UK GDP per head

Source: Office for National Statistics (ONS), series IHXW. With the GDP first quarterly estimate and the quarterly national accounts, 7am; next release 12 November 2026

UK GDP per head: every value, by year, with a CSV download →

What it measures

GDP per head (also called per capita) divides the UK's total output by its population. This series is in real terms: it is a chained volume measure expressed in prices of a reference year (2024 in the latest data), so changes over time reflect output, not inflation. The quarterly value covers three months of output, so it is roughly a quarter of the annual figure. GDP per head is often used as a rough indicator of average living standards, though it measures production rather than household income.

How to read it

Total GDP can grow while GDP per head falls, if the population grows faster than output; the ONS reports both in each GDP release. When comparing years, use the calendar-year figure rather than adding up quarters yourself. The reference year is updated from time to time, which changes every value in pounds but not the growth rates, so a figure quoted from an older release may not match today's series. For comparisons with other countries use international sources that adjust for price levels, such as IMF or OECD data in purchasing power parity terms; see how to check international comparisons.

Background

The ONS quarterly series for real GDP per head begins in the first quarter of 1955. Like the rest of the national accounts, it is revised each year in the Blue Book as population estimates and output data are updated. The population figures used come from ONS mid-year estimates, so a large revision to population can change GDP per head even when total GDP is unchanged. The ONS also publishes GDP per head at current market prices (series IHXT in dataset UKEA), which includes inflation.

Other parts of the UK

ONS: Regional economic activity by GDP (GDP per head by region and local area)

Why can GDP rise while GDP per head falls?

GDP per head is total output divided by population. If the population grows by 1% in a year and GDP grows by 0.5%, output per person falls even though the economy is bigger. The ONS reports both figures in its GDP releases, so check which one a claim uses before comparing it with another source.

Is GDP per head the same as average income?

No. GDP per head measures production, including profits, investment and government output, divided by everyone in the population. Household income measures what households receive after tax and benefits. For living standards, the ONS also publishes real household disposable income per head, which can move differently from GDP per head.

Which region of the UK has the highest GDP per head?

The ONS publishes GDP per head for each UK nation, region and local authority in its annual regional economic activity release. Regional figures are affected by commuting, because output is counted where people work rather than where they live, so areas with many in-commuters, such as central London, show high values.

Related questions

• What is UK GDP per capita?
• How big is the UK economy (GDP)?
• How does UK GDP compare with other countries?

More on this source: International Monetary Fund, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, and World Bank data