Government budget and revenue in South East, United Kingdom: official figures
Government spent £116.0 billion on public services identifiable to the South East in 2024-25, £12,031 per resident: the lowest of 9 English regions and 89% of the UK average of £13,504 (HM Treasury Country and Regional Analysis).
Has public spending in the South East gone up or down?
In 2024-25 prices, identifiable spending per head in the South East went from £14,370 in the pandemic year 2020-21 to £12,031 in 2024-25, a fall of 16.3%.
Source: HM Treasury · saved copyWhat is public money spent on in the South East?
Social protection, which covers pensions, benefits and social care, took £4,957 per head in the South East in 2024-25 and health £3,088; the English averages were £5,322 and £3,462.
Source: HM Treasury · saved copyHow much is spent on schools and transport in the South East?
Spending on education in the South East came to £1,630 per head in 2024-25, on transport £626 and on police, courts, prisons and fire services £539.
Source: HM Treasury · saved copyHow much do councils spend in the South East?
Local councils accounted for £24.4 billion of identifiable spending in the South East in 2024-25, 21% of the region's total, or £2,535 per head (index 87 against a UK local-government average of 100).
Source: HM Treasury · saved copyHow much public investment goes to the South East?
Of the £12,031 spent per head in the South East in 2024-25, £10,791 was current spending and £1,240 was capital investment.
Source: HM Treasury · saved copyHow South East compares with other region of Englands
Identifiable public spending per head (2024-25)
South East ranks 9 of 9, highest first. The 9 regions of England only; Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are compared on their own pages.
| Rank | Region | Identifiable public spending per head |
|---|---|---|
| 3 | North West | £13,835 |
| 4 | West Midlands | £13,160 |
| 5 | Yorkshire and the Humber | £12,783 |
| 6 | South West | £12,432 |
| 7 | East of England | £12,296 |
| 8 | East Midlands | £12,158 |
| 9 | South East | £12,031 |
Public spending on health per head (2024-25)
South East ranks 9 of 9, highest first. The 9 regions of England only; Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are compared on their own pages.
| Rank | Region | Public spending on health per head |
|---|---|---|
| 3 | North West | £3,644 |
| 4 | West Midlands | £3,478 |
| 5 | Yorkshire and the Humber | £3,356 |
| 6 | South West | £3,309 |
| 7 | East Midlands | £3,168 |
| 8 | East of England | £3,091 |
| 9 | South East | £3,088 |
Public spending on education per head (2024-25)
South East ranks 8 of 9, highest first. The 9 regions of England only; Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are compared on their own pages.
| Rank | Region | Public spending on education per head |
|---|---|---|
| 3 | North East | £1,766 |
| 4 | Yorkshire and the Humber | £1,737 |
| 5 | East of England | £1,713 |
| 6 | East Midlands | £1,705 |
| 7 | North West | £1,657 |
| 8 | South East | £1,630 |
| 9 | South West | £1,585 |
Local government spending per head (2024-25)
South East ranks 6 of 9, highest first. The 9 regions of England only; Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are compared on their own pages.
| Rank | Region | Local government spending per head |
|---|---|---|
| 3 | North East | £3,051 |
| 4 | West Midlands | £2,739 |
| 5 | Yorkshire and the Humber | £2,706 |
| 6 | South East | £2,535 |
| 7 | South West | £2,467 |
| 8 | East of England | £2,429 |
| 9 | East Midlands | £2,375 |
Total identifiable public spending per head (£) (2024-25)
South East ranks 12 of 12, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Total identifiable public spending per head (£) |
|---|---|---|
| 6 | North West | £13,835 |
| 7 | West Midlands | £13,160 |
| 8 | Yorkshire and the Humber | £12,783 |
| 9 | South West | £12,432 |
| 10 | East of England | £12,296 |
| 11 | East Midlands | £12,158 |
| 12 | South East | £12,031 |
Change in real-terms public spending per head, 2020-21 to 2024-25 (%) (2020-21 to 2024-25)
South East ranks 11 of 12, highest first. In 2024-25 prices; 2020-21 included pandemic spending
| Rank | Region | Change in real-terms public spending per head, 2020-21 to 2024-25 (%) |
|---|---|---|
| 6 | North West | -12.3% |
| 7 | Yorkshire and the Humber | -12.8% |
| 8 | East Midlands | -13.8% |
| 9 | South West | -14.6% |
| 10 | East of England | -15.3% |
| 11 | South East | -16.3% |
| 12 | London | -16.6% |
Local government identifiable spending per head (£) (2024-25)
South East ranks 8 of 12, highest first. Northern Ireland councils have fewer functions than in Great Britain
| Rank | Region | Local government identifiable spending per head (£) |
|---|---|---|
| 5 | North East | £3,051 |
| 6 | West Midlands | £2,739 |
| 7 | Yorkshire and the Humber | £2,706 |
| 8 | South East | £2,535 |
| 9 | South West | £2,467 |
| 10 | East of England | £2,429 |
| 11 | East Midlands | £2,375 |
More on South East: overview · economy and jobs · health · education and schools · poverty and living standards · government and politics · the United Kingdom
Sources
- HM Treasury: Country and Regional Analysis 2025: Chapter A tables (identifiable public spending by country and region, 2020-21 to 2024-25), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 9a6a7af9e2bd…)
Each saved copy is the file exactly as downloaded, kept so the figures can be checked even if the source changes. Report an error.