Domestic general government health expenditure in United Kingdom
United Kingdom: Domestic general government health expenditure was 20.0% in 2023. ▲ Rising
Domestic general government health expenditure in United Kingdom, 2000–2023
Source: Global Health Expenditure Database, updated December 12th, 2025, World Health Organization (WHO). Measured in % of general government expenditure.
Analysis
United Kingdom recorded 20.0% for domestic general government health expenditure in 2023.
The figure is down 2.9% on the previous year and up 5.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, domestic general government health expenditure in United Kingdom peaked at 22.1% in 2021 and was at its lowest, 16.0%, in 2000.
United Kingdom ranks 9th of 193 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 24 years of available data.
Domestic general government health expenditure in United Kingdom, year by year
| Year | % of general government expenditure | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 16.0% | — |
| 2001 | 16.3% | +2.0% |
| 2002 | 16.8% | +3.2% |
| 2003 | 17.0% | +0.9% |
| 2004 | 17.5% | +3.4% |
| 2005 | 17.7% | +1.0% |
| 2006 | 18.3% | +3.4% |
| 2007 | 18.2% | -0.5% |
| 2008 | 17.9% | -1.7% |
| 2009 | 18.2% | +1.8% |
| 2010 | 18.0% | -1.5% |
| 2011 | 18.4% | +2.6% |
| 2012 | 18.4% | -0.1% |
| 2013 | 19.0% | +3.1% |
| 2014 | 19.3% | +1.6% |
| 2015 | 19.6% | +1.5% |
| 2016 | 20.0% | +2.0% |
| 2017 | 19.7% | -1.0% |
| 2018 | 20.0% | +1.4% |
| 2019 | 20.5% | +2.5% |
| 2020 | 20.4% | -0.8% |
| 2021 | 22.1% | +8.6% |
| 2022 | 20.7% | -6.6% |
| 2023 | 20.0% | -2.9% |
United Kingdom compared with similar countries
- United Kingdom's 20.0% is above the median for high income countries, which is 14.1%, 1.4× the median. (64 countries reporting)
- United Kingdom's 20.0% is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 12.8%, 1.6× the median. (52 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 17.4% | 16.0% | 18.3% | 10 |
| 2010s | 19.3% | 18.0% | 20.5% | 10 |
| 2020s | 20.8% | 20.0% | 22.1% | 4 |
Countries ranked near United Kingdom
More health data for United Kingdom
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.71 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.0265 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 1,134 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 461 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 0 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate -0.7128 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per capita 0.0247 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate -0.7724 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is domestic general government health expenditure in United Kingdom?
- Domestic general government health expenditure in United Kingdom was 20.0% in 2023, according to Global Health Expenditure Database, updated December 12th, 2025, World Health Organization (WHO).
- What is the highest domestic general government health expenditure recorded in United Kingdom?
- The highest recorded value was 22.1% in 2021.
- What is the lowest domestic general government health expenditure recorded in United Kingdom?
- The lowest recorded value was 16.0% in 2000.
- How does United Kingdom rank for domestic general government health expenditure?
- United Kingdom ranks 9th out of 193 countries with data for 2023.
- Is domestic general government health expenditure rising or falling in United Kingdom?
- Over the last ten years it is up 5.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this United Kingdom data come from?
- The figures come from Global Health Expenditure Database, updated December 12th, 2025, World Health Organization (WHO), published as part of Domestic general government health expenditure (% of general government expenditure). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Public expenditure on health from domestic sources as a share of total public expenditure. It indicates the priority of the government to spend on health from own domestic public resources.