on the never never
UK public sector debt in early 2026
By the start of 2026, the UK’s public sector net debt stood at roughly £2.87 trillion to £2.93 trillion, which was about 93% to 94% of GDP and the highest level seen since the early 1960s, with the burden working out at around £102,000 for each household across the country
Key figures for February and March 2026
The total debt was estimated at about £2.87 trillion in February 2026, while the debt-to-GDP ratio was close to 93.1% at the same point, and taxpayers were also facing steep interest costs, with debt interest payments expected to remain heavy during 2025/26
Government borrowing for the 2025/26 financial year, up to February 2026, reached £125.9 billion, and that kept pressure on the public finances as borrowing stayed high
Debt rose sharply after the funding needed for the COVID-19 pandemic and the energy crisis that followed, and forecasts suggest the total could move beyond £3 trillion over the next few years!
