NumbersDeckOpen the map

England · single-tier councils · 2024-25

Knowsley Council budget and spending

Knowsley Council had net current service expenditure of £430.9m in 2024-25, about £2,632 for each of its 163,723 residents. By total budget it is 106th highest of 185 single-tier councils.

Net service spending, 2024-25
£430.9m
Spend per resident
£2,632
55th of 185 single-tier councils
Population (mid-2025)
163,723
ONS mid-year estimate
Rank by total budget
106th
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 Knowsley Council spends its money

Knowsley Council spending by service, 2024-25
  • Education£183.1m

    42.5% of the budget

  • Adult social care£99.1m

    23.0% of the budget

  • Children's social care£60.5m

    14.0% of the budget

  • Central and other£29.3m

    6.8% of the budget

  • Public health£21.5m

    5.0% of the budget

  • Highways and transport£12.3m

    2.8% of the budget

  • Planning£9.6m

    2.2% of the budget

  • Environment£6.5m

    1.5% of the budget

  • Culture£5.7m

    1.3% of the budget

  • Housing£3.5m

    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 Knowsley

Across six benefits, £556.4m was paid out in Knowsley in the 12 months to March 2026, about £3,398 per resident. That is 9th highest of 315 areas per person and 77th by total pounds, and 58.6% above the England and Wales figure of £2,142.

Benefits paid in Knowsley by benefit, 12 months to March 2026
  • Universal Credit£306.5m
  • Personal Independence Payment£160.1m
  • Disability Living Allowance£39.6m
  • Housing Benefit£32.4m
  • Employment and Support Allowance£22.9m
  • Carer's Allowance£20.6m

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

Knowsley Council: common questions

How much does Knowsley Council spend?

Knowsley Council had net current service expenditure of £430.9m in 2024-25. This is the council budget only: it excludes NHS spending, pensions, Universal Credit and debt interest.

How much does Knowsley Council spend per resident?

About £2,632 per resident, from a 2024-25 budget of £430.9m and an ONS population estimate of 163,723. That is 55th highest of 185 single-tier councils.

What does Knowsley Council spend most on?

Education is the largest service line at £183.1m, 42.5% of the 2024-25 budget.

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

Adult and children's social care together take 37.0% of net service spending in 2024-25.

How much is spent on benefits in Knowsley?

£556.4m 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 £3,398 per resident. That ranks 9th of 315 areas per person. It excludes the State Pension and is not part of the council budget.