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

200.0k400.0k600.0k800.0k1990200420181990: 167.9k1991: 204.0k1992: 218.3k1993: 225.0k1994: 236.5k1995: 230.9k1996: 248.2k1997: 305.0k1998: 324.0k1999: 343.7k2000: 403.6k2001: 419.9k2002: 421.4k2003: 448.1k2004: 485.3k2005: 522.8k2006: 553.2k2007: 537.4k2008: 492.0k2009: 477.8k2010: 519.9k2011: 539.6k2012: 597.1k2013: 580.6k2014: 623.0k2015: 716.1k2016: 624.6k2017: 616.3k2018: 617.7k

Source: Eurostat.

Analysis

In 2018, expenditure on social benefits by function in United Kingdom stood at 617,697.

The figure is 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.

That places United Kingdom 4th out of 46 countries with data for 2018, putting it 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

Annual values for Expenditure on social benefits by function in United Kingdom, 1990 to 2018.
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%

United Kingdom compared with similar countries

  • United Kingdom's 617,697 is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 65,739, 9.4× the median. (34 countries reporting)
  • United Kingdom's 617,697 is above the median for high income countries, which is 70,640, 8.7× the median. (31 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest 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

  1. 1 Germany 1.37 million compare
  2. 2 France 960,618 compare
  3. 3 Italy 645,053 compare
  4. 4 United Kingdom 617,697 compare
  5. 6 Spain 427,072 compare
  6. 7 Netherlands 313,696 compare

See the full ranking of 55 places →

More reference data data for United Kingdom

All data for United Kingdom →

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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Expenditure on social benefits by function in United Kingdom. Statizoid, drawing on Eurostat. Retrieved 14 November 2026, from https://reference.statizoid.com/stat/expenditure-on-social-benefits-by-function/united-kingdom/

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About this data

Indicator
Expenditure on social benefits by function
Source
Eurostat
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Eurostat)
Coverage
55 places, 1,509 data points, 1990–2025
Last refreshed