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England · single-tier councils · 2024-25

Sunderland Council budget and spending

Sunderland Council had net current service expenditure of £499.0m in 2024-25, about £1,738 for each of its 287,070 residents. By total budget it is 85th highest of 185 single-tier councils.

Net service spending, 2024-25
£499.0m
Spend per resident
£1,738
147th of 185 single-tier councils
Population (mid-2025)
287,070
ONS mid-year estimate
Rank by total budget
85th
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 Sunderland Council spends its money

Sunderland Council spending by service, 2024-25
  • Education£144.6m

    29.0% of the budget

  • Adult social care£140.9m

    28.2% of the budget

  • Children's social care£89.3m

    17.9% of the budget

  • Environment£33.2m

    6.7% of the budget

  • Public health£29.6m

    5.9% of the budget

  • Central and other£20.6m

    4.1% of the budget

  • Planning£11.8m

    2.4% of the budget

  • Highways and transport£10.9m

    2.2% of the budget

  • Culture£10.7m

    2.2% of the budget

  • Housing£7.5m

    1.5% 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 Sunderland

Across six benefits, £839.9m was paid out in Sunderland in the 12 months to March 2026, about £2,926 per resident. That is 28th highest of 315 areas per person and 32nd by total pounds, and 36.6% above the England and Wales figure of £2,142.

Benefits paid in Sunderland by benefit, 12 months to March 2026
  • Universal Credit£460.7m
  • Personal Independence Payment£233.8m
  • Housing Benefit£59.3m
  • Disability Living Allowance£56.3m
  • Carer's Allowance£36.0m
  • Employment and Support Allowance£34.0m

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

Sunderland Council: common questions

How much does Sunderland Council spend?

Sunderland Council had net current service expenditure of £499.0m in 2024-25. This is the council budget only: it excludes NHS spending, pensions, Universal Credit and debt interest.

How much does Sunderland Council spend per resident?

About £1,738 per resident, from a 2024-25 budget of £499.0m and an ONS population estimate of 287,070. That is 147th highest of 185 single-tier councils.

What does Sunderland Council spend most on?

Education is the largest service line at £144.6m, 29.0% of the 2024-25 budget.

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

Adult and children's social care together take 46.1% of net service spending in 2024-25.

How much is spent on benefits in Sunderland?

£839.9m 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 £2,926 per resident. That ranks 28th of 315 areas per person. It excludes the State Pension and is not part of the council budget.