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England · single-tier councils · 2024-25

Liverpool Council budget and spending

Liverpool Council had net current service expenditure of £1.3bn in 2024-25, about £2,474 for each of its 507,915 residents. By total budget it is 5th highest of 185 single-tier councils.

Net service spending, 2024-25
£1.3bn
Spend per resident
£2,474
63rd of 185 single-tier councils
Population (mid-2025)
507,915
ONS mid-year estimate
Rank by total budget
5th
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 Liverpool Council spends its money

Liverpool Council spending by service, 2024-25
  • Education£544.6m

    43.3% of the budget

  • Adult social care£281.2m

    22.4% of the budget

  • Children's social care£196.3m

    15.6% of the budget

  • Public health£55.7m

    4.4% of the budget

  • Housing£51.7m

    4.1% of the budget

  • Environment£39.3m

    3.1% of the budget

  • Culture£34.6m

    2.8% of the budget

  • Central and other£22.1m

    1.8% of the budget

  • Planning£19.7m

    1.6% of the budget

  • Highways and transport£11.2m

    0.9% 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 Liverpool

Across six benefits, £1.7bn was paid out in Liverpool in the 12 months to March 2026, about £3,442 per resident. That is 5th highest of 315 areas per person and 4th by total pounds, and 60.7% above the England and Wales figure of £2,142.

Benefits paid in Liverpool by benefit, 12 months to March 2026
  • Universal Credit£1.0bn
  • Personal Independence Payment£450.4m
  • Housing Benefit£152.7m
  • Disability Living Allowance£107.0m
  • Employment and Support Allowance£60.2m
  • Carer's Allowance£55.4m

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

Liverpool Council: common questions

How much does Liverpool Council spend?

Liverpool Council had net current service expenditure of £1.3bn in 2024-25. This is the council budget only: it excludes NHS spending, pensions, Universal Credit and debt interest.

How much does Liverpool Council spend per resident?

About £2,474 per resident, from a 2024-25 budget of £1.3bn and an ONS population estimate of 507,915. That is 63rd highest of 185 single-tier councils.

What does Liverpool Council spend most on?

Education is the largest service line at £544.6m, 43.3% of the 2024-25 budget.

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

Adult and children's social care together take 38.0% of net service spending in 2024-25.

How much is spent on benefits in Liverpool?

£1.7bn 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 £3,442 per resident. That ranks 5th of 315 areas per person. It excludes the State Pension and is not part of the council budget.