Economy · Productivity · G7
How does UK productivity compare with the rest of the G7?
From 2007 to 2021, UK output per hour grew second slowest of the G7, and its growth rate fell by more than any other member’s. On output per worker, which runs to 2025, the UK is fourth of seven. The UK also invests the smallest share of GDP.
Evidence last reviewed 20 October 2026
Three comparisons, kept separate
No single source covers hours, growth and levels for all seven countries up to date. We use three, one for each question, and never mix them. The official hours-based comparison from the ONS was published on 11 January 2023 and ends in 2021. The World Bank’s output per worker runs to 2025.
Growth before and after 2007
Every G7 country slowed after the financial crisis. The UK slowed most. Its output per hour grew 2.0% a year from 1997 to 2007, second fastest in the group. It grew 0.3% a year from 2007 to 2021, second slowest. Only Italy, which was already near zero, grew more slowly.
- United States2.3% a year, 1997–20071.2% a year, 2007–2021
- Canada1.5% a year, 1997–20070.8% a year, 2007–2021
- Germany1.4% a year, 1997–20070.7% a year, 2007–2021
- Japan1.6% a year, 1997–20070.7% a year, 2007–2021
- France1.6% a year, 1997–20070.4% a year, 2007–2021
- United Kingdom2.0% a year, 1997–20070.3% a year, 2007–2021
- Italy0.4% a year, 1997–20070.2% a year, 2007–2021
Output per hour worked, average growth a year, chained volume. Japan’s data end in 2020, so its second bar covers 2007–2020. ONS International comparisons of UK productivity (final estimates, published 11 January 2023; the ONS lists the next release as to be confirmed). Output per hour, chained volume index; the series ends in 2021 (2020 for Japan). It is the latest official G7 hours-based comparison available here, not a current one.
View the figures as a table
| Year | United Kingdom | United States | Germany | France | Italy | Japan | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 89.6 | 86.2 | 91.0 | 91.1 | 99.8 | 91.0 | 92.6 |
| 2001 | 90.5 | 88.1 | 93.3 | 92.8 | 100.5 | 92.4 | 94.1 |
| 2002 | 92.5 | 90.5 | 94.2 | 95.6 | 99.7 | 94.0 | 95.6 |
| 2003 | 95.0 | 93.3 | 94.9 | 96.1 | 99.0 | 95.4 | 95.8 |
| 2004 | 96.2 | 95.7 | 95.8 | 97.2 | 99.9 | 97.7 | 96.6 |
| 2005 | 97.0 | 97.7 | 97.3 | 98.0 | 100.3 | 99.1 | 98.7 |
| 2006 | 98.6 | 98.6 | 98.8 | 100.5 | 100.1 | 99.3 | 99.9 |
| 2007 | 100.0 | 100.0 | 100.0 | 100.0 | 100.0 | 100.0 | 100.0 |
| 2008 | 100.1 | 101.3 | 100.0 | 99.4 | 99.4 | 99.7 | 99.7 |
| 2009 | 97.7 | 104.5 | 97.0 | 98.3 | 97.4 | 98.3 | 100.2 |
| 2010 | 100.4 | 107.3 | 99.3 | 99.6 | 99.7 | 101.3 | 101.3 |
| 2011 | 100.4 | 107.3 | 101.8 | 100.6 | 100.3 | 101.9 | 102.9 |
| 2012 | 99.7 | 107.7 | 102.5 | 100.9 | 99.8 | 103.1 | 103.2 |
| 2013 | 100.2 | 108.2 | 102.9 | 102.3 | 100.6 | 105.4 | 104.7 |
| 2014 | 100.4 | 108.6 | 104.0 | 103.3 | 100.7 | 105.5 | 107.6 |
| 2015 | 102.2 | 109.2 | 104.5 | 104.1 | 100.7 | 107.7 | 107.4 |
| 2016 | 101.9 | 109.5 | 106.0 | 104.4 | 100.4 | 107.8 | 107.8 |
| 2017 | 103.7 | 110.5 | 107.9 | 106.6 | 101.1 | 108.8 | 109.5 |
| 2018 | 104.2 | 111.8 | 108.1 | 107.1 | 101.1 | 109.4 | 109.9 |
| 2019 | 104.7 | 113.1 | 108.9 | 107.5 | 101.6 | 110.5 | 110.9 |
| 2020 | 105.9 | 117.0 | 110.0 | 108.0 | 104.6 | 109.1 | 119.0 |
| 2021 | 104.0 | 118.4 | 110.9 | 106.4 | 103.3 | no data | 112.2 |
Japan’s series ends in 2020. Index values are rebased to 2007 here; the underlying ONS index is 2019 = 100, so only growth between years can be read from it.
How far behind is the UK?
In 2021 the UK produced £46.92 for each hour worked, fourth of the six countries with data. Output per hour was 18% higher in France, 19% higher in Germany and 25% higher in the United States. Italy and Canada were below the UK. Japan has no 2021 figure.
Output per hour worked, 2021, current prices, pounds at purchasing power parity.
- United States£58.88 an hour25% higher than the UK
- Germany£55.83 an hour19% higher than the UK
- France£55.50 an hour18% higher than the UK
- United Kingdom£46.92 an hour
- Italy£45.33 an hour−3% lower than the UK
- Canada£42.94 an hour−8% lower than the UK
ONS International comparisons of UK productivity, Table 1: output per hour worked, component method, current prices, pounds at purchasing power parity. Current prices include price changes, so use it for the level in one year, not for growth.
A newer check: output per worker to 2025
Output per worker does not adjust for the hours people work, but it is up to date. The UK grew 6.9% between 2007 and 2025, fourth of seven. The United States grew 27% and has pulled well ahead. Italy’s output per worker fell.
The UK looks less weak on this measure than on output per hour, so the result depends on how you count. Both say the same about the long run: the UK’s growth fell away after 2007 and the United States kept growing.
Change in GDP per person employed, 2007 to 2025, constant 2021 purchasing-power dollars.
- United States+26.9% from 2007 to 2025
- Canada+10.2% from 2007 to 2025
- France+7.8% from 2007 to 2025
- United Kingdom+6.9% from 2007 to 2025
- Germany+5.6% from 2007 to 2025
- Japan+2.4% from 2007 to 2025
- Italy−2.2% from 2007 to 2025
World Bank World Development Indicators SL.GDP.PCAP.EM.KD: GDP per person employed, constant 2021 international dollars at purchasing power parity, to 2025. This counts workers, not hours: it does not remove differences in how many hours people work.
Investment: the smallest share in the G7
Total investment (buildings, machinery, equipment and software, public and private) was 18.7% of GDP in the UK in 2024. The other six had a median of 21.8%. The UK was lowest in 23 of the 33 years since 1992. Workers with less equipment to use tend to produce less per hour. This is a likely cause, not a proven share of the gap.
- Japan27.8% of GDP
- Canada22.9% of GDP
- France22.1% of GDP
- Italy21.5% of GDP
- United States21.3% of GDP
- Germany20.5% of GDP
- United Kingdom18.7% of GDP
Gross fixed capital formation as a share of GDP, 2024. Source: World Bank, World Development Indicators: Gross fixed capital formation (% of GDP). Includes housing, which is a large share of investment in some countries.
Research and development
The UK spent 2.8% of GDP on research and development in 2023, fourth of seven. That is above France, Canada and Italy and below Japan, the United States and Germany. It is a middle position, not the clearest weakness.
- Japan3.4% of GDP
- United States3.4% of GDP
- Germany3.1% of GDP
- United Kingdom2.8% of GDP
- France2.2% of GDP
- Canada1.9% of GDP
- Italy1.4% of GDP
Gross domestic expenditure on research and development, % of GDP, 2023, the latest year all seven report. Source: OECD Main Science and Technology Indicators.
What these comparisons cannot do
Sources and methods (4)
- ONS, International comparisons of UK productivity (ICP), final estimates, Tables 1 and 7 (released 11 January 2023) — growth in output per hour 1997–2021, and levels in pounds 2012–2021
- World Bank, World Development Indicators: GDP per person employed (constant 2021 PPP $), SL.GDP.PCAP.EM.KD (released database updated 8 October 2026) — output per worker, 2007–2025
- World Bank, World Development Indicators: Gross fixed capital formation (% of GDP), NE.GDI.FTOT.ZS (released WDI update, 13 July 2026) — total investment as a share of GDP
- OECD, Main Science and Technology Indicators — research and development spending as a share of GDP
Method notes
- ONS International comparisons of UK productivity (final estimates, published 11 January 2023; the ONS lists the next release as to be confirmed). Output per hour, chained volume index; the series ends in 2021 (2020 for Japan). It is the latest official G7 hours-based comparison available here, not a current one.
- World Bank World Development Indicators SL.GDP.PCAP.EM.KD: GDP per person employed, constant 2021 international dollars at purchasing power parity, to 2025. This counts workers, not hours: it does not remove differences in how many hours people work.
- ONS International comparisons of UK productivity, Table 1: output per hour worked, component method, current prices, pounds at purchasing power parity. Current prices include price changes, so use it for the level in one year, not for growth.
- Growth rates are compound annual rates between the endpoints named. The index lines are rebased to 2007 = 100 here; ONS publishes the index with 2019 = 100.
- Rank 1 is the fastest growth. “Second slowest” and “fell by more than any other” are computed from the same table that draws the chart.
Corrections and changes
- 20 October 2026: New dev-preview page.