Calculations from the Center for Global Development say spending next year is likely to be £410m less than anticipated The UK is on course to miss its target of spending 0.3% of national income on international aid by an estimated £400m by the end of next year. The 0.3% spending target for 2027 is far below the 0.7% promised in Labour’s election manifesto, having been downgraded by Keir Starmer to boost spending on defence.
The UK’s overall official development assistance (ODA) budget in 2025 decreased to 0.44% of gross national income, compared with 0.5% in 2024, a drop of £987m. The data showed a 6.7% decrease in funding to the least-developed and low-income countries, amounting to cuts of £118m.
The researchers called on ministers to consider allocating additional funds to international aid in this week’s budget, to avoid the embarrassment and criticism from missing a target.
Making up a shortfall of even £400m would be enough to halve cuts to Africa that are likely to cost thousands of lives and mean the UK’s de facto exit from the south and east of the continent, he said. The researchers said the central forecast from the Treasury’s comparison of independent experts implied UK aid would be £410m less than anticipated – at only 0.29% of national income.