UK government debt approaches three trillion pounds milestone

UK government debt has reached nearly £3 trillion for the first time, official figures showed in September 2026. The total stood at £2,985.5 billion at the end of August, equal to 93.8% of the country's economic output. Debt has grown by £78.5 billion over the past year, adding roughly £2,489 every second. At this rate, the £3 trillion mark is expected to be crossed in early November 2026. The debt first hit £2 trillion in July 2020, so the third trillion took six years to build up. The government now pays more in debt interest than it spends on defence, transport, and public order put together. Debt is forecast to keep rising before it starts to fall later in the decade.