Key facts about the UK as an international financial centre 2024

15 January 2025

5 minutes

Our annual 'Key facts about the UK as an international financial centre' report reflects on the economic and financial landscape of 2024.

The UK remains one of the world’s leading hubs for the international financial and related professional services industry, with London at its core. In 2023, the UK achieved an estimated trade surplus in financial and related professional services of $125.3bn (£100.7bn), and holds significant global market shares in areas such as cross-border bank lending, foreign exchange, insurance and FinTech. The country is also a leader in green finance, pension fund management and legal services, continuing to attract substantial international investment across various sectors.

Below are some of the key facts about the UK as an international financial centre from the report:

The UK’s trade surplus in financial and related professional services is
£100.7bn

The UK has
38%
of the global total of foreign-exchange turnover

London hosts more than
170
foreign banks or branches

The UK has
14%
of the global total of crossborder lending

The UK’s equity market
capitalisation was
70.4%
of its GDP at the end of 2023

UK FinTech investment reached
£4.1bn
in 2023

Around
TWICE
as many US dollars are traded in the UK than in the US

Over 488 active sustainable bonds were listed on the London Stock Exchange (LSE) from over 125 issuers in 2023, which have raised around
£218bn

The UK is home to around
200
foreign law firms from around 40 jurisdictions

The UK accounts for
5.4%
of global insurance premiums

UK private equity funds invested
£29.4bn
the largest amount in Europe, in 2023

UK-based Islamic banks’ assets represent more than
90%
of Islamic banking assets in Europe (excluding Turkey)

The economic and geopolitical challenges of 2024, such as fiscal instability, inflation and trade tensions, continue to impact global growth. Despite these obstacles, the UK’s financial and related professional services sectors remains a powerful driver of economic stability and innovation, with impressive metrics in areas such as insurance and FinTech—demonstrating its resilience and global competitiveness.

Key facts about the UK as an international financial centre 2024

Our annual 'Key facts about the UK as an international financial centre' report reflects on the economic and financial landscape of 2024.

Below are some of the key facts about the UK as an international financial centre from the report:

Read the full report to uncover key insights and trends shaping the financial and related professional services landscape.