Published 22 Sep 2026, 07:00
Next update 21 Oct 2026, 07:00 in 9 days Recent figures may be revised.
Debt service ratio Selected point 2025 · 8.3%, down 1.1 percentage points on a year earlier
8% 9% 10% 2024 · 9.4%, up 4.1 percentage points on a year earlier 2025 · 8.3%, down 1.1 percentage points on a year earlier 8.3% 2024 2025 8% 9% 10% 2024 · 9.4%, up 4.1 percentage points on a year earlier 2025 · 8.3%, down 1.1 percentage points on a year earlier 8.3% 2024 2024 2025 −20% 0% 20% 40% 2020 · 1.5%, down 0.9 percentage points on a year earlier 2021 · 8.6%, up 7.1 percentage points on a year earlier 2022 · 21.1%, up 12.5 percentage points on a year earlier 2023 · 5.3%, down 15.8 percentage points on a year earlier 2024 · 9.4%, up 4.1 percentage points on a year earlier 2025 · 8.3%, down 1.1 percentage points on a year earlier 8.3% 2020 2025 −20% 0% 20% 40% 2020 · 1.5%, down 0.9 percentage points on a year earlier 2021 · 8.6%, up 7.1 percentage points on a year earlier 2022 · 21.1%, up 12.5 percentage points on a year earlier 2023 · 5.3%, down 15.8 percentage points on a year earlier 2024 · 9.4%, up 4.1 percentage points on a year earlier 2025 · 8.3%, down 1.1 percentage points on a year earlier 8.3% 2020 2022 2025 −20% 0% 20% 40% 2016 · 3.9% 2017 · 5.2%, up 1.3 percentage points on a year earlier 2018 · 4.4%, down 0.8 percentage points on a year earlier 2019 · 2.4%, down 2.0 percentage points on a year earlier 2020 · 1.5%, down 0.9 percentage points on a year earlier 2021 · 8.6%, up 7.1 percentage points on a year earlier 2022 · 21.1%, up 12.5 percentage points on a year earlier 2023 · 5.3%, down 15.8 percentage points on a year earlier 2024 · 9.4%, up 4.1 percentage points on a year earlier 2025 · 8.3%, down 1.1 percentage points on a year earlier 8.3% 2016 2025 −20% 0% 20% 40% 2016 · 3.9% 2017 · 5.2%, up 1.3 percentage points on a year earlier 2018 · 4.4%, down 0.8 percentage points on a year earlier 2019 · 2.4%, down 2.0 percentage points on a year earlier 2020 · 1.5%, down 0.9 percentage points on a year earlier 2021 · 8.6%, up 7.1 percentage points on a year earlier 2022 · 21.1%, up 12.5 percentage points on a year earlier 2023 · 5.3%, down 15.8 percentage points on a year earlier 2024 · 9.4%, up 4.1 percentage points on a year earlier 2025 · 8.3%, down 1.1 percentage points on a year earlier 8.3% 2016 2020 2025 −20% 0% 20% 40% 2016 · 3.9% 2017 · 5.2%, up 1.3 percentage points on a year earlier 2018 · 4.4%, down 0.8 percentage points on a year earlier 2019 · 2.4%, down 2.0 percentage points on a year earlier 2020 · 1.5%, down 0.9 percentage points on a year earlier 2021 · 8.6%, up 7.1 percentage points on a year earlier 2022 · 21.1%, up 12.5 percentage points on a year earlier 2023 · 5.3%, down 15.8 percentage points on a year earlier 2024 · 9.4%, up 4.1 percentage points on a year earlier 2025 · 8.3%, down 1.1 percentage points on a year earlier 8.3% 2016 2025 −20% 0% 20% 40% 2016 · 3.9% 2017 · 5.2%, up 1.3 percentage points on a year earlier 2018 · 4.4%, down 0.8 percentage points on a year earlier 2019 · 2.4%, down 2.0 percentage points on a year earlier 2020 · 1.5%, down 0.9 percentage points on a year earlier 2021 · 8.6%, up 7.1 percentage points on a year earlier 2022 · 21.1%, up 12.5 percentage points on a year earlier 2023 · 5.3%, down 15.8 percentage points on a year earlier 2024 · 9.4%, up 4.1 percentage points on a year earlier 2025 · 8.3%, down 1.1 percentage points on a year earlier 8.3% 2016 2020 2025 Source: Office for National Statistics 22 Sep 2026, 07:00
What this means for people This compares interest the public sector pays, after interest it receives, with the rest of its income. A higher figure means more of that income is going on debt.
This is the public sector debt service ratio. It compares net interest with income that is not itself interest. Net interest is interest paid minus interest received. Public sector banks are left out.
Interest includes the change in what is owed on gilts linked to the Retail Prices Index. That change is counted when prices move, before the cash is paid, so the percentage can jump.
Latest figures See the figures as a table The latest 10 readings, newest first. Period Value 2025 8.3% 2024 9.4% 2023 5.3% 2022 21.1% 2021 8.6% 2020 1.5% 2019 2.4% 2018 4.4% 2017 5.2% 2016 3.9%
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How to read this The year matches December The figure covers a whole year. A single month can be much higher or lower.
Interest against other income This is not the pound interest bill. It is interest paid, minus interest received, compared with income that is not itself interest. The pound bill can grow while this percentage moves differently.
Not the older financial-year table An older ONS appendix described interest against revenue for financial years, and it stopped in 2020. Its figures are not this series.
A public sector ratio, not a household bill This is a ratio for the public sector. It is not the interest on a household mortgage or a credit card.
Early figures are often revised First estimates in the public sector finances are often revised as more data arrives.
Source
Publisher Office for National Statistics
Official title Public sector (ex): Debt service ratio, percent
Series FSK9
Geography United Kingdom
Status Accredited official statistics Cite this Office for National Statistics (2026) Public sector (ex): Debt service ratio, percent, 2025 (series FSK9 ).