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Social expenditure

Data up to 2007 for the UK are presented in the national indicator

Public social expenditure as a percentage of GDP

(a) Index of social expenditure, 1990 to 2003

UK and selected countries

ndex of social expenditure

(b) Social expenditure as a percentage of GDP, 2003

UK and selected countries

Social expenditure as a percentage of GDP

  • Between 1990 and 2003 UK social expenditure rose from 17.2 per cent to 20.1 per cent. During this period, there were increases in 5 countries, a decrease in social expenditure for 6 countries, and little or no change in the Netherlands.
  • Between 1999 and 2003 there was little or no change in the UK's proportion of GDP allocated to social expenditure, the biggest change occurring in Japan with a rise from 15.4 to 17.7 per cent.
  • In 2003 social expenditure in the UK was 20.1 per cent of GDP, the 5th lowest of the 13 compared countries, and below the OECD average of 20.7 per cent (not shown). Sweden allocated 31.3 per cent of GDP to social expenditure, the largest proportion of the compared countries.
  • Data up to 2007 for the UK are presented in the national indicator

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Updated: 31 July 2008