Employee compensation as share of government spending in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland: Employee compensation as share of government spending was 15.8% in 2023. ▬ Flat
Employee compensation as share of government spending in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, 1972–2023
Source: International Monetary Fund (IMF) Government Finance Statistics, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in % of expense.
Analysis
The most recent figure for employee compensation as share of government spending in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is 15.8%, measured in 2023.
The figure is up 4.2% on the previous year and up 24.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, employee compensation as share of government spending in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland peaked at 16.6% in 1972 and was at its lowest, 8.8%, in 1994.
That places United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 115th out of 155 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.
Employee compensation as share of government spending in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, year by year
| Year | % of expense | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1972 | 16.6% | — |
| 1973 | 16.0% | -3.4% |
| 1974 | 16.5% | +2.7% |
| 1975 | 16.1% | -2.2% |
| 1976 | 15.6% | -3.1% |
| 1977 | 14.4% | -7.8% |
| 1978 | 13.8% | -4.2% |
| 1979 | 13.5% | -1.7% |
| 1980 | 14.1% | +4.1% |
| 1981 | 13.5% | -4.3% |
| 1982 | 12.9% | -4.3% |
| 1983 | 13.1% | +1.6% |
| 1984 | 12.6% | -3.8% |
| 1985 | 12.5% | -0.7% |
| 1986 | 12.6% | +0.6% |
| 1987 | 15.3% | +21.3% |
| 1988 | 15.7% | +2.9% |
| 1989 | 16.4% | +3.9% |
| 1990 | 15.1% | -7.6% |
| 1991 | 14.0% | -7.1% |
| 1992 | 12.8% | -8.5% |
| 1993 | 11.2% | -12.5% |
| 1994 | 8.8% | -21.7% |
| 1995 | 15.5% | +76.5% |
| 1996 | 15.6% | +0.4% |
| 1997 | 15.9% | +1.7% |
| 1998 | 15.6% | -1.4% |
| 1999 | 15.3% | -2.4% |
| 2000 | 15.1% | -1.3% |
| 2001 | 15.8% | +4.8% |
| 2002 | 15.5% | -1.9% |
| 2003 | 15.4% | -0.8% |
| 2004 | 15.7% | +1.9% |
| 2005 | 15.4% | -1.4% |
| 2006 | 15.7% | +1.5% |
| 2007 | 15.5% | -1.0% |
| 2008 | 14.5% | -6.3% |
| 2009 | 14.5% | -0.1% |
| 2010 | 14.1% | -3.1% |
| 2011 | 14.5% | +2.7% |
| 2012 | 14.6% | +0.7% |
| 2013 | 12.7% | -12.8% |
| 2014 | 13.1% | +3.3% |
| 2015 | 13.1% | -0.1% |
| 2016 | 13.4% | +2.5% |
| 2017 | 15.2% | +12.9% |
| 2018 | 15.7% | +3.6% |
| 2019 | 16.3% | +3.4% |
| 2020 | 14.3% | -11.8% |
| 2021 | 15.1% | +5.6% |
| 2022 | 15.2% | +0.2% |
| 2023 | 15.8% | +4.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 15.3% | 13.5% | 16.6% | 8 |
| 1980s | 13.9% | 12.5% | 16.4% | 10 |
| 1990s | 14.0% | 8.8% | 15.9% | 10 |
| 2000s | 15.3% | 14.5% | 15.8% | 10 |
| 2010s | 14.3% | 12.7% | 16.3% | 10 |
| 2020s | 15.1% | 14.3% | 15.8% | 4 |
Countries ranked near United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
More work & labour data for United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
- Persons outside the labour force (ILO modelled estimates) 22,956 (2027)
- Labour force participation rate (ILO modelled estimates) 60.91 (2027)
- Labour force (ILO modelled estimates) 35,770 (2027)
- Employment-to-population ratio (ILO modelled estimates) 57.91 (2027)
- Persons outside the labour force (ILO modelled estimates) (15+) 1.47 % change on previous year (2027)
- Labour force (ILO modelled estimates) (15+), annual growth rate 0.4352 % change on previous year (2027)
- Legislation on sexual harassment in employment 1 (1=yes; 0=no) (2023)
- Criminal sanctions or compensation for workplace sexual harassment 1 (1=yes; 0=no) (2023)
- Women can take the same jobs as men 1 (1=yes; 0=no) (2023)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) 61.4% (2025)
All data for United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland →
Frequently asked questions
- What is employee compensation as share of government spending in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
- Employee compensation as share of government spending in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland was 15.8% in 2023, according to International Monetary Fund (IMF) Government Finance Statistics, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest employee compensation as share of government spending recorded in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
- The highest recorded value was 16.6% in 1972.
- What is the lowest employee compensation as share of government spending recorded in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
- The lowest recorded value was 8.8% in 1994.
- How does United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland rank for employee compensation as share of government spending?
- United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ranks 115th out of 155 countries with data for 2023.
- Is employee compensation as share of government spending rising or falling in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
- Over the last ten years it is up 24.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland data come from?
- The figures come from International Monetary Fund (IMF) Government Finance Statistics, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Employee compensation as share of government spending. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Employee compensation includes wages, in-kind payments, and government contributions to social insurance schemes such as social security and pensions.