The social contract in numbers

Six official measures of who pays into the UK state, who gets more back and the pressures ahead. Each panel shows its source and when it next updates.

The six panels use official releases available on 25 October 2026. The Budget forecast context below was added on 28 October 2026.

The OBR October 2026 forecast, detailed receipts table 4.18, estimates that frozen thresholds bring 6.75 million more people into income tax and 5.42 million more into the higher-rate band by 2030-31, compared with inflation-linked thresholds. These are forecasts, not observed counts. Download the OBR receipts tables.

The ONS figures measure people living in households that receive more in cash benefits and public services than they pay in taxes over one year. They describe the household balance, not each person's own tax and benefit balance or lifetime contribution.

Income tax shares by income group

27.2%

In 2023-24, the top 1% of income tax payers had 12.4% of income and paid 27.2% of income tax.

Shares of UK income tax and the top 1% share of income

Solid lines: HMRC outturn. Dashed lines: 2024-25 to 2026-27 projection using the March 2026 OBR outlook. 2008-09 is unavailable. Lines also break at the 2015-16 to 2016-17 dividend-tax change.

Source: HMRC Income Tax liabilities statistics, Tables 2.1 to 2.6. Released 15 July 2026. Next release: May/June 2027; exact day not announced.

Chart values and definitions

Measure	Period	Value (%)
Top 1% tax	1999-00	21.3
Top 1% tax	2000-01	22.2
Top 1% tax	2001-02	21.8
Top 1% tax	2002-03	21
Top 1% tax	2003-04	20.8
Top 1% tax	2004-05	21.4
Top 1% tax	2005-06	22.7
Top 1% tax	2006-07	23.5
Top 1% tax	2007-08	24.4
Top 1% tax	2009-10	26.5
Top 1% tax	2010-11	25
Top 1% tax	2011-12	25.4
Top 1% tax	2012-13	25.1
Top 1% tax	2013-14	27.6
Top 1% tax	2014-15	27.2
Top 1% tax	2015-16	28.8
Top 1% tax	2016-17	28.1
Top 1% tax	2017-18	29.1
Top 1% tax	2018-19	28.9
Top 1% tax	2019-20	29
Top 1% tax	2020-21	29.1
Top 1% tax	2021-22	30.7
Top 1% tax	2022-23	28.5
Top 1% tax	2023-24	27.2
Top 1% tax	2024-25 (projection)	27.2
Top 1% tax	2025-26 (projection)	26.8
Top 1% tax	2026-27 (projection)	26.6
Top 10% tax	1999-00	50.3
Top 10% tax	2000-01	51.5
Top 10% tax	2001-02	51.9
Top 10% tax	2002-03	51.5
Top 10% tax	2003-04	50.9
Top 10% tax	2004-05	51.4
Top 10% tax	2005-06	52.9
Top 10% tax	2006-07	53.5
Top 10% tax	2007-08	54.3
Top 10% tax	2009-10	54.9
Top 10% tax	2010-11	53.5
Top 10% tax	2011-12	55.4
Top 10% tax	2012-13	55.8
Top 10% tax	2013-14	58.6
Top 10% tax	2014-15	58.5
Top 10% tax	2015-16	60
Top 10% tax	2016-17	59.7
Top 10% tax	2017-18	60.5
Top 10% tax	2018-19	60.3
Top 10% tax	2019-20	60.3
Top 10% tax	2020-21	60.3
Top 10% tax	2021-22	61.8
Top 10% tax	2022-23	60.3
Top 10% tax	2023-24	59.1
Top 10% tax	2024-25 (projection)	59
Top 10% tax	2025-26 (projection)	58.6
Top 10% tax	2026-27 (projection)	58.4
Top 50% tax	1999-00	88.4
Top 50% tax	2000-01	88.7
Top 50% tax	2001-02	88.9
Top 50% tax	2002-03	88.9
Top 50% tax	2003-04	88.8
Top 50% tax	2004-05	89.2
Top 50% tax	2005-06	89.4
Top 50% tax	2006-07	89.5
Top 50% tax	2007-08	89.6
Top 50% tax	2009-10	88.8
Top 50% tax	2010-11	88.7
Top 50% tax	2011-12	89.3
Top 50% tax	2012-13	89.4
Top 50% tax	2013-14	90.3
Top 50% tax	2014-15	90.3
Top 50% tax	2015-16	90.6
Top 50% tax	2016-17	90.4
Top 50% tax	2017-18	90.5
Top 50% tax	2018-19	90.5
Top 50% tax	2019-20	90.5
Top 50% tax	2020-21	90.5
Top 50% tax	2021-22	90.8
Top 50% tax	2022-23	90.4
Top 50% tax	2023-24	90.1
Top 50% tax	2024-25 (projection)	90.1
Top 50% tax	2025-26 (projection)	90
Top 50% tax	2026-27 (projection)	90
Top 1% income	1999-00	11
Top 1% income	2000-01	11.5
Top 1% income	2001-02	11.1
Top 1% income	2002-03	10.8
Top 1% income	2003-04	11
Top 1% income	2004-05	11.3
Top 1% income	2005-06	12.2
Top 1% income	2006-07	12.9
Top 1% income	2007-08	13.4
Top 1% income	2009-10	13.9
Top 1% income	2010-11	11.5
Top 1% income	2011-12	11.5
Top 1% income	2012-13	11.2
Top 1% income	2013-14	12.6
Top 1% income	2014-15	12.3
Top 1% income	2015-16	13.2
Top 1% income	2016-17	12.3
Top 1% income	2017-18	12.7
Top 1% income	2018-19	12.5
Top 1% income	2019-20	12.3
Top 1% income	2020-21	12.5
Top 1% income	2021-22	13.7
Top 1% income	2022-23	12.9
Top 1% income	2023-24	12.4
Top 1% income	2024-25 (projection)	12.7
Top 1% income	2025-26 (projection)	12.7
Top 1% income	2026-27 (projection)	12.8

Top 1% tax: UK individual income tax liabilities due from this income-ranked group as a share of all liabilities. Table 2.4.

Top 10% tax: UK individual income tax liabilities due from this income-ranked group as a share of all liabilities. Table 2.4.

Top 50% tax: UK individual income tax liabilities due from this income-ranked group as a share of all liabilities. Table 2.4.

Top 1% income: UK income assessable for tax before deductions and allowances belonging to this income-ranked taxpayer group. Table 2.4.

Groups overlap and rank income tax payers by income before deductions and allowances. These shares exclude National Insurance, VAT and other taxes.

The HMRC projections shown here still use the March 2026 OBR forecast. HMRC has not issued a replacement table with the October Budget.

Who pays income tax in the UK? · Your tax receipt

People in households that get back more than they pay

53.3%

In 2023-24, 53.3% of people lived in households receiving more in cash benefits and public services than they paid in direct and indirect taxes.

People in net-recipient households since 1977

These are shares of people living in households, not shares of households or each person's own balance. State Pension is a cash benefit. NHS services and education are benefits in kind. Historical methods change; see ONS Table 16 notes.

Source: ONS Effects of taxes and benefits on household income, FYE 2024 reference tables. Released 25 September 2025. Next release: Provisionally December 2026; exact day not announced.

Chart values and definitions

Measure	Period	Value (% of people in each group)
All people	1977	37
All people	1978	38.3
All people	1979	39.2
All people	1980	37.7
All people	1981	40.3
All people	1982	40.3
All people	1983	41.7
All people	1984	41.6
All people	1985	41.3
All people	1986	42.1
All people	1987	41.9
All people	1988	39.4
All people	1989	39.5
All people	1990	39.3
All people	1991	40.9
All people	1992	44.8
All people	1993	46.9
All people	1994-95	45.4
All people	1995-96	44.9
All people	1996-97	43.1
All people	1997-98	41.6
All people	1998-99	41
All people	1999-00	41
All people	2000-01	40.3
All people	2001-02	42.7
All people	2002-03	44.1
All people	2003-04	44.8
All people	2004-05	45.2
All people	2005-06	46.5
All people	2006-07	45.2
All people	2007-08	45.7
All people	2008-09	48.8
All people	2009-10	52.5
All people	2010-11	52.5
All people	2011-12	50.4
All people	2012-13	51.2
All people	2013-14	49.9
All people	2014-15	49.1
All people	2015-16	49.7
All people	2016-17	49.2
All people	2017-18	49.3
All people	2018-19	50.5
All people	2019-20	47.5
All people	2020-21	55
All people	2021-22	53.6
All people	2022-23	52.6
All people	2023-24	53.3
Non-retired households	1977	29.5
Non-retired households	1978	30.7
Non-retired households	1979	31.3
Non-retired households	1980	29.9
Non-retired households	1981	32.6
Non-retired households	1982	32.5
Non-retired households	1983	33.8
Non-retired households	1984	33.8
Non-retired households	1985	33.1
Non-retired households	1986	34
Non-retired households	1987	33.7
Non-retired households	1988	30.8
Non-retired households	1989	30.9
Non-retired households	1990	30.6
Non-retired households	1991	32
Non-retired households	1992	36.7
Non-retired households	1993	39
Non-retired households	1994-95	37.1
Non-retired households	1995-96	37.1
Non-retired households	1996-97	34.6
Non-retired households	1997-98	33.4
Non-retired households	1998-99	32
Non-retired households	1999-00	32.3
Non-retired households	2000-01	31.7
Non-retired households	2001-02	34.1
Non-retired households	2002-03	35.5
Non-retired households	2003-04	36.3
Non-retired households	2004-05	36.4
Non-retired households	2005-06	38.4
Non-retired households	2006-07	36.9
Non-retired households	2007-08	37.4
Non-retired households	2008-09	41
Non-retired households	2009-10	44.7
Non-retired households	2010-11	45
Non-retired households	2011-12	42.8
Non-retired households	2012-13	43.5
Non-retired households	2013-14	42.3
Non-retired households	2014-15	41.4
Non-retired households	2015-16	42.3
Non-retired households	2016-17	41.5
Non-retired households	2017-18	41
Non-retired households	2018-19	42.6
Non-retired households	2019-20	39.1
Non-retired households	2020-21	47.4
Non-retired households	2021-22	45.8
Non-retired households	2022-23	45.3
Non-retired households	2023-24	45.8
Retired households	1977	92.4
Retired households	1978	93.5
Retired households	1979	93.8
Retired households	1980	93
Retired households	1981	92.1
Retired households	1982	93.2
Retired households	1983	90.8
Retired households	1984	89.9
Retired households	1985	89.1
Retired households	1986	89
Retired households	1987	86.6
Retired households	1988	86.8
Retired households	1989	85.6
Retired households	1990	85.9
Retired households	1991	85.6
Retired households	1992	86.4
Retired households	1993	86.6
Retired households	1994-95	87.5
Retired households	1995-96	85.4
Retired households	1996-97	86.8
Retired households	1997-98	84.4
Retired households	1998-99	85.8
Retired households	1999-00	85.1
Retired households	2000-01	84.6
Retired households	2001-02	86.4
Retired households	2002-03	87
Retired households	2003-04	87
Retired households	2004-05	88.2
Retired households	2005-06	84.9
Retired households	2006-07	86.1
Retired households	2007-08	87.1
Retired households	2008-09	88.5
Retired households	2009-10	90.2
Retired households	2010-11	88.2
Retired households	2011-12	87
Retired households	2012-13	87.6
Retired households	2013-14	87.8
Retired households	2014-15	86
Retired households	2015-16	85.8
Retired households	2016-17	84.5
Retired households	2017-18	87.6
Retired households	2018-19	86.6
Retired households	2019-20	87.7
Retired households	2020-21	89.6
Retired households	2021-22	89
Retired households	2022-23	85.3
Retired households	2023-24	90.1

All people: UK people living in households where cash benefits plus benefits in kind exceed direct plus indirect taxes. Table 16. All people.

Non-retired households: UK people living in households where cash benefits plus benefits in kind exceed direct plus indirect taxes. Table 16. People in households not classed as retired.

Retired households: UK people living in households where cash benefits plus benefits in kind exceed direct plus indirect taxes. Table 16. A retired household gets over half its income from people aged over 50 who call themselves retired or people at State Pension age who are sick or injured and not seeking work.

Benefits minus taxes by income decile, 2023-24

A decile is one tenth of the people in each group, ranked by household disposable income adjusted for household size. The amounts below are mean household amounts experienced by people, in pounds per year. Positive means benefits exceed taxes. They are not individual tax bills or net-recipient shares. ONS Table 2b is under review for future publications.

Show benefits and taxes by decile

Decile	All people	Non-retired	Retired
1 (lowest income)	about £24,080	about £26,458	about £15,679
2	about £21,972	about £20,673	about £19,051
3	about £15,599	about £15,142	about £19,214
4	about £14,104	about £9,356	about £21,209
5	about £7,988	about £531	about £25,285
6	about £4,960	about minus £257	about £24,770
7	about minus £2,401	about minus £7,838	about £23,125
8	about minus £11,232	about minus £15,471	about £20,449
9	about minus £16,818	about minus £20,232	about £15,087
10 (highest income)	about minus £57,777	about minus £65,337	about £4,905
All deciles	about £47	about minus £3,697	about £18,877

Source: ONS Effects of taxes and benefits on household income, FYE 2024 reference tables. Released 25 September 2025. Next release: Provisionally December 2026; exact day not announced.

Formulas and rounding

All individuals, decile 1: net benefits minus taxes, 2023-24:9198 + 23376 - 3640 - 4854.

Non-retired individuals, decile 1: net benefits minus taxes, 2023-24:9084 + 26215 - 3951 - 4890.

Retired individuals, decile 1: net benefits minus taxes, 2023-24:8944 + 15034 - 2951 - 5348.

All individuals, decile 2: net benefits minus taxes, 2023-24:11237 + 19492 - 3753 - 5004.

Non-retired individuals, decile 2: net benefits minus taxes, 2023-24:9606 + 20802 - 4517 - 5218.

Retired individuals, decile 2: net benefits minus taxes, 2023-24:13710 + 11876 - 1781 - 4754.

All individuals, decile 3: net benefits minus taxes, 2023-24:11461 + 16061 - 5483 - 6440.

Non-retired individuals, decile 3: net benefits minus taxes, 2023-24:9828 + 18943 - 7133 - 6496.

Retired individuals, decile 3: net benefits minus taxes, 2023-24:15341 + 10551 - 1960 - 4718.

All individuals, decile 4: net benefits minus taxes, 2023-24:10664 + 16277 - 7133 - 5704.

Non-retired individuals, decile 4: net benefits minus taxes, 2023-24:7262 + 17888 - 9178 - 6616.

Retired individuals, decile 4: net benefits minus taxes, 2023-24:17234 + 13165 - 2075 - 7115.

All individuals, decile 5: net benefits minus taxes, 2023-24:8690 + 15540 - 9595 - 6647.

Non-retired individuals, decile 5: net benefits minus taxes, 2023-24:5649 + 13901 - 12077 - 6942.

Retired individuals, decile 5: net benefits minus taxes, 2023-24:18611 + 13677 - 2181 - 4822.

All individuals, decile 6: net benefits minus taxes, 2023-24:8069 + 15326 - 11369 - 7066.

Non-retired individuals, decile 6: net benefits minus taxes, 2023-24:5890 + 14320 - 13382 - 7085.

Retired individuals, decile 6: net benefits minus taxes, 2023-24:19551 + 13424 - 2917 - 5288.

All individuals, decile 7: net benefits minus taxes, 2023-24:7233 + 12498 - 14846 - 7286.

Non-retired individuals, decile 7: net benefits minus taxes, 2023-24:5035 + 11908 - 17275 - 7506.

Retired individuals, decile 7: net benefits minus taxes, 2023-24:19632 + 13863 - 4032 - 6338.

All individuals, decile 8: net benefits minus taxes, 2023-24:4400 + 12798 - 19179 - 9251.

Non-retired individuals, decile 8: net benefits minus taxes, 2023-24:3015 + 13289 - 21955 - 9820.

Retired individuals, decile 8: net benefits minus taxes, 2023-24:18508 + 13315 - 5193 - 6181.

All individuals, decile 9: net benefits minus taxes, 2023-24:4376 + 11815 - 23742 - 9267.

Non-retired individuals, decile 9: net benefits minus taxes, 2023-24:3290 + 11975 - 25401 - 10096.

Retired individuals, decile 9: net benefits minus taxes, 2023-24:17988 + 10736 - 7009 - 6628.

All individuals, decile 10: net benefits minus taxes, 2023-24:3120 + 9900 - 58688 - 12109.

Non-retired individuals, decile 10: net benefits minus taxes, 2023-24:2309 + 9342 - 65064 - 11924.

Retired individuals, decile 10: net benefits minus taxes, 2023-24:16654 + 10585 - 14368 - 7966.

All individuals, all deciles: net benefits minus taxes, 2023-24:7845 + 15308 - 15743 - 7363.

Non-retired individuals, all deciles: net benefits minus taxes, 2023-24:6097 + 15858 - 17993 - 7659.

Retired individuals, all deciles: net benefits minus taxes, 2023-24:16617 + 12623 - 4447 - 5916.

Long-term sickness inactivity, work and health benefits

2,738,000

In June to August 2026, 2,738,000 people aged 16 to 64 were inactive mainly because of long-term sickness.

Long-term sickness inactivity aged 16 to 64 since 2019

ONS Labour Force Survey, seasonally adjusted rolling three-month estimates. The period is not a single month. Estimates are volatile and subject to ongoing ONS quality improvements.

Source: ONS Labour market statistics, LF69. Released 20 October 2026. Next release: 17 November 2026.

Chart values and definitions

Measure	Period	Value (thousand people)
Long-term sickness	2018-12 to 2019-02	1,979
Long-term sickness	2019-01 to 2019-03	2,012
Long-term sickness	2019-02 to 2019-04	1,983
Long-term sickness	2019-03 to 2019-05	2,026
Long-term sickness	2019-04 to 2019-06	2,030
Long-term sickness	2019-05 to 2019-07	2,062
Long-term sickness	2019-06 to 2019-08	2,067
Long-term sickness	2019-07 to 2019-09	2,062
Long-term sickness	2019-08 to 2019-10	2,089
Long-term sickness	2019-09 to 2019-11	2,086
Long-term sickness	2019-10 to 2019-12	2,080
Long-term sickness	2019-11 to 2020-01	2,117
Long-term sickness	2019-12 to 2020-02	2,118
Long-term sickness	2020-01 to 2020-03	2,229
Long-term sickness	2020-02 to 2020-04	2,243
Long-term sickness	2020-03 to 2020-05	2,234
Long-term sickness	2020-04 to 2020-06	2,233
Long-term sickness	2020-05 to 2020-07	2,262
Long-term sickness	2020-06 to 2020-08	2,288
Long-term sickness	2020-07 to 2020-09	2,327
Long-term sickness	2020-08 to 2020-10	2,320
Long-term sickness	2020-09 to 2020-11	2,291
Long-term sickness	2020-10 to 2020-12	2,328
Long-term sickness	2020-11 to 2021-01	2,297
Long-term sickness	2020-12 to 2021-02	2,263
Long-term sickness	2021-01 to 2021-03	2,307
Long-term sickness	2021-02 to 2021-04	2,288
Long-term sickness	2021-03 to 2021-05	2,313
Long-term sickness	2021-04 to 2021-06	2,297
Long-term sickness	2021-05 to 2021-07	2,326
Long-term sickness	2021-06 to 2021-08	2,376
Long-term sickness	2021-07 to 2021-09	2,396
Long-term sickness	2021-08 to 2021-10	2,400
Long-term sickness	2021-09 to 2021-11	2,446
Long-term sickness	2021-10 to 2021-12	2,436
Long-term sickness	2021-11 to 2022-01	2,446
Long-term sickness	2021-12 to 2022-02	2,460
Long-term sickness	2022-01 to 2022-03	2,440
Long-term sickness	2022-02 to 2022-04	2,466
Long-term sickness	2022-03 to 2022-05	2,443
Long-term sickness	2022-04 to 2022-06	2,506
Long-term sickness	2022-05 to 2022-07	2,581
Long-term sickness	2022-06 to 2022-08	2,639
Long-term sickness	2022-07 to 2022-09	2,636
Long-term sickness	2022-08 to 2022-10	2,586
Long-term sickness	2022-09 to 2022-11	2,561
Long-term sickness	2022-10 to 2022-12	2,586
Long-term sickness	2022-11 to 2023-01	2,670
Long-term sickness	2022-12 to 2023-02	2,706
Long-term sickness	2023-01 to 2023-03	2,699
Long-term sickness	2023-02 to 2023-04	2,689
Long-term sickness	2023-03 to 2023-05	2,665
Long-term sickness	2023-04 to 2023-06	2,706
Long-term sickness	2023-05 to 2023-07	2,735
Long-term sickness	2023-06 to 2023-08	2,737
Long-term sickness	2023-07 to 2023-09	2,742
Long-term sickness	2023-08 to 2023-10	2,824
Long-term sickness	2023-09 to 2023-11	2,850
Long-term sickness	2023-10 to 2023-12	2,849
Long-term sickness	2023-11 to 2024-01	2,821
Long-term sickness	2023-12 to 2024-02	2,842
Long-term sickness	2024-01 to 2024-03	2,824
Long-term sickness	2024-02 to 2024-04	2,830
Long-term sickness	2024-03 to 2024-05	2,829
Long-term sickness	2024-04 to 2024-06	2,824
Long-term sickness	2024-05 to 2024-07	2,835
Long-term sickness	2024-06 to 2024-08	2,796
Long-term sickness	2024-07 to 2024-09	2,793
Long-term sickness	2024-08 to 2024-10	2,798
Long-term sickness	2024-09 to 2024-11	2,805
Long-term sickness	2024-10 to 2024-12	2,776
Long-term sickness	2024-11 to 2025-01	2,812
Long-term sickness	2024-12 to 2025-02	2,784
Long-term sickness	2025-01 to 2025-03	2,775
Long-term sickness	2025-02 to 2025-04	2,782
Long-term sickness	2025-03 to 2025-05	2,776
Long-term sickness	2025-04 to 2025-06	2,780
Long-term sickness	2025-05 to 2025-07	2,792
Long-term sickness	2025-06 to 2025-08	2,824
Long-term sickness	2025-07 to 2025-09	2,826
Long-term sickness	2025-08 to 2025-10	2,818
Long-term sickness	2025-09 to 2025-11	2,800
Long-term sickness	2025-10 to 2025-12	2,786
Long-term sickness	2025-11 to 2026-01	2,785
Long-term sickness	2025-12 to 2026-02	2,792
Long-term sickness	2026-01 to 2026-03	2,772
Long-term sickness	2026-02 to 2026-04	2,772
Long-term sickness	2026-03 to 2026-05	2,747
Long-term sickness	2026-04 to 2026-06	2,774
Long-term sickness	2026-05 to 2026-07	2,780
Long-term sickness	2026-06 to 2026-08	2,738

Long-term sickness: UK economically inactive people aged 16 to 64 reporting long-term sickness as their main reason for inactivity. Not everyone with a long-term health condition.

30,280,860 payrolled employees in September 2026: early estimate, subject to revision. UK, seasonally adjusted, excludes self-employment.

Source: ONS and HMRC PAYE Real Time Information, October 2026, Table 1. Released 20 October 2026. Next release: 17 November 2026.

3,560,770 people on Universal Credit health in June 2026, Great Britain. DWP says much of the rise reflects people moving from Employment and Support Allowance (ESA). UC health includes people awaiting assessment and those assessed as having limited capability for work.

Source: DWP Universal Credit Health statistics to June 2026, data tables. Released 15 September 2026. Next release: 15 December 2026.

4,100,000 Personal Independence Payment (PIP) claims with entitlement on 31 July 2026, rounded to 0.1 million. England and Wales, including abroad and unknown cases under DWP's coverage convention. Scottish Adult Disability Payment is outside this coverage. PIP can be claimed while working.

Source: DWP Personal Independence Payment statistics to July 2026. Released 15 September 2026. Next release: 15 December 2026.

These measures overlap and cover different populations. Their counts cannot be added.

Public sector net worth and net debt

minus £745.3bn

At the end of September 2026, recorded public sector liabilities exceeded financial and non-financial assets by £745.3bn.

Source: ONS Public sector finances, September 2026. Released 21 October 2026. Next release: 20 November 2026.

Public sector net worth and net debt since 2006

Net worth percentages are about values, calculated using GDP implied by rounded ONS net debt figures. Net debt is a published percentage. Both exclude public sector banks. June 2026 net worth has no matching debt observation in this dataset and is omitted. Recent figures are provisional.

Source: ONS Public sector finances, HF6X. Released 21 October 2026. Next release: 20 November 2026.

Source: ONS Public sector net worth, Appendix O, Summary. Released 22 September 2026. Next release: 22 December 2026.

Source: ONS Public sector finances, HF6W. Released 21 October 2026. Next release: 20 November 2026.

Source: ONS Public sector finances, September 2026. Released 21 October 2026. Next release: 20 November 2026.

Chart values and definitions

Measure	Period	Value (% of GDP)
Net debt	end-March 2006	34.3
Net debt	end-March 2007	35.1
Net debt	end-March 2008	35.6
Net debt	end-March 2009	50.3
Net debt	end-March 2010	64.4
Net debt	end-March 2011	70.6
Net debt	end-March 2012	73.8
Net debt	end-March 2013	77
Net debt	end-March 2014	78.6
Net debt	end-March 2015	81.1
Net debt	end-March 2016	80.6
Net debt	end-March 2017	82.5
Net debt	end-March 2018	81.5
Net debt	end-March 2019	79.4
Net debt	end-March 2020	84.1
Net debt	end-March 2021	95.2
Net debt	end-March 2022	93.9
Net debt	end-March 2023	92.7
Net debt	end-March 2024	93.7
Net debt	end-March 2025	92.9
Net debt	end-March 2026	93.2
Net debt	end-September 2026	94
Net worth	end-March 2006	about 17.3
Net worth	end-March 2007	about 17.9
Net worth	end-March 2008	about 15.6
Net worth	end-March 2009	about 8.3
Net worth	end-March 2010	about 2.8
Net worth	end-March 2011	about 1.7
Net worth	end-March 2012	about -3.8
Net worth	end-March 2013	about -8.9
Net worth	end-March 2014	about -8.4
Net worth	end-March 2015	about -6.7
Net worth	end-March 2016	about -5.5
Net worth	end-March 2017	about -6.8
Net worth	end-March 2018	about -9.5
Net worth	end-March 2019	about -4.7
Net worth	end-March 2020	about -7.3
Net worth	end-March 2021	about -14.4
Net worth	end-March 2022	about -14
Net worth	end-March 2023	about -18.6
Net worth	end-March 2024	about -19.8
Net worth	end-March 2025	about -19.5
Net worth	end-March 2026	about -20.9
Net worth	end-September 2026	about -23.3

Net debt: Public sector net debt excluding public sector banks as a share of ONS's GDP denominator for debt measures.

Net worth: Public sector financial and non-financial assets less liabilities, excluding public sector banks. Negative means liabilities exceed recorded assets.

Formulas and rounding

Approximate public sector net worth as share of GDP, end-March 2006:251.5 / 499.4 × 34.3; rounded to 0.1 percentage points.

Approximate public sector net worth as share of GDP, end-March 2007:273.3 / 535.2 × 35.1; rounded to 0.1 percentage points.

Approximate public sector net worth as share of GDP, end-March 2008:248.3 / 567.2 × 35.6; rounded to 0.1 percentage points.

Approximate public sector net worth as share of GDP, end-March 2009:130.5 / 787.2 × 50.3; rounded to 0.1 percentage points.

Approximate public sector net worth as share of GDP, end-March 2010:44.1 / 1027.9 × 64.4; rounded to 0.1 percentage points.

Approximate public sector net worth as share of GDP, end-March 2011:28 / 1168.7 × 70.6; rounded to 0.1 percentage points.

Approximate public sector net worth as share of GDP, end-March 2012:-64.9 / 1261.1 × 73.8; rounded to 0.1 percentage points.

Approximate public sector net worth as share of GDP, end-March 2013:-157.7 / 1366.2 × 77; rounded to 0.1 percentage points.

Approximate public sector net worth as share of GDP, end-March 2014:-156.3 / 1461.1 × 78.6; rounded to 0.1 percentage points.

Approximate public sector net worth as share of GDP, end-March 2015:-127.3 / 1552.3 × 81.1; rounded to 0.1 percentage points.

Approximate public sector net worth as share of GDP, end-March 2016:-108.1 / 1595 × 80.6; rounded to 0.1 percentage points.

Approximate public sector net worth as share of GDP, end-March 2017:-141.1 / 1714.6 × 82.5; rounded to 0.1 percentage points.

Approximate public sector net worth as share of GDP, end-March 2018:-206 / 1760.1 × 81.5; rounded to 0.1 percentage points.

Approximate public sector net worth as share of GDP, end-March 2019:-104.6 / 1778 × 79.4; rounded to 0.1 percentage points.

Approximate public sector net worth as share of GDP, end-March 2020:-157.2 / 1814.8 × 84.1; rounded to 0.1 percentage points.

Approximate public sector net worth as share of GDP, end-March 2021:-326.1 / 2157.7 × 95.2; rounded to 0.1 percentage points.

Approximate public sector net worth as share of GDP, end-March 2022:-356 / 2379.7 × 93.9; rounded to 0.1 percentage points.

Approximate public sector net worth as share of GDP, end-March 2023:-511.3 / 2542.7 × 92.7; rounded to 0.1 percentage points.

Approximate public sector net worth as share of GDP, end-March 2024:-565.9 / 2684.1 × 93.7; rounded to 0.1 percentage points.

Approximate public sector net worth as share of GDP, end-March 2025:-588.8 / 2806.7 × 92.9; rounded to 0.1 percentage points.

Approximate public sector net worth as share of GDP, end-March 2026:-654.6 / 2916.8 × 93.2; rounded to 0.1 percentage points.

Approximate public sector net worth as share of GDP, end-September 2026:-745.3 / 3005 × 94; rounded to 0.1 percentage points.

Net worth means assets less liabilities. Net debt deducts liquid financial assets from debt liabilities. Unfunded future State Pension payments are outside this balance sheet.

Central government net interest payable by financial year

About values, summed from monthly ONS observations. This is central government net interest, not total public sector debt interest.

Show annual net interest

Financial year	Net interest (£bn)
2005-06	about 27.8
2006-07	about 30.8
2007-08	about 33.7
2008-09	about 33.5
2009-10	about 33.7
2010-11	about 48.7
2011-12	about 52.2
2012-13	about 50.7
2013-14	about 50.4
2014-15	about 46.5
2015-16	about 46.3
2016-17	about 49.9
2017-18	about 56.1
2018-19	about 50.2
2019-20	about 50.3
2020-21	about 41.0
2021-22	about 71.0
2022-23	about 107.8
2023-24	about 83.0
2024-25	about 85.3
2025-26	about 96.8

Source: ONS Public sector finances, NMFX. Released 21 October 2026. Next release: 20 November 2026.

Formulas and rounding

Central government net interest payable, financial year, 2005-06:ROUND(SUM(NMFX monthly £ million, April 2005 to March 2006) / 1000, 1).

Central government net interest payable, financial year, 2006-07:ROUND(SUM(NMFX monthly £ million, April 2006 to March 2007) / 1000, 1).

Central government net interest payable, financial year, 2007-08:ROUND(SUM(NMFX monthly £ million, April 2007 to March 2008) / 1000, 1).

Central government net interest payable, financial year, 2008-09:ROUND(SUM(NMFX monthly £ million, April 2008 to March 2009) / 1000, 1).

Central government net interest payable, financial year, 2009-10:ROUND(SUM(NMFX monthly £ million, April 2009 to March 2010) / 1000, 1).

Central government net interest payable, financial year, 2010-11:ROUND(SUM(NMFX monthly £ million, April 2010 to March 2011) / 1000, 1).

Central government net interest payable, financial year, 2011-12:ROUND(SUM(NMFX monthly £ million, April 2011 to March 2012) / 1000, 1).

Central government net interest payable, financial year, 2012-13:ROUND(SUM(NMFX monthly £ million, April 2012 to March 2013) / 1000, 1).

Central government net interest payable, financial year, 2013-14:ROUND(SUM(NMFX monthly £ million, April 2013 to March 2014) / 1000, 1).

Central government net interest payable, financial year, 2014-15:ROUND(SUM(NMFX monthly £ million, April 2014 to March 2015) / 1000, 1).

Central government net interest payable, financial year, 2015-16:ROUND(SUM(NMFX monthly £ million, April 2015 to March 2016) / 1000, 1).

Central government net interest payable, financial year, 2016-17:ROUND(SUM(NMFX monthly £ million, April 2016 to March 2017) / 1000, 1).

Central government net interest payable, financial year, 2017-18:ROUND(SUM(NMFX monthly £ million, April 2017 to March 2018) / 1000, 1).

Central government net interest payable, financial year, 2018-19:ROUND(SUM(NMFX monthly £ million, April 2018 to March 2019) / 1000, 1).

Central government net interest payable, financial year, 2019-20:ROUND(SUM(NMFX monthly £ million, April 2019 to March 2020) / 1000, 1).

Central government net interest payable, financial year, 2020-21:ROUND(SUM(NMFX monthly £ million, April 2020 to March 2021) / 1000, 1).

Central government net interest payable, financial year, 2021-22:ROUND(SUM(NMFX monthly £ million, April 2021 to March 2022) / 1000, 1).

Central government net interest payable, financial year, 2022-23:ROUND(SUM(NMFX monthly £ million, April 2022 to March 2023) / 1000, 1).

Central government net interest payable, financial year, 2023-24:ROUND(SUM(NMFX monthly £ million, April 2023 to March 2024) / 1000, 1).

Central government net interest payable, financial year, 2024-25:ROUND(SUM(NMFX monthly £ million, April 2024 to March 2025) / 1000, 1).

Central government net interest payable, financial year, 2025-26:ROUND(SUM(NMFX monthly £ million, April 2025 to March 2026) / 1000, 1).

Age groups and projected public spending

about 3.6

About 3.6 working-age people per pension-age person now, using the ONS mid-2024 base estimate. These are age groups, not workers or State Pension recipients.

Source: ONS National population projections 2024-based, UK principal summary, PERSONS Table 3. Released 28 April 2026. Next release: Not announced.

Health, adult social care and State Pension spending, OBR baseline projection (% of GDP)

2025-26 is an estimate. Later years are a baseline projection from the March 2026 starting point, not a forecast. Totals use unrounded spreadsheet inputs and may differ from the sum of the displayed components.

Source: OBR Fiscal risks and sustainability July 2026, Table 3.1. Released 7 July 2026. Next release: Not announced.

Projection values (% of GDP)

Period	Health	Adult social care	State Pension
2025-26 (estimate)	8.3%	1.2%	4.8%
2030-31 (projection)	8.4%	1.2%	5.0%
2035-36 (projection)	9.0%	1.2%	5.4%
2045-46 (projection)	10.1%	1.3%	5.8%
2055-56 (projection)	11.2%	1.5%	6.7%
2065-66 (projection)	12.2%	1.6%	7.9%
2075-76 (projection)	13.5%	1.8%	8.6%

ONS old-age dependency ratio

Pension-age people per 1,000 working-age people. Working age starts at 16 and pension age follows current legislation.

Show old-age dependency ratios

Period	Pension-age people per 1,000	Basis
mid-2024	279.7	ONS base estimate
mid-2050	332.2	ONS principal projection
mid-2070	412.0	ONS principal projection

Source: ONS National population projections 2024-based, UK principal summary, PERSONS Table 3. Released 28 April 2026. Next release: Not announced.

OBR pension-age assumptions differ from ONS assumptions. The ONS ratios and OBR spending projection should not be spliced into a single scenario.

This July long-term baseline does not automatically update at the Budget. The next long-term report date is not announced.

Mean income tax paid by higher earners

about £116,000

HMRC's published mean income tax liability per additional-rate taxpayer was about £116,000 in 2023-24.

Mean annual income tax per additional-rate and top 1% taxpayer

About values. Solid lines: 2023-24 outturn. Dashed lines: 2024-25 to 2026-27 projection. Additional rate uses HMRC's published mean before rounding totals; the top 1% mean is calculated from rounded totals and shares, then rounded to £100. Scottish advanced rate is included in HMRC's additional-rate group from 2024-25.

Source: HMRC Income Tax liabilities statistics, Tables 2.1 to 2.6. Released 15 July 2026. Next release: May/June 2027; exact day not announced.

Chart values and definitions

Measure	Period	Value (£ per taxpayer)
Additional rate	2023-24	about 116,000
Additional rate	2024-25 (projection)	about 108,000
Additional rate	2025-26 (projection)	about 107,000
Additional rate	2026-27 (projection)	about 107,000
Top 1%	2023-24	about 203,100
Top 1%	2024-25 (projection)	about 214,200
Top 1%	2025-26 (projection)	about 221,500
Top 1%	2026-27 (projection)	about 226,200

Additional rate: HMRC's published mean annual income tax liability for UK additional marginal-rate taxpayers. Table 2.6.

Top 1%: Approximate annual mean for the top 1% of UK income tax payers ranked by total income before tax.

The top 1% mean was about £203,100 in 2023-24. HMRC's published additional-rate mean for 2026-27 is about £107,000 (projection). These are income-ranked taxpayer groups, not salary-only groups.

Non-domiciled taxpayer groups, 2024-25

Show non-domiciled taxpayer groups

Group	Taxpayers	Income tax (£m)	Income tax, CGT and NICs (£m)
Non-domiciled only	73,400	6,946	9,682
Non-domiciled plus deemed domiciled	81,900	9,636	13,592

CGT means Capital Gains Tax. NICs means National Insurance contributions. The combined group includes the non-domiciled-only group; do not add the rows. Neither row is remittance-basis-only.

Source: HMRC Non-domiciled taxpayers in the UK, NONDOMTABLES. Released 30 July 2026. Next release: Final update in 2027; exact day not announced.

Means do not estimate tax lost on departure. The leavers tracker records sourced reports and does not estimate any person's tax.

HMRC's income tax tables still use the March forecast and next update in May/June 2027.

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Sources and method

Each panel links to its official sources and release dates. Derived figures show their formulas and use matching periods. Missing observations stay as gaps. Forecasts and estimates are labelled separately from outturns. The panels measure different populations and should not be added together.

Budget 2026 tracker · Site method