Official Statistics

Using annual estimates from summed monthly GVA data (DCMS)

Published 20 February 2024

1. Annual GVA estimates from summed monthly GVA (DCMS)

1.1 About these estimates

The DCMS sector total reported here includes civil society, creative industries, cultural sector, gambling and sport. Tourism is not included as the data is not yet available (see note in data table). Figures for the digital sector and telecoms are presented separately as responsibility for these policy areas now sits with the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology.

These annual estimates have been produced by summing monthly GVA estimates for the 12 calendar months in each year from 2019 to 2023. They are our most timely way of estimating GVA for DCMS sectors but, as they are based on the monthly GVA estimates, the same caveats apply (full methodology), and they should be used with caution. These estimates will be superseded by our more robust annual GVA series when data becomes available.

1.2 Key technical points:

  • The estimates are based on the monthly data as published in February 2024. The index is a chained volume measure and level estimates are given in 2022 prices, meaning that 2023 estimates are not fully adjusted for inflation and it is likely these would be higher if presented in 2023 prices, although growth rates would be unchanged. These estimates include our earliest estimate of GVA in 2023; this is based on recent data and is more uncertain than estimates for earlier years.
  • The monthly GVA gives a timely estimate that is then revised frequently, in line with scheduled revisions to the underlying ONS datasets as new information becomes available. Correspondingly, these summed estimates will be revised in future as necessary.
  • These estimates cannot be directly compared to our annual GVA estimates series, due to methodology differences, however, it is possible to look at trends up to 2022 using the annual series, and trends from 2022 using these estimates. You can find data from 2010 to 2022 in our most recent annual GVA publication.

1.3 Key findings

1.4 All DCMS sectors (excluding tourism)

We estimate that GVA by DCMS sector businesses in 2023 was approximately £171 billion (in 2022 prices), an increase of 1% in real terms from 2022. This is 9% higher in real terms than in 2019, prior to the pandemic; in comparison, the GVA by the UK economy as a whole was 2% above 2019  levels in 2023.

Our traditional annual GVA estimates show that, up to 2022, GVA by the DCMS sectors (excluding tourism) grew faster than GVA by the UK economy as a whole, increasing by 51% in real terms between 2010 and 2022 compared to 22% for the UK economy.

1.5 Civil society

We estimate that in 2023, GVA by civil society was approximately £23 billion (in 2022 prices), 3% higher in real terms than 2022, in comparison GVA by the UK economy as a whole was 0.4% higher in 2023 than in 2022.

Our traditional annual GVA estimates show that, up to 2022, GVA by civil society grew faster than GVA by the UK economy as a whole, increasing by 121% in real terms between 2010 and 2022 compared to 22% for the UK economy.

1.6 Creative industries

We estimate that in 2023, GVA by the creative industries was approximately £125 billion (in 2022 prices), 0.6% higher in real terms than in 2022, while GVA by the UK economy as a whole was 0.4% higher in 2023 than in 2022.

Our traditional annual GVA estimates show that, up to 2022, GVA by the creative industries grew faster than GVA by the UK economy as a whole, increasing by 50% in real terms between 2010 and 2022 compared to 22% for the UK economy.

1.7 Cultural sector

We estimate that in 2023, GVA by the cultural sector was approximately £36 billion (in 2022 prices), 4% higher in real terms than in 2022, while GVA by the UK economy as a whole was 0.4% higher in 2023 than in 2022.

Our traditional annual GVA estimates show that, up to 2022, GVA by the cultural sector grew at a similar rate to GVA by the UK economy as a whole, increasing by 19% in real terms between 2010 and 2022 compared to 22% for the UK economy.

1.8 Gambling sector

We estimate that in 2023, GVA by the gambling sector was approximately £5 billion (in 2022 prices), 4% lower in real terms than in 2022, in comparison GVA by the UK economy as a whole was 0.4% higher in 2023 than in 2022.

Our traditional annual GVA estimates show that, up to 2022, GVA by the gambling  sector fell by 2% in real terms between 2010 and 2022 compared to 22% for the UK economy, following large decreases in GVA during the pandemic. However, please note that this is a small sector whose estimates can be quite variable from year to year.

1.9 Sport sector

We estimate that in 2023, GVA by the sport sector was approximately £19 billion (in 2022 prices), 4% higher than in 2022, in comparison GVA by the UK economy as a whole was 0.4% higher in 2023 than in 2022.

Our traditional annual GVA estimates show that, up to 2019, GVA by the sport sector grew at a faster rate than GVA by the UK economy as a whole, increasing by 32% in real terms between 2010 and 2022 compared to 22% for the UK economy.