Factcheck LedgerReceipts, not verdicts

UK public spending on old age by year

Pensions and personal social services for older people.

Spending, 2025-26
£172.2 billion
HM Treasury, PESA

HM Treasury's Public Expenditure Statistical Analyses (PESA) put public spending on old age at £172.2 billion in 2025-26. In 2024-25 it was £162.9 billion, so the cash figure changed by +5.7%. The highest year in these tables is 2025-26, at £172.2 billion.

£172.2 billion£121.9 billion 2016-172025-26
Every value in the official series, 2016-17 to 2025-26.

Spending by year

YearCashChange on previous yearEdition
2025-26£172.2 billion+5.7%PESA 2026
2024-25£162.9 billion+4.5%PESA 2026
2023-24£155.9 billion+13.4%PESA 2026
2022-23£137.5 billion+6.9%PESA 2026
2021-22£128.6 billion+2.6%PESA 2026
2020-21£125.4 billion+1.1%PESA 2021
2019-20£124.0 billion-3.2%PESA 2021
2018-19£128.0 billion+3.1%PESA 2021
2017-18£124.2 billion+1.9%PESA 2021
2016-17£121.9 billionPESA 2021

PESA Table 5.2, line "10.2 Old age". About these figures · CSV

Sources and receipts