England · single-tier councils · 2024-25
Croydon Council budget and spending
Croydon Council had net current service expenditure of £751.7m in 2024-25, about £1,833 for each of its 410,085 residents. By total budget it is 31st highest of 185 single-tier councils.
- Net service spending, 2024-25
- £751.7m
- Spend per resident
- £1,833
- 131st of 185 single-tier councils
- Population (mid-2025)
- 410,085
- ONS mid-year estimate
- Rank by total budget
- 31st
- 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 Croydon Council in financial difficulty?
Croydon Council issued a Section 114 notice (Nov 2020, Dec 2020, Nov 2022) and was agreed Exceptional Financial Support of £136m 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 Croydon Council spends its money
- Education£268.2m
35.7% of the budget
- Adult social care£172.4m
22.9% of the budget
- Children's social care£139.2m
18.5% of the budget
- Housing£53.9m
7.2% of the budget
- Environment£37.7m
5.0% of the budget
- Public health£31.9m
4.2% of the budget
- Central and other£25.0m
3.3% of the budget
- Culture£9.5m
1.3% of the budget
- Planning£7.8m
1.0% of the budget
- Highways and transport£6.1m
0.8% 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 Croydon
Across six benefits, £1.1bn was paid out in Croydon in the 12 months to March 2026, about £2,655 per resident. That is 52nd highest of 315 areas per person and 12th by total pounds, and 23.9% above the England and Wales figure of £2,142.
- Universal Credit£733.4m
- Personal Independence Payment£171.0m
- Housing Benefit£137.9m
- Disability Living Allowance£52.4m
- Carer's Allowance£24.4m
- Employment and Support Allowance£19.3m
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
Croydon Council: common questions
How much does Croydon Council spend?
Croydon Council had net current service expenditure of £751.7m in 2024-25. This is the council budget only: it excludes NHS spending, pensions, Universal Credit and debt interest.
How much does Croydon Council spend per resident?
About £1,833 per resident, from a 2024-25 budget of £751.7m and an ONS population estimate of 410,085. That is 131st highest of 185 single-tier councils.
What does Croydon Council spend most on?
Education is the largest service line at £268.2m, 35.7% of the 2024-25 budget.
How much of Croydon Council's budget goes on social care?
Adult and children's social care together take 41.4% of net service spending in 2024-25.
How much is spent on benefits in Croydon?
£1.1bn 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 £2,655 per resident. That ranks 52nd of 315 areas per person. It excludes the State Pension and is not part of the council budget.
Is Croydon Council in financial difficulty?
Croydon Council issued a Section 114 notice (Nov 2020, Dec 2020, Nov 2022) and was agreed Exceptional Financial Support of £136m for 2025-26, according to public reporting and MHCLG.