Civometry

Borrowing since 1900, per cent of GDP: record highs and lows

The extremes of borrowing 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, 1.6% in Year ending March 2031, is the lowest since Year ending March 2002, when it was 0.5% — every period between was higher. The rule: a period counts as beaten only when its figure is strictly above the latest, and the claim is only made when it reaches back at least five years.

Highest published

27.8%Year ending March 1917

Lowest published

-4.8%Year ending March 1950

The full series

Borrowing since 1900, per cent of GDP: Year ending March 1901 to Year ending March 2031ConservativeConservativeConservativeConservativeLabourLabourLabourCoalitionConservativeConservativeConservativeLabour0%10%20%1910192019301940195019601970198019902000201020202030Year ending March 1901: 4% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 1902: 4.1% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 1903: 2.8% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 1904: 1.4% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 1905: 0.9% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 1906: 0.4% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 1907: 0% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 1908: -0.2% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 1909: 0.1% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 1910: 0.2% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 1911: -0.3% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 1912: -0.4% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 1913: -0.6% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 1914: 0.9% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 1915: 11.1% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 1916: 27.1% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 1917: 27.8% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 1918: 27.2% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 1919: 21.4% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 1920: 5.6% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 1921: 0% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 1922: 1.1% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 1923: -0.3% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 1924: -0.7% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 1925: 0.5% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 1926: 1.4% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 1927: 1.9% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 1928: 0.5% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 1929: 0.3% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 1930: 0.9% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 1931: 1.7% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 1932: 1.9% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 1933: 0.3% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 1934: -0.5% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 1935: -0.3% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 1936: 0.4% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 1937: 1% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 1938: 2.1% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 1939: 5.1% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 1940: 13.8% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 1941: 26.8% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 1942: 27.1% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 1943: 25.7% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 1944: 24.3% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 1945: 22.4% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 1946: 15.2% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 1947: 6.4% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 1948: 0.7% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 1949: -4.3% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 1950: -4.8% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 1951: -3.7% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 1952: -0.5% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 1953: 1.3% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 1954: 2.5% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 1955: 1.5% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 1956: -0.2% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 1957: 0.4% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 1958: 0% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 1959: 0.3% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 1960: 2.3% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 1961: 2.5% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 1962: 2.2% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 1963: 1.8% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 1964: 2.7% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 1965: 1.9% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 1966: 1.5% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 1967: 2.4% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 1968: 3.8% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 1969: 0.6% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 1970: -1.7% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 1971: -0.6% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 1972: 1% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 1973: 2.6% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 1974: 4.1% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 1975: 5.7% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 1976: 6.3% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 1977: 4.9% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 1978: 3.9% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 1979: 4.5% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 1980: 3.7% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 1981: 4.3% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 1982: 2% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 1983: 2.6% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 1984: 3.3% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 1985: 3.2% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 1986: 2.1% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 1987: 1.9% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 1988: 1% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 1989: -1% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 1990: 0% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 1991: 1.1% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 1992: 3.3% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 1993: 6.3% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 1994: 6.6% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 1995: 5.3% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 1996: 4.1% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 1997: 3.1% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 1998: 1.1% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 1999: 0% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 2000: -1.1% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 2001: -1.5% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 2002: 0.5% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 2003: 2.9% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 2004: 3.4% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 2005: 3.8% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 2006: 3.2% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 2007: 2.7% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 2008: 2.9% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 2009: 7.3% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 2010: 10.2% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 2011: 8.7% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 2012: 7.3% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 2013: 7.1% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 2014: 5.7% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 2015: 5.2% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 2016: 4.2% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 2017: 2.8% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 2018: 2.8% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 2019: 2% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 2020: 2.6% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 2021: 14.7% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 2022: 5% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 2023: 4.8% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 2024: 4.8% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 2025: 5.2% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 2026: 4.2% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 2027: 3.6% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 2028: 2.9% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 2029: 2.5% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 2030: 1.8% per cent of GDP · published 27 August 2026Year ending March 2031: 1.6% 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
PeriodBorrowing since 1900, per cent of GDP
Year ending March 19014%
Year ending March 19024.1%
Year ending March 19032.8%
Year ending March 19041.4%
Year ending March 19050.9%
Year ending March 19060.4%
Year ending March 19070%
Year ending March 1908-0.2%
Year ending March 19090.1%
Year ending March 19100.2%
Year ending March 1911-0.3%
Year ending March 1912-0.4%
Year ending March 1913-0.6%
Year ending March 19140.9%
Year ending March 191511.1%
Year ending March 191627.1%
Year ending March 191727.8%
Year ending March 191827.2%
Year ending March 191921.4%
Year ending March 19205.6%
Year ending March 19210%
Year ending March 19221.1%
Year ending March 1923-0.3%
Year ending March 1924-0.7%
Year ending March 19250.5%
Year ending March 19261.4%
Year ending March 19271.9%
Year ending March 19280.5%
Year ending March 19290.3%
Year ending March 19300.9%
Year ending March 19311.7%
Year ending March 19321.9%
Year ending March 19330.3%
Year ending March 1934-0.5%
Year ending March 1935-0.3%
Year ending March 19360.4%
Year ending March 19371%
Year ending March 19382.1%
Year ending March 19395.1%
Year ending March 194013.8%
Year ending March 194126.8%
Year ending March 194227.1%
Year ending March 194325.7%
Year ending March 194424.3%
Year ending March 194522.4%
Year ending March 194615.2%
Year ending March 19476.4%
Year ending March 19480.7%
Year ending March 1949-4.3%
Year ending March 1950-4.8%
Year ending March 1951-3.7%
Year ending March 1952-0.5%
Year ending March 19531.3%
Year ending March 19542.5%
Year ending March 19551.5%
Year ending March 1956-0.2%
Year ending March 19570.4%
Year ending March 19580%
Year ending March 19590.3%
Year ending March 19602.3%
Year ending March 19612.5%
Year ending March 19622.2%
Year ending March 19631.8%
Year ending March 19642.7%
Year ending March 19651.9%
Year ending March 19661.5%
Year ending March 19672.4%
Year ending March 19683.8%
Year ending March 19690.6%
Year ending March 1970-1.7%
Year ending March 1971-0.6%
Year ending March 19721%
Year ending March 19732.6%
Year ending March 19744.1%
Year ending March 19755.7%
Year ending March 19766.3%
Year ending March 19774.9%
Year ending March 19783.9%
Year ending March 19794.5%
Year ending March 19803.7%
Year ending March 19814.3%
Year ending March 19822%
Year ending March 19832.6%
Year ending March 19843.3%
Year ending March 19853.2%
Year ending March 19862.1%
Year ending March 19871.9%
Year ending March 19881%
Year ending March 1989-1%
Year ending March 19900%
Year ending March 19911.1%
Year ending March 19923.3%
Year ending March 19936.3%
Year ending March 19946.6%
Year ending March 19955.3%
Year ending March 19964.1%
Year ending March 19973.1%
Year ending March 19981.1%
Year ending March 19990%
Year ending March 2000-1.1%
Year ending March 2001-1.5%
Year ending March 20020.5%
Year ending March 20032.9%
Year ending March 20043.4%
Year ending March 20053.8%
Year ending March 20063.2%
Year ending March 20072.7%
Year ending March 20082.9%
Year ending March 20097.3%
Year ending March 201010.2%
Year ending March 20118.7%
Year ending March 20127.3%
Year ending March 20137.1%
Year ending March 20145.7%
Year ending March 20155.2%
Year ending March 20164.2%
Year ending March 20172.8%
Year ending March 20182.8%
Year ending March 20192%
Year ending March 20202.6%
Year ending March 202114.7%
Year ending March 20225%
Year ending March 20234.8%
Year ending March 20244.8%
Year ending March 20255.2%
Year ending March 20264.2%
Year ending March 20273.6%
Year ending March 20282.9%
Year ending March 20292.5%
Year ending March 20301.8%
Year ending March 20311.6%

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.