1989 | 32.81 | -12.1% |
| 1990 | 28.82 | -12.2% |
| 1991 | 28.8 | -0.1% |
| 1992 | 33.66 | +16.9% |
| 1993 | 38.53 | +14.5% |
| 1994 | 41.42 | +7.5% |
| 1995 | 44.45 | +7.3% |
| 1996 | 44.55 | +0.2% |
| 1997 | 43.87 | -1.5% |
| 1998 | 41.64 | -5.1% |
| 1999 | 39.55 | -5.0% |
| 2000 | 36.98 | -6.5% |
| 2001 | 34.3 | -7.2% |
| 2002 | 34.23 | -0.2% |
| 2003 | 35.76 | +4.4% |
| 2004 | 38.66 | +8.1% |
| 2005 | 40.01 | +3.5% |
| 2006 | 41.02 | +2.5% |
| 2007 | 42.21 | +2.9% |
| 2008 | 50.27 | +19.1% |
| 2009 | 64.2 | +27.7% |
| 2010 | 75.74 | +18.0% |
| 2011 | 81.32 | +7.4% |
| 2012 | 84.82 | +4.3% |
| 2013 | 86 | +1.4% |
| 2014 | 87.94 | +2.3% |
| 2015 | 88.98 | +1.2% |
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland compared with similar countries
- United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland's 88.98 is above the median for high income countries, which is 52.98, 1.7× the median. (61 countries reporting)
- United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland's 88.98 is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 51.28, 1.7× the median. (49 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Gross debt, General government, Percent of fiscal year GDP in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1916 | +67.0% | 39.28 | 65.58 |
| 1917 | +49.2% | 65.58 | 97.85 |
| 1915 | +44.0% | 27.27 | 39.28 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1800s | 187.85 | 176.84 | 193.88 | 10 |
| 1810s | 218.77 | 182.51 | 260.29 | 10 |
| 1820s | 219.11 | 173.55 | 260.34 | 10 |
| 1830s | 169.32 | 143.47 | 190.05 | 10 |
| 1840s | 150.65 | 130.09 | 172.99 | 10 |
| 1850s | 128.75 | 117.58 | 148.51 | 10 |
| 1860s | 96.01 | 83.12 | 115.5 | 10 |
| 1870s | 67.4 | 61.84 | 77.35 | 10 |
| 1880s | 57.8 | 47.15 | 65.4 | 10 |
| 1890s | 42.88 | 35.09 | 47.47 | 10 |
| 1900s | 37.14 | 32.44 | 41.2 | 10 |
| 1910s | 61.57 | 27.27 | 142.77 | 10 |
| 1920s | 175.19 | 137.79 | 195.54 | 10 |
| 1930s | 173.83 | 149.68 | 193.97 | 10 |
| 1940s | 201.1 | 121.06 | 269.8 | 10 |
| 1950s | 161.72 | 124.87 | 216.92 | 10 |
| 1960s | 99.89 | 82.84 | 117.94 | 10 |
| 1970s | 54.99 | 45.3 | 73.24 | 10 |
| 1980s | 40.88 | 32.81 | 45.09 | 10 |
| 1990s | 38.53 | 28.8 | 44.55 | 10 |
| 2000s | 41.76 | 34.23 | 64.2 | 10 |
| 2010s | 84.13 | 75.74 | 88.98 | 6 |
Countries ranked near United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
More external debt data for United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
- Other investment, Debt instruments 7.66 trillion US dollar (2025)
- Other investment, Debt instruments (Assets, Positions, US dollar) 13.08 % change on previous year (2025)
- Other investment, Debt instruments, Deposit taking corporations 1.46 trillion US dollar (1998)
- Other investment, Debt instruments (Assets, Positions, US dollar) 110,234 US dollar per person (2025)
- Other investment, Debt instruments (Assets, Positions, US dollar) 1.91 US dollar per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Net lending (+) / net borrowing (-), General government, Percent of -2.24 (2030)
- Other investment, Debt instruments, Deposit taking corporations 6.59 % change on previous year (1998)
- Primary net lending (+) / net borrowing (-), General government 0.6703 (2030)
- Other investment, Debt instruments, Deposit taking corporations 24,920 US dollar per person (1998)
- Other investment, Debt instruments, Deposit taking corporations 0.8776 US dollar per US$ of GDP (1998)
All data for United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland →
Frequently asked questions
- What is gross debt, general government, percent of fiscal year gdp in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
- Gross debt, general government, percent of fiscal year gdp in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland was 88.98 in 2015, according to International Monetary Fund.
- What is the highest gross debt, general government, percent of fiscal year gdp recorded in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
- The highest recorded value was 269.8 in 1946.
- What is the lowest gross debt, general government, percent of fiscal year gdp recorded in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
- The lowest recorded value was 27.27 in 1914.
- How does United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland rank for gross debt, general government, percent of fiscal year gdp?
- United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ranks 23rd out of 188 countries with data for 2015.
- Is gross debt, general government, percent of fiscal year gdp rising or falling in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
- Over the last ten years it is up 122.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland data come from?
- The figures come from International Monetary Fund, published as part of Gross debt, General government, Percent of fiscal year GDP. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
The Historical Public Debt Database contains unbalanced panel data on Gross Domestic Product, Gross Government Debt, and Debt to GDP Ratio for 187 countries. The series spans the years 1800 through 2015 although each country’s data depends on its date of independence and data availability.