England · single-tier councils · 2024-25
Birmingham Council budget and spending
Birmingham Council had net current service expenditure of £2.4bn in 2024-25, about £2,013 for each of its 1,176,960 residents. By total budget it is 1st highest of 185 single-tier councils.
- Net service spending, 2024-25
- £2.4bn
- Spend per resident
- £2,013
- 100th of 185 single-tier councils
- Population (mid-2025)
- 1,176,960
- ONS mid-year estimate
- Rank by total budget
- 1st
- of 185 single-tier councils
This is the council budget only (net current service expenditure). NHS, pensions, Universal Credit and debt interest are not included. In two-tier counties, education and social care sit with the county, not the district.
Is Birmingham Council in financial difficulty?
Birmingham Council issued a Section 114 notice (Sep 2023) and was agreed Exceptional Financial Support of £180m for 2025-26, according to public reporting and MHCLG.
The council outturn data carries no deficit field, so this comes from public reporting on Section 114 notices and MHCLG Exceptional Financial Support rather than from the budget figures on this page.
Where Birmingham Council spends its money
- Education£1.0bn
42.7% of the budget
- Adult social care£479.3m
20.2% of the budget
- Children's social care£330.2m
13.9% of the budget
- Central and other£132.7m
5.6% of the budget
- Public health£116.8m
4.9% of the budget
- Environment£100.0m
4.2% of the budget
- Highways and transport£77.5m
3.3% of the budget
- Housing£69.5m
2.9% of the budget
- Culture£58.1m
2.5% of the budget
Single-tier councils (unitary, metropolitan, London borough and Scottish and Welsh councils) run every local service in their area, so they are compared with each other.
Benefits spending in Birmingham
Across six benefits, £4.0bn was paid out in Birmingham in the 12 months to March 2026, about £3,367 per resident. That is 10th highest of 315 areas per person and 1st by total pounds, and 57.2% above the England and Wales figure of £2,142.
- Universal Credit£2.3bn
- Personal Independence Payment£722.0m
- Housing Benefit£718.7m
- Disability Living Allowance£173.9m
- Carer's Allowance£140.4m
- Employment and Support Allowance£79.9m
Covers six benefits only: Universal Credit, PIP, Housing Benefit, DLA, Carer's Allowance and ESA. Excludes the State Pension, the largest welfare line. Compiled by the TaxPayers' Alliance from DWP Stat-Xplore, not a DWP borough publication. England and Wales, £133.1 billion in the 12 months to March 2026. Do not add this to the council budget: Housing Benefit is in both.
Councils with similar spend per resident
Birmingham Council: common questions
How much does Birmingham Council spend?
Birmingham Council had net current service expenditure of £2.4bn in 2024-25. This is the council budget only: it excludes NHS spending, pensions, Universal Credit and debt interest.
How much does Birmingham Council spend per resident?
About £2,013 per resident, from a 2024-25 budget of £2.4bn and an ONS population estimate of 1,176,960. That is 100th highest of 185 single-tier councils.
What does Birmingham Council spend most on?
Education is the largest service line at £1.0bn, 42.7% of the 2024-25 budget.
How much of Birmingham Council's budget goes on social care?
Adult and children's social care together take 34.2% of net service spending in 2024-25.
How much is spent on benefits in Birmingham?
£4.0bn was paid out in the 12 months to March 2026 on six benefits (Universal Credit, PIP, Housing Benefit, DLA, Carer's Allowance and ESA), about £3,367 per resident. That ranks 10th of 315 areas per person. It excludes the State Pension and is not part of the council budget.
Is Birmingham Council in financial difficulty?
Birmingham Council issued a Section 114 notice (Sep 2023) and was agreed Exceptional Financial Support of £180m for 2025-26, according to public reporting and MHCLG.