Government expenditure & revenue Scotland 2025-26

Government Expenditure and Revenue Scotland (GERS) is an Accredited Official Statistics publication. It estimates the revenue raised in Scotland and the cost of public services provided for Scotland.


2. North Sea Revenue

Chart 2.1: North Sea Revenue in Scotland and UK peaked in 2008-09, before falling. Although close to the peak again 2022-23 North Sea revenue has fallen in each year since

North Sea revenue Scotland (geographic share) and UK

(£ billion)

UK North Sea revenue and Scotland's geographical share of North Sea revenue between 1998-99 and 2025-26. Revenues rise sharply during the 2000s, peaking in 2008-09, before falling during the mid-2010s. A second increase occurs in 2022-23 before revenues decline again. In 2025-26, UK North Sea revenue is £3.9 billion and Scotland's geographical share is £3.2 billion.

North Sea revenue refers to all offshore oil and gas activity and includes: petroleum revenue tax, corporation tax, licence fees, and the energy profits levy.

The revenue raised from each component of North Sea revenue since 2023-24 is shown below. UK North Sea revenue declined in each of the last three years. In 2025-26 it was £3.9 billion. This reflects the path of oil and gas prices over recent years declined compared to 2024-25.

Table 2.1: Composition of North Sea Revenue (£ million) UK 2023-24 to 2025-26

Source of Revenue

2023-24

2024-25

2025-26

Licence fees

46

47

47

North Sea corporation tax

2,685

2,233

1,821

Petroleum revenue tax

-427

-350

-459

Energy profits levy

3,169

2,520

2,519

Total

5,473

4,450

3,928

Scotland’s illustrative geographical share of UK North Sea revenue is shown below, was higher in 2023-24 than the later years shown, likely reflecting the greater profitability of oil fields relative to gas fields in that year.

Table 2.2: Geographical Share of North Sea Revenue 2023-24 to 2025-26

Source of Revenue

2023-24

2024-25

2025-26

UK revenue (£million)

5,473

4,450

3,928

Licence fees

46

47

47

North Sea corporation tax

2,685

2,233

1,821

Petroleum revenue tax

-427

-350

-459

Energy Profits Levy

3,169

2,520

2,519

Scottish geographical revenue (£ million)

4,370

3,568

3,153

Licence fees

37

38

38

North Sea corporation tax

2,148

1,786

1,457

Petroleum revenue tax

-350

-272

-357

Energy Profits Levy

2,535

2,016

2,015

Scottish share of UK (%)

79.8%

80.2%

80.3%

Licence fees

80.0%

80.0%

80.0%

North Sea corporation tax

80.0%

80.0%

80.0%

Petroleum revenue tax

82.0%

77.7%

77.7%

Energy Profits Levy

80.0%

80.0%

80.0%

Further commentary on the background concerning fluctuations in North- Sea revenue are provided in the methodology publication.

Economy statistics - gov.scot

Contact

Email: economic.statistics@gov.scot

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