
Gross debt in the United Kingdom
The government gross debt refers to the total of all sums of money that have to be paid to other countries, communities or institutions. Not included in the gross debt are the demands of a country to foreign ones.The gross debt in the United Kingdom in the period from 1998 to 2019 was between 565.8 billion and 2.73 trillion USD. The hightest level within the past 21 years was reached in 2014. However, the liabilities in 2019 have been only 2.5 trillion USD The budget deficit in the same year was 65.3 billion USD.
Based on the number of inhabitants, this is a debt of 37,230 USD per person. For comparison, the average debt per person in the same year in the European Union was 27,168 USD.
Back to overview: United Kingdom
Gross debt of the last 21 years in billion USD
Year | United Kingdom total | United Kingdom per capita | EU per capita |
---|---|---|---|
1998 | 646.32 bn USD | 11,051 USD | 14,079 USD |
1999 | 695.44 bn USD | 11,851 USD | 14,032 USD |
2000 | 592.85 bn USD | 10,067 USD | 11,232 USD |
2001 | 565.77 bn USD | 9,570 USD | 11,255 USD |
2002 | 583.58 bn USD | 9,829 USD | 12,258 USD |
2003 | 713.02 bn USD | 11,954 USD | 15,286 USD |
2004 | 890.04 bn USD | 14,837 USD | 17,595 USD |
2005 | 1,003.18 bn USD | 16,609 USD | 18,327 USD |
2006 | 1,115.87 bn USD | 18,339 USD | 18,877 USD |
2007 | 1,202.51 bn USD | 19,610 USD | 20,898 USD |
2008 | 1,210.51 bn USD | 19,585 USD | 24,086 USD |
2009 | 1,536.86 bn USD | 24,678 USD | 25,361 USD |
2010 | 1,837.18 bn USD | 29,270 USD | 26,496 USD |
2011 | 2,212.56 bn USD | 34,976 USD | 29,231 USD |
2012 | 2,241.09 bn USD | 35,182 USD | 28,174 USD |
2013 | 2,386.76 bn USD | 37,218 USD | 29,981 USD |
2014 | 2,734.64 bn USD | 42,330 USD | 30,648 USD |
2015 | 2,516.51 bn USD | 38,646 USD | 25,918 USD |
2016 | 2,237.79 bn USD | 34,107 USD | 26,261 USD |
2017 | 2,273.63 bn USD | 34,418 USD | 27,024 USD |
2018 | 2,425.46 bn USD | 36,495 USD | 28,448 USD |
2019 | 2,488.31 bn USD | 37,230 USD | 27,168 USD |
Comparison of gross debt per capita with the European Union in U.S. dollars
Budget deficit in the United Kingdom

The budget balance in the United Kingdom in the period between 2001 and 2019 varied between -243.43 billion euros and +6.26 billion euros. In 2019, the United Kingdom reached a balance of -65 billion euros.
In ratio to population, this equals a new indebtedness of 977 euros per capita in the United Kingdom in 2019. For comparison, the average debt per capita in the European Union in the same year was 197 euros.
Budget deficit and surplus in the last 18 years
Year | United Kingdom total | United Kingdom per capita | EU per capita |
---|---|---|---|
2001 | 6.26 bn USD | 106 USD | -299 USD |
2002 | -34.24 bn USD | -577 USD | -565 USD |
2003 | -64.86 bn USD | -1,087 USD | -840 USD |
2004 | -82.47 bn USD | -1,375 USD | -920 USD |
2005 | -79.57 bn USD | -1,317 USD | -822 USD |
2006 | -74.43 bn USD | -1,223 USD | -568 USD |
2007 | -81.40 bn USD | -1,327 USD | -360 USD |
2008 | -150.46 bn USD | -2,434 USD | -1,085 USD |
2009 | -243.43 bn USD | -3,909 USD | -2,021 USD |
2010 | -229.10 bn USD | -3,650 USD | -1,970 USD |
2011 | -199.11 bn USD | -3,148 USD | -1,462 USD |
2012 | -220.56 bn USD | -3,462 USD | -1,220 USD |
2013 | -153.20 bn USD | -2,389 USD | -1,027 USD |
2014 | -169.84 bn USD | -2,629 USD | -852 USD |
2015 | -133.37 bn USD | -2,048 USD | -577 USD |
2016 | -88.35 bn USD | -1,347 USD | -423 USD |
2017 | -64.57 bn USD | -977 USD | -263 USD |
2018 | -64.32 bn USD | -968 USD | -139 USD |
2019 | -65.32 bn USD | -977 USD | -197 USD |
(negative numbers = deficit)