Expenditure on social benefits by function in United Kingdom
United Kingdom: Expenditure on social benefits by function was 617,697 in 2018. ▲ Rising
Latest (2018)
617,697
Change on year
up 0.2%
World rank
4th
of 46 countries
All-time high
716,115
in 2015
All-time low
167,878
in 1990
Years of data
29
1990–2018
Expenditure on social benefits by function in United Kingdom, 1990–2018
Source: Eurostat.
Analysis
In 2018, expenditure on social benefits by function in United Kingdom stood at 617,697.
That represents a change of up 0.2% on the previous year and up 25.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, expenditure on social benefits by function in United Kingdom peaked at 716,115 in 2015 and was at its lowest, 167,878, in 1990.
United Kingdom ranks 4th of 46 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 29 years of available data.
Expenditure on social benefits by function in United Kingdom, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 167,878 | — |
| 1991 | 204,012 | +21.5% |
| 1992 | 218,264 | +7.0% |
| 1993 | 224,958 | +3.1% |
| 1994 | 236,461 | +5.1% |
| 1995 | 230,932 | -2.3% |
| 1996 | 248,226 | +7.5% |
| 1997 | 305,013 | +22.9% |
| 1998 | 324,031 | +6.2% |
| 1999 | 343,683 | +6.1% |
| 2000 | 403,552 | +17.4% |
| 2001 | 419,892 | +4.0% |
| 2002 | 421,354 | +0.3% |
| 2003 | 448,147 | +6.4% |
| 2004 | 485,279 | +8.3% |
| 2005 | 522,783 | +7.7% |
| 2006 | 553,194 | +5.8% |
| 2007 | 537,435 | -2.8% |
| 2008 | 491,988 | -8.5% |
| 2009 | 477,826 | -2.9% |
| 2010 | 519,854 | +8.8% |
| 2011 | 539,624 | +3.8% |
| 2012 | 597,100 | +10.7% |
| 2013 | 580,624 | -2.8% |
| 2014 | 622,974 | +7.3% |
| 2015 | 716,115 | +15.0% |
| 2016 | 624,559 | -12.8% |
| 2017 | 616,262 | -1.3% |
| 2018 | 617,697 | +0.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 250,346 | 167,878 | 343,683 | 10 |
| 2000s | 476,145 | 403,552 | 553,194 | 10 |
| 2010s | 603,868 | 519,854 | 716,115 | 9 |
Countries ranked near United Kingdom
More reference data data for United Kingdom
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- Cooling and heating degree days by NUTS 3 region - annual data 2,710 (2025)
- Cooling and heating degree days by NUTS 3 region - monthly data 358.44 (2025)
- R&D personnel by sector of performance and region — R&D Personnel 739,816 Persons (2017)
- Victims in road accidents by NUTS 2 region 1,860 (2016)
- Stock of vehicles by category and NUTS 2 region 36.71 million (2018)
- Deaths (total) by NUTS 3 region 614,313 (2018)
- Establishments, bedrooms and bed-places in tourist accommodation, by 84,580 (2016)
- Deaths by age, sex and NUTS 2 region 614,313 (2018)
Frequently asked questions
- What is expenditure on social benefits by function in United Kingdom?
- Expenditure on social benefits by function in United Kingdom was 617,697 in 2018, according to Eurostat.
- What is the highest expenditure on social benefits by function recorded in United Kingdom?
- The highest recorded value was 716,115 in 2015.
- What is the lowest expenditure on social benefits by function recorded in United Kingdom?
- The lowest recorded value was 167,878 in 1990.
- How does United Kingdom rank for expenditure on social benefits by function?
- United Kingdom ranks 4th out of 46 countries with data for 2018.
- Is expenditure on social benefits by function rising or falling in United Kingdom?
- Over the last ten years it is up 25.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this United Kingdom data come from?
- The figures come from Eurostat, published as part of Expenditure on social benefits by function. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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