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England · single-tier councils · 2024-25

Ealing Council budget and spending

Ealing Council had net current service expenditure of £778.4m in 2024-25, about £2,011 for each of its 387,072 residents. By total budget it is 26th highest of 185 single-tier councils.

Net service spending, 2024-25
£778.4m
Spend per resident
£2,011
102nd of 185 single-tier councils
Population (mid-2025)
387,072
ONS mid-year estimate
Rank by total budget
26th
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 Ealing Council spends its money

Ealing Council spending by service, 2024-25
  • Education£422.4m

    54.3% of the budget

  • Adult social care£121.8m

    15.6% of the budget

  • Children's social care£90.6m

    11.6% of the budget

  • Central and other£46.6m

    6.0% of the budget

  • Housing£37.6m

    4.8% of the budget

  • Public health£30.1m

    3.9% of the budget

  • Environment£26.7m

    3.4% of the budget

  • Culture£6.7m

    0.9% of the budget

  • Planning£3.7m

    0.5% 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 Ealing

Across six benefits, £1.1bn was paid out in Ealing in the 12 months to March 2026, about £2,789 per resident. That is 39th highest of 315 areas per person and 13th by total pounds, and 30.2% above the England and Wales figure of £2,142.

Benefits paid in Ealing by benefit, 12 months to March 2026
  • Universal Credit£769.6m
  • Personal Independence Payment£137.7m
  • Housing Benefit£135.8m
  • Disability Living Allowance£40.5m
  • Carer's Allowance£25.7m
  • Employment and Support Allowance£16.1m

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

Ealing Council: common questions

How much does Ealing Council spend?

Ealing Council had net current service expenditure of £778.4m in 2024-25. This is the council budget only: it excludes NHS spending, pensions, Universal Credit and debt interest.

How much does Ealing Council spend per resident?

About £2,011 per resident, from a 2024-25 budget of £778.4m and an ONS population estimate of 387,072. That is 102nd highest of 185 single-tier councils.

What does Ealing Council spend most on?

Education is the largest service line at £422.4m, 54.3% of the 2024-25 budget.

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

Adult and children's social care together take 27.3% of net service spending in 2024-25.

How much is spent on benefits in Ealing?

£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 £2,789 per resident. That ranks 39th of 315 areas per person. It excludes the State Pension and is not part of the council budget.