Civometry

Public sector receipts since 1900, per cent of GDP: record highs and lows

The extremes of public sector receipts since 1900, per cent of gdp as published by OBR, across the 131 periods held here (Year ending March 1901 to Year ending March 2031). Each record is a published figure, not a computed one, and the scope is this series — not “ever”.

The latest figure, 42.7% in Year ending March 2031, is the highest since Year ending March 1951, when it was 42.8% — every period between was lower. The rule: a period counts as beaten only when its figure is strictly below the latest, and the claim is only made when it reaches back at least five years.

Highest published

43.3%Year ending March 1950

Lowest published

10.4%Year ending March 1901

The full series

Public sector receipts since 1900, per cent of GDP: Year ending March 1901 to Year ending March 2031ConservativeConservativeConservativeConservativeLabourLabourLabourCoalitionConservativeConservativeConservativeLabour0%20%40%1910192019301940195019601970198019902000201020202030Year ending March 1901: 10.4% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 1902: 11.3% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 1903: 12.1% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 1904: 12.4% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 1905: 12.3% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 1906: 12.1% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 1907: 11.8% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 1908: 11.8% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 1909: 12.1% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 1910: 12.3% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 1911: 12.7% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 1912: 12.7% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 1913: 13.1% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 1914: 13.1% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 1915: 13.4% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 1916: 14.9% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 1917: 18.2% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 1918: 20% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 1919: 20.9% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 1920: 22.2% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 1921: 22.7% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 1922: 26.6% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 1923: 27.1% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 1924: 25.9% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 1925: 24.3% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 1926: 24.3% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 1927: 25.1% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 1928: 25% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 1929: 25.2% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 1930: 25% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 1931: 25.8% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 1932: 27.5% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 1933: 28.4% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 1934: 27.3% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 1935: 26.3% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 1936: 25.7% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 1937: 25.3% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 1938: 25.3% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 1939: 25.7% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 1940: 26.3% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 1941: 28.7% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 1942: 32.6% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 1943: 35.3% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 1944: 38% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 1945: 39.4% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 1946: 39.9% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 1947: 37.1% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 1948: 37% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 1949: 42.9% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 1950: 43.3% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 1951: 42.8% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 1952: 41.1% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 1953: 39.9% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 1954: 38% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 1955: 37.5% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 1956: 36% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 1957: 35.6% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 1958: 35.2% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 1959: 35.6% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 1960: 33.7% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 1961: 33.5% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 1962: 35.5% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 1963: 35.5% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 1964: 34.6% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 1965: 35.2% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 1966: 36.9% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 1967: 37.6% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 1968: 39.1% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 1969: 40.8% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 1970: 41.8% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 1971: 40% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 1972: 38.4% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 1973: 35.9% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 1974: 36.2% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 1975: 39% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 1976: 40.1% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 1977: 40.2% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 1978: 38.4% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 1979: 36.9% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 1980: 37.3% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 1981: 38.5% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 1982: 40.8% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 1983: 40.5% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 1984: 39.4% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 1985: 39.1% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 1986: 38.2% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 1987: 37.3% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 1988: 36.1% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 1989: 35.4% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 1990: 34.6% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 1991: 33.8% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 1992: 33.4% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 1993: 31.9% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 1994: 31.2% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 1995: 32.1% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 1996: 33.1% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 1997: 32.3% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 1998: 34.4% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 1999: 35% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 2000: 35.7% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 2001: 36.4% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 2002: 35.6% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 2003: 34.5% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 2004: 35.3% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 2005: 35.9% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 2006: 36.5% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 2007: 36.9% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 2008: 37.2% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 2009: 35.7% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 2010: 35.8% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 2011: 36.8% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 2012: 37.1% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 2013: 36.7% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 2014: 36.5% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 2015: 36.5% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 2016: 36.7% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 2017: 37.2% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 2018: 36.9% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 2019: 37.1% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 2020: 36.5% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 2021: 37.5% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 2022: 38.4% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 2023: 39.2% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 2024: 39.3% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 2025: 38.8% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 2026: 40.1% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 2027: 41.2% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 2028: 42% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 2029: 42.1% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 2030: 42.5% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 2031: 42.7% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026
Published valueProvisional or revisedLatestShaded bands: governments (see labels)Hover, tap or use arrow keys to read a value; tap again to unpin
The chart as a table
PeriodPublic sector receipts since 1900, per cent of GDP
Year ending March 190110.4%
Year ending March 190211.3%
Year ending March 190312.1%
Year ending March 190412.4%
Year ending March 190512.3%
Year ending March 190612.1%
Year ending March 190711.8%
Year ending March 190811.8%
Year ending March 190912.1%
Year ending March 191012.3%
Year ending March 191112.7%
Year ending March 191212.7%
Year ending March 191313.1%
Year ending March 191413.1%
Year ending March 191513.4%
Year ending March 191614.9%
Year ending March 191718.2%
Year ending March 191820%
Year ending March 191920.9%
Year ending March 192022.2%
Year ending March 192122.7%
Year ending March 192226.6%
Year ending March 192327.1%
Year ending March 192425.9%
Year ending March 192524.3%
Year ending March 192624.3%
Year ending March 192725.1%
Year ending March 192825%
Year ending March 192925.2%
Year ending March 193025%
Year ending March 193125.8%
Year ending March 193227.5%
Year ending March 193328.4%
Year ending March 193427.3%
Year ending March 193526.3%
Year ending March 193625.7%
Year ending March 193725.3%
Year ending March 193825.3%
Year ending March 193925.7%
Year ending March 194026.3%
Year ending March 194128.7%
Year ending March 194232.6%
Year ending March 194335.3%
Year ending March 194438%
Year ending March 194539.4%
Year ending March 194639.9%
Year ending March 194737.1%
Year ending March 194837%
Year ending March 194942.9%
Year ending March 195043.3%
Year ending March 195142.8%
Year ending March 195241.1%
Year ending March 195339.9%
Year ending March 195438%
Year ending March 195537.5%
Year ending March 195636%
Year ending March 195735.6%
Year ending March 195835.2%
Year ending March 195935.6%
Year ending March 196033.7%
Year ending March 196133.5%
Year ending March 196235.5%
Year ending March 196335.5%
Year ending March 196434.6%
Year ending March 196535.2%
Year ending March 196636.9%
Year ending March 196737.6%
Year ending March 196839.1%
Year ending March 196940.8%
Year ending March 197041.8%
Year ending March 197140%
Year ending March 197238.4%
Year ending March 197335.9%
Year ending March 197436.2%
Year ending March 197539%
Year ending March 197640.1%
Year ending March 197740.2%
Year ending March 197838.4%
Year ending March 197936.9%
Year ending March 198037.3%
Year ending March 198138.5%
Year ending March 198240.8%
Year ending March 198340.5%
Year ending March 198439.4%
Year ending March 198539.1%
Year ending March 198638.2%
Year ending March 198737.3%
Year ending March 198836.1%
Year ending March 198935.4%
Year ending March 199034.6%
Year ending March 199133.8%
Year ending March 199233.4%
Year ending March 199331.9%
Year ending March 199431.2%
Year ending March 199532.1%
Year ending March 199633.1%
Year ending March 199732.3%
Year ending March 199834.4%
Year ending March 199935%
Year ending March 200035.7%
Year ending March 200136.4%
Year ending March 200235.6%
Year ending March 200334.5%
Year ending March 200435.3%
Year ending March 200535.9%
Year ending March 200636.5%
Year ending March 200736.9%
Year ending March 200837.2%
Year ending March 200935.7%
Year ending March 201035.8%
Year ending March 201136.8%
Year ending March 201237.1%
Year ending March 201336.7%
Year ending March 201436.5%
Year ending March 201536.5%
Year ending March 201636.7%
Year ending March 201737.2%
Year ending March 201836.9%
Year ending March 201937.1%
Year ending March 202036.5%
Year ending March 202137.5%
Year ending March 202238.4%
Year ending March 202339.2%
Year ending March 202439.3%
Year ending March 202538.8%
Year ending March 202640.1%
Year ending March 202741.2%
Year ending March 202842%
Year ending March 202942.1%
Year ending March 203042.5%
Year ending March 203142.7%

What a record here is, and is not

A record is the extreme of the periods this site holds for the current series, at each period’s newest published release. Earlier series measured under different methods are not compared against it. Money is in cash terms: a record set years ago stands against the money of its own year.