Asylum seeker costs will take aid over-budget in 2027

Asylum seeker costs will take aid over-budget in 2027

If the UK maintains its already-budgeted commitments for global education, social protection, and clean water, aid spending will face a £2bn black hole (Option A).
Even if these aid programs are cut, there will still be over £750 million which does not fit in the projected aid budget (Option B).
Asylum-seeker housing costs are projected to be £3 billion in 2027, straining the shrinking £9.2bn aid budget.

Climate

Global Health

Support to Gaza, Sudan and Ukraine

Cross-cutting areas* (uncuttable)

Legally binding multilateral funding (FCDO) and Gift Aid

Existing commitments (not promised)

Asylum-seeker housing costs

Option A

11.16B

1.63B

1.18B

520M

3.12B

530M

1.18B

3B

Option B

9.98B

1.63B

1.18B

520M

3.12B

530M

3B

Exceeding £9.22bn budget mark

Figures taken from: DFID results estimates; FCDO reporting to the International Aid Transparency Initiative (IATI), accessed March 2025; Statistics on International Development: final UK ODA spend 2023; IMF World Economic Outlook database, accessed March 2025.

Source: Save the Children, Independent analysis, FCDO