How much does the government borrow?
In 2025-26 the government spent £1,360bn and collected £1,209bn, so it borrowed £151bn. That is about 11p of every £1 it spent.
What’s this?
When spending is higher than money collected, the government borrows the difference. This is that gap in one year, as a share of the economy.
What it cannot tell you: It is one year's gap. It does not say whether the borrowing was necessary or wise.
What’s this?
Public sector net debt: everything the public sector owes, minus the money and easily sold assets it holds, as a share of the economy. It is the total of past borrowing.
What it cannot tell you: A high or low figure is not by itself good or bad. What it means depends on interest rates, growth and what the borrowing paid for.
What’s this?
Everything the UK public sector spends in a year, as a share of everything the UK economy produces (GDP). Financial years run April to March.
What it cannot tell you: It does not say whether spending is too high or too low, or how well the money is used. Each year is shown as a share of that year's economy.
What’s this?
Taxes and other income collected by the public sector, as a share of the economy.
What it cannot tell you: It does not show who pays the tax, or how tax rates have changed.
Borrowing is one year’s gap. National debt is all the borrowing added up. See where the money comes from and goes.