England · single-tier councils · 2024-25
Tower Hamlets Council budget and spending
Tower Hamlets Council had net current service expenditure of £901.1m in 2024-25, about £2,696 for each of its 334,240 residents. By total budget it is 16th highest of 185 single-tier councils.
- Net service spending, 2024-25
- £901.1m
- Spend per resident
- £2,696
- 49th of 185 single-tier councils
- Population (mid-2025)
- 334,240
- ONS mid-year estimate
- Rank by total budget
- 16th
- 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 Tower Hamlets Council spends its money
- Education£428.0m
47.5% of the budget
- Adult social care£165.9m
18.4% of the budget
- Children's social care£95.6m
10.6% of the budget
- Environment£75.3m
8.4% of the budget
- Housing£43.8m
4.9% of the budget
- Public health£43.3m
4.8% of the budget
- Planning£21.0m
2.3% of the budget
- Culture£16.5m
1.8% of the budget
- Central and other£14.6m
1.6% 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 Tower Hamlets
Across six benefits, £1.1bn was paid out in Tower Hamlets in the 12 months to March 2026, about £3,286 per resident. That is 12th highest of 315 areas per person and 11th by total pounds, and 53.4% above the England and Wales figure of £2,142.
- Universal Credit£794.4m
- Personal Independence Payment£149.5m
- Housing Benefit£121.2m
- Disability Living Allowance£41.9m
- Carer's Allowance£36.8m
- Employment and Support Allowance£12.2m
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
Tower Hamlets Council: common questions
How much does Tower Hamlets Council spend?
Tower Hamlets Council had net current service expenditure of £901.1m in 2024-25. This is the council budget only: it excludes NHS spending, pensions, Universal Credit and debt interest.
How much does Tower Hamlets Council spend per resident?
About £2,696 per resident, from a 2024-25 budget of £901.1m and an ONS population estimate of 334,240. That is 49th highest of 185 single-tier councils.
What does Tower Hamlets Council spend most on?
Education is the largest service line at £428.0m, 47.5% of the 2024-25 budget.
How much of Tower Hamlets Council's budget goes on social care?
Adult and children's social care together take 29.0% of net service spending in 2024-25.
How much is spent on benefits in Tower Hamlets?
£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 £3,286 per resident. That ranks 12th of 315 areas per person. It excludes the State Pension and is not part of the council budget.