Gross Capital Formation Branch
Telephone: +44 (0)1633 455250
Frequency of release: Annually
Geographical coverage: UK
Geographical breakdown: UK and GB
The National Balance Sheet is a measure of the wealth, or total net worth, of the UK. It shows the estimated market value of financial assets, for example shares and deposits, and non-financial assets, for example dwellings and machinery. Market value is an estimate of how much these assets would sell for, if sold on the market.
Without removing the effects of inflation, estimates of UK total net worth more than trebled in the 25 years from 1987 to 2012.
UK total net worth at the end of 2012 was estimated at £7.3 trillion; this was equivalent to approximately £114,000 per head of population or £275,000 per household.
The main reason for the increase in the UK total net worth between 2011 and 2012 was the increase in the estimated net worth of households and non-profit institutions serving households, for example charities, universities and churches.
Non-financial corporations provided the largest downward pressure on total UK net worth between 2011 and 2012. This was mainly attributed to decreases in their estimated net worth of shares and other equity, which decreased by nearly 20%.
Dwellings were the most valuable non-financial asset in the UK. They have steadily increased in value in recent years, except for a fall in 2008. In 2012 they were 60% of the value of UK non-financial assets.
As part of the continuous improvement process, some data for previous years have been revised; further details are available in the background notes section.