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England · single-tier councils · 2024-25

Coventry Council budget and spending

Coventry Council had net current service expenditure of £648.4m in 2024-25, about £1,778 for each of its 364,766 residents. By total budget it is 49th highest of 185 single-tier councils.

Net service spending, 2024-25
£648.4m
Spend per resident
£1,778
139th of 185 single-tier councils
Population (mid-2025)
364,766
ONS mid-year estimate
Rank by total budget
49th
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 Coventry Council spends its money

Coventry Council spending by service, 2024-25
  • Education£248.0m

    38.2% of the budget

  • Adult social care£148.5m

    22.9% of the budget

  • Children's social care£122.7m

    18.9% of the budget

  • Public health£30.8m

    4.8% of the budget

  • Environment£28.2m

    4.4% of the budget

  • Central and other£19.7m

    3.0% of the budget

  • Housing£17.0m

    2.6% of the budget

  • Highways and transport£13.8m

    2.1% of the budget

  • Culture£11.4m

    1.8% of the budget

  • Planning£8.3m

    1.3% 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 Coventry

Across six benefits, £893.7m was paid out in Coventry in the 12 months to March 2026, about £2,450 per resident. That is 76th highest of 315 areas per person and 28th by total pounds, and 14.4% above the England and Wales figure of £2,142.

Benefits paid in Coventry by benefit, 12 months to March 2026
  • Universal Credit£552.0m
  • Personal Independence Payment£194.2m
  • Housing Benefit£85.5m
  • Disability Living Allowance£52.3m
  • Carer's Allowance£28.4m
  • Employment and Support Allowance£27.0m

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

Coventry Council: common questions

How much does Coventry Council spend?

Coventry Council had net current service expenditure of £648.4m in 2024-25. This is the council budget only: it excludes NHS spending, pensions, Universal Credit and debt interest.

How much does Coventry Council spend per resident?

About £1,778 per resident, from a 2024-25 budget of £648.4m and an ONS population estimate of 364,766. That is 139th highest of 185 single-tier councils.

What does Coventry Council spend most on?

Education is the largest service line at £248.0m, 38.2% of the 2024-25 budget.

How much of Coventry Council's budget goes on social care?

Adult and children's social care together take 41.8% of net service spending in 2024-25.

How much is spent on benefits in Coventry?

£893.7m 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 £2,450 per resident. That ranks 76th of 315 areas per person. It excludes the State Pension and is not part of the council budget.