Scotland · single-tier councils · 2024-25
City of Edinburgh Council budget and spending
City of Edinburgh Council had net current service expenditure of £1.2bn in 2024-25, about £2,254 for each of its 531,370 residents. By total budget it is 6th highest of 185 single-tier councils.
- Net service spending, 2024-25
- £1.2bn
- Spend per resident
- £2,254
- 70th of 185 single-tier councils
- Population (mid-2025)
- 531,370
- ONS mid-year estimate
- Rank by total budget
- 6th
- 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.
Where City of Edinburgh Council spends its money
- Education£582.1m
48.6% of the budget
- Social work£451.7m
37.7% of the budget
- Environment£66.0m
5.5% of the budget
- Housing (non-HRA)£49.2m
4.1% of the budget
- Culture£45.1m
3.8% of the budget
- Central services£43.7m
3.6% 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.
Councils with similar spend per resident
City of Edinburgh Council: common questions
How much does City of Edinburgh Council spend?
City of Edinburgh Council had net current service expenditure of £1.2bn in 2024-25. This is the council budget only: it excludes NHS spending, pensions, Universal Credit and debt interest.
How much does City of Edinburgh Council spend per resident?
About £2,254 per resident, from a 2024-25 budget of £1.2bn and an ONS population estimate of 531,370. That is 70th highest of 185 single-tier councils.
What does City of Edinburgh Council spend most on?
Education is the largest service line at £582.1m, 48.6% of the 2024-25 budget.
How much of City of Edinburgh Council's budget goes on social care?
Adult and children's social care together take 37.7% of net service spending in 2024-25.