Method and sources

Every number on this site comes from an official UK statistical release. Nothing is modelled or estimated without saying so, and each chart tooltip names the publishing body behind the figure.

How the figures are built

• Spending by function is taken from ONS public sector finances and HM Treasury PESA, expressed as a monthly average of the financial year.
• Tax receipts come from HMRC's monthly tax and NICs receipts bulletin.
• Per household, per adult and per child figures divide spending by ONS mid-year population estimates and household counts (30.0 million households, average size 2.27).
• Currency period: Financial year 2024/25. May 2024 release basis, figures reviewed against latest ONS publication. Figures are refreshed as new releases are published.

Primary sources

Machine-readable feeds are taken from the UK Government API Catalogue (api.gov.uk). Live figures come from the catalogued ONS Statistics API.

• ONS — Public sector finances, UKONS Statistics API (api.gov.uk)
• HM Treasury — Public Expenditure Statistical Analyses (PESA)
• HMRC — Tax receipts and National Insurance contributionsHMRC APIs (api.gov.uk)
• ONS — Population estimates for the UKONS Statistics API (api.gov.uk)
• ONS — Families and households in the UKONS Statistics API (api.gov.uk)
• DWP — Benefit expenditure and caseload tablesDWP APIs (api.gov.uk)
• DHSC — Annual report and accountsNHS Digital APIs (api.gov.uk)
• DfE — Education spending statisticsExplore education statistics API (api.gov.uk)
• UK Debt Management Office — Gilt market data
• MOD — Departmental resources
• MoJ / Home Office — Justice and policing statisticsMoJ APIs (api.gov.uk)
• DfT — Transport statistics Great BritainDfT APIs (api.gov.uk)
• MHCLG — Housing supply statisticsMHCLG APIs (api.gov.uk)
• MHCLG — Local authority revenue expenditure and financing (RA/RO returns)MHCLG APIs (api.gov.uk)
• MHCLG — Council tax levels set by local authorities in EnglandMHCLG APIs (api.gov.uk)
• MHCLG — Local authority capital expenditure and receiptsMHCLG APIs (api.gov.uk)
• Local Government Association — LG Inform local authority datadata.gov.uk API (api.gov.uk)
• NHS England — Adult social care activity and finance reportNHS Digital APIs (api.gov.uk)
• Scottish Government — Local government finance statisticsstatistics.gov.scot API (api.gov.uk)
• StatsWales — Local government revenue budgets and council taxStatsWales OData API (api.gov.uk)
• NI Department for Communities — Local government finance and district ratesOpenDataNI API (api.gov.uk)
• Defra — Environmental accounts and statisticsDefra APIs (api.gov.uk)
• DBT — Business and trade statisticsDBT APIs (api.gov.uk)
• DCMS — Sectors economic estimates
• Cabinet Office — Contracts Finder (awarded contracts)data.gov.uk API (api.gov.uk)
• Cabinet Office — Find a Tender Service (high-value awards)data.gov.uk API (api.gov.uk)
• HM Government — Departmental spend over £25,000data.gov.uk API (api.gov.uk)
• Crown Commercial Service — Frameworks and agreements
• National Audit Office — Reports on government contracting
• Companies House — Company accounts and filingsCompanies House API (api.gov.uk)