Gross and net expenditure on social benefits by function in United Kingdom

United Kingdom: Gross and net expenditure on social benefits by function was 546,483 in 2018. ▲ Rising

Latest (2018)
546,483
Change on year
up 1.2%
World rank
14th
of 44 countries
All-time high
546,483
in 2018
All-time low
367,788
in 2007
Years of data
12
2007–2018

Gross and net expenditure on social benefits by function in United Kingdom, 2007–2018

0200.0k400.0k600.0k2007201220182007: 367.8k2008: 391.8k2009: 425.7k2010: 446.0k2011: 468.3k2012: 484.2k2013: 493.1k2014: 502.2k2015: 519.8k2016: 511.8k2017: 540.3k2018: 546.5k

Source: Eurostat.

Analysis

The most recent figure for gross and net expenditure on social benefits by function in United Kingdom is 546,483, measured in 2018. That is the highest value across all 12 years on record.

The figure is up 1.2% on the previous year and up 39.5% over ten years.

Over the whole period, gross and net expenditure on social benefits by function in United Kingdom peaked at 546,483 in 2018 and was at its lowest, 367,788, in 2007.

United Kingdom ranks 14th of 44 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 12 years of available data.

Gross and net expenditure on social benefits by function in United Kingdom, year by year

Annual values for Gross and net expenditure on social benefits by function in United Kingdom, 2007 to 2018.
Year Value Change
2007 367,788 —
2008 391,760 +6.5%
2009 425,714 +8.7%
2010 445,952 +4.8%
2011 468,329 +5.0%
2012 484,171 +3.4%
2013 493,101 +1.8%
2014 502,192 +1.8%
2015 519,785 +3.5%
2016 511,814 -1.5%
2017 540,259 +5.6%
2018 546,483 +1.2%

United Kingdom compared with similar countries

  • United Kingdom's 546,483 is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 165,806, 3.3× the median. (33 countries reporting)
  • United Kingdom's 546,483 is above the median for high income countries, which is 165,806, 3.3× the median. (31 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 395,087 367,788 425,714 3
2010s 501,343 445,952 546,483 9

Countries ranked near United Kingdom

  1. 11 Poland 757,201 compare
  2. 11 Poland 757,201 compare
  3. 13 Italy 597,937 compare
  4. 14 United Kingdom 546,483 compare
  5. 16 Spain 375,505 compare
  6. 17 Netherlands 271,229 compare
  7. 17 Netherlands 271,229 compare

See the full ranking of 44 places →

More reference data data for United Kingdom

All data for United Kingdom →

Frequently asked questions

What is gross and net expenditure on social benefits by function in United Kingdom?
Gross and net expenditure on social benefits by function in United Kingdom was 546,483 in 2018, according to Eurostat.
What is the highest gross and net expenditure on social benefits by function recorded in United Kingdom?
The highest recorded value was 546,483 in 2018.
What is the lowest gross and net expenditure on social benefits by function recorded in United Kingdom?
The lowest recorded value was 367,788 in 2007.
How does United Kingdom rank for gross and net expenditure on social benefits by function?
United Kingdom ranks 14th out of 44 countries with data for 2018.
Is gross and net expenditure on social benefits by function rising or falling in United Kingdom?
Over the last ten years it is up 39.5%. 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 Gross and net expenditure on social benefits by function. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Gross and net expenditure on social benefits by function in United Kingdom. Statizoid, drawing on Eurostat. Retrieved 25 September 2026, from https://reference.statizoid.com/stat/gross-and-net-expenditure-on-social-benefits-by-function/united-kingdom/

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About this data

Indicator
Gross and net expenditure on social benefits by function
Source
Eurostat
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Eurostat)
Coverage
44 places, 719 data points, 2007–2023
Last refreshed