How large is government debt compared with the economy?

Public debt as a share of the economy

93.8%

August 2026

Down from 95.1% in August 2025

Where this sits in the last 10 years
10-year low 79.3%10-year high 98.1%
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Recent figures may be revised.

Government debt

Selected pointAugust 2026 · 93.8%, down 1.3 percentage points on a year earlier

Usual range (middle 80% of the last 10 years)

Each year is the level at the end of March. A year still in progress shows the latest month. 2026 to 2027 so far covers April to August.

Each month is that month's figure, not a total so far. 2026 to 2027 so far covers April to August.

Source: Office for National Statistics

What this means for people

Debt is what the public sector still owes. Interest on it is paid from taxes or more borrowing.

The percentage is the stock of debt at the end of the month, set against a year of GDP. Public sector banks are left out.

Latest figures

See the figures as a table
The latest 12 readings, newest first.
PeriodValue
August 202693.8%
July 202694.0%
June 202694.6%
May 202694.3%
April 202693.6%
March 202693.3%
February 202692.6%
January 202692.3%
December 202594.2%
November 202594.6%
October 202594.0%
September 202594.9%
Each year is the level at the end of March. A year still in progress shows the latest month.
YearPeriod coveredValue
2026 to 2027 so farApril to August93.8%
2025 to 2026April to March93.3%
2024 to 2025April to March93.4%
2023 to 2024April to March94.1%
2022 to 2023April to March93.1%
2021 to 2022April to March94.3%
2020 to 2021April to March95.5%
2019 to 2020April to March84.5%
2018 to 2019April to March79.7%
2017 to 2018April to March81.7%
2016 to 2017April to March82.7%
2015 to 2016January to March80.6%
Each month
Each month is that month's figure, not a total so far.
Period2023 to 20242024 to 20252025 to 20262026 to 2027 so far
April93.1%93.4%93.8%93.6%
May94.0%94.5%94.9%94.3%
June94.8%94.5%94.5%94.6%
July93.7%94.2%94.9%94.0%
August93.8%94.5%95.1%93.8%
September93.5%94.0%94.9%
October94.6%94.4%94.0%
November95.2%95.2%94.6%
December95.5%94.8%94.2%
January93.7%93.1%92.3%
February93.9%93.4%92.6%
March94.1%93.4%93.3%

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How to read this

The stock of debt, not this month's borrowing

This is how much is still owed, compared with a year of GDP. One month of borrowing adds to the stock. Borrowing less does not, by itself, bring it down.

Banks owned by the public are left out

Public sector banks are excluded. Including them would change the percentage.

Not seasonally adjusted

Not seasonally adjusted: compare with the same month last year.

Compared with the size of the economy

A rise can come from more debt or from a smaller economy. It is not a cash amount.

Source

Publisher
Office for National Statistics
Official title
Public sector net debt excluding public sector banks, as a percentage of gross domestic product, not seasonally adjusted
Series
HF6X
Geography
United Kingdom
Status
Accredited official statistics
Cite this

Office for National Statistics (2026) Public sector net debt excluding public sector banks, as a percentage of gross domestic product, not seasonally adjusted, August 2026 (series HF6X).