World Finance Atlas
187 economies · 2025–26
Atlas · Europe · GBR

United Kingdom

Capital LondonCurrency GBPRegion Europe
Output · rank 6/187
$3.8T
People · rank 22/187
69.6M
Land · rank 78/187
242K km²
GDP per person
$55,158
Density
287.7 /km²

Government debt

105.9%gross debt, share of GDP
$4.1Toutstanding, rank 4 of 178
Perimeter
General government
Basis
Gross, not net
Valuation
Nominal
Debt per person
$58,412
Net of assets
94.1%
Source
IMF World Economic Outlook / Fiscal Monitor
Gross debt is 105.9%; net of the government’s financial assets it is 94.1%, a 11.8% gap.
What this number does not tell youThe most misread figure in public finance. Perimeter varies by country — the IMF notes its Fiscal Monitor tables use a narrower perimeter for China than its Article IV estimates, and published figures for Japan range from roughly 200% to 250% depending on perimeter and valuation, both citing the IMF. Debt in a currency the government issues is a fundamentally different instrument from debt it must earn or borrow to service; this ratio does not distinguish them.

Private-sector debt

Households
77.8% of GDP
Non-financial corporations
68.9% of GDP
Total private
146.7% of GDP
Government debt is only one layer. Household and corporate borrowing is where financial fragility often actually sits — and here it totals 146.7% of GDP, larger than the public debt above.

Currency & monetary policy

Currency
GBP
Regime
Free floating
Central bank
Bank of England
Bank Rate
3.75%
Issues its own currency and sets its own policy rate — meaningful room to manage local-currency debt.

House prices

Nominal, year-on-year
+3.1%
Real (inflation-adjusted)
-0.6%
Prices rose in cash terms but fell after inflation — housing got cheaper in purchasing-power terms despite the headline rise.

Payment rails

SystemTypeLive since
BacsDeferred net1968
CHAPSLarge-value RTGS1984
Faster PaymentsInstant retail2008

Against its region and the world

Where United Kingdom sits relative to the Europe average and the world average.

GDP per person (USD)
This country55,158
Region average35,326
World average14,013
Population density (per km²)
This country288
Region average36
World average64
Debt to GDP (%)
This country106
Region average77
World average95

Major banks

Largest institutions headquartered in United Kingdom, by total assets. Assets, not market value — the two rank very differently.

All banks →
InstitutionHeadquartersTotal assetsvs. national GDP
1HSBC HoldingsLondon$3.1T81%
2BarclaysLondon$1.7T44%
3Lloyds Banking GroupLondon$1.0T27%
4Standard CharteredLondon$860B22%

All figures

Nominal GDP
$3.8T
Share of world output
3.33%
Population
69.6M
Share of world population
0.85%
Land area
241,930 km²
Share of world land
0.19%
GDP per person
$55,158
GDP per km²
$15,868,226
Population density
287.7 /km²
Government debt
105.9%
Debt outstanding
$4.1T

Closest by output in Europe

France$3.2T116.3%
Germany$4.7T64.7%
Italy$2.4T136.9%
Russia$2.1T21.4%
Spain$1.8T101.3%

Nearest neighbours by nominal output within the same region. Third column is debt to GDP.

Where these figures come from

Nominal GDPGross domestic product at current market prices, converted to US dollars at market exchange rates. Not adjusted for purchasing power.
IMF World Economic Outlook
2025 estimate
PopulationTotal resident population, mid-year estimate.
UN World Population Prospects
2025 estimate
Land areaTotal land area, excluding inland water where the source reports it separately.
UN Statistics Division
2024
General government gross debtGross debt of the general government sector as a share of GDP. Gross means government-held financial assets are not netted off.
IMF World Economic Outlook / Fiscal Monitor
2025–26 estimate
Bank total assetsTotal assets for the most recent reporting period: cash, loans, investments, property and equipment.
S&P Global Market Intelligence
2026 ranking
Net government debtGovernment debt net of its financial assets, as a share of GDP.
IMF Fiscal Monitor
2025–26 estimate
Household debtCredit to households and non-profits serving them, as a share of GDP.
BIS credit statistics
2024–25
Corporate debtCredit to non-financial corporations, as a share of GDP.
BIS credit statistics
2024–25
Exchange rate regimeHow the currency is managed: free floating, floating, pegged, currency board, or no separate legal tender.
IMF AREAER
2025
Central bank policy rateThe main policy interest rate set by the central bank.
Central banks / BIS
mid-2026, live
Residential house pricesYear-on-year change in residential property prices, nominal and inflation-adjusted.
BIS / OECD residential property
latest quarter