Indicators of Sustainable Development

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Indicator: Public sector net borrowing and debt B2
Public sector net borrowing and net debt as per cent of GDP: 1970 to 2002  
Indicator Chart
Net borrowing
Change since
curvey 1970
curvey 1990
curvey 1998
Net debt
Change since
tick 1970
curvey 1990
tick 1998

Coverage: United Kingdom

Source: ONS, Bank of England

Objective: Government borrowing at stable and prudent level
  • Borrowing and debt, relative to GDP in current market prices, have both fluctuated substantially over the last 30 years.
  • Borrowing rose to 8 per cent in the early 1990s, became negative in 1998 and rose slightly in 2002 to around 1 per cent of GDP.
  • Net debt fell from 73 per cent in 1970 to 26 per cent in 1991, rose to 44 per cent in 1997 and has since declined to 30 per cent of GDP in 2002.

Page last modified: 21 April 2004  |  Page published: 21 April 2004