65.9 Overall Score

United Kingdom

Data as of Aug 1
Next 》

56.3 Public Health
Directives
58 Financial
Response
68 Fact-Based
Communication

56.3 Public Health
Directives
58 Financial
Response
68 Fact-Based
Communication

The U.K. scored near the median for overall policy, due to a relatively strong financial policy, although its weak initial lockdown hurt its score; the new strain is causing a huge uptick in cases, resulting in stricter lockdowns.

Pre-COVID Conditions

The U.K. has a low number of hospital beds, balanced out by a relatively low degree of inequality, and it scores slightly above the median in most other categories.

Debt/GDP ratio 86.8%
GDP/capita $48,169
Gini coefficient (out of 100) 34.8
Infant mortality rate (out of 1,000 live births) 4
Healthcare access score (out of 100) 84.6
Hospital beds/1,000 People 19.7

Government Response

Select a data point for more information
(Data points represent policy level as of Aug 1.)

56.3

Public Health Directives

The UK’s public health policy score is around the median, with its score brought down by limited stay-at-home orders, a late travel-restriction policy, limited testing, and few funds for emergency healthcare needs.

Stay at home order 1
Public gathering restrictions 0
School closings 0
Public event cancellations 0
Testing policy 0
Emergency healthcare investments/capita $94.28
Travel restrictions 2
Tests/1,000 people 1.9
Contact tracing 2

Financial Response

The UK’s financial response was at the median in terms of income support and debt relief, although its overall stimulus package has been relatively small.

Financial stimulus as share of GDP 5%
Income support 2
Debt forebearance 2

Fact-Based Communication

The British government has largely not engaged in misinformation but has, in some instances, limited media access to information in response to COVID-19.

Reliance on science/fact based information 1
Press freedom 1

COVID-19 Status as of Aug 1

The U.K.’s delayed lockdown and poor public health policy have resulted in a very high rate of confirmed deaths, placing it in the bottom quartile.

Total deaths 41,189
Death rate per 100K 606.7
Total cases 303,181
Cases per 100K 4,466
Percent of positive tests 0.4

Daily cases Level 1 Lockdown Level 2 Lockdown

	Date	Status	New Cases/1M
1	May 13	Manufacturing and construction workers are encouraged to go back to work	47.16
2	Jun 01	Some schools, outdoor markets, and car showrooms reopen	22.95
3	Jun 08	Dentist 's offices reopen	17.94
4	Jun 15	All other non-essential retail reopens	15.02
5	Jul 04	Hospitality, personal care service industries, and public places reopen	9.19

Differentiating Factors

Decentralized healthcare created confusion: The U.K. healthcare system is devolved, meaning that authorities in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland are free to make their own decisions regardless of the directives emanating from Westminster. This has led to confusion and conflict between prominent politicians, particularly relating to economic re-opening and social distancing measures. Read More
OECD predicts UK economy will shrink substantially: The OECD has predicted that the U.K. economy will shrink by 11.5 percent, more than any other OECD country. Read More
UK considers joining EU to secure vaccine: In a move that may have implications for post-Brexit cooperation with the EU, the government is assessing whether to join an EU program to secure COVID vaccinations as a bloc. The EU's size gives it greater power to strike a deal with drug companies and keep prices low, but entering this program would prevent the U.K. from conducting separate negotiations with other pharmaceutical companies. Read More

Compared with Other Small Island Nations

100
New Zealand 1,212
Cases 251
Per 1M 22
Deaths

New Zealand has had very strong policy, particularly with regard to its reliance on science and facts and its relatively strong financial response.
58
Iceland 1,885
Cases 5,524
Per 1M 10
Deaths

Iceland has a very strong score, owing heavily to its reliance on facts as well as generous debt and income support; its large improvement since January was keyed by significant improvements in public health policy and financial support.
60
Taiwan 474
Cases 20
Per 1M 7
Deaths

Taiwan has a relatively strong policy score, but its minimal stimulus and weak debt relief bring it down. However, the data does not accurately measure its advanced contact tracing, which may have diminished the need for more restrictions; this likely results in a score that underestimates Taiwan’s response.

Be the source of actionable insight.

Select one of the subscription options below to read the full Covid-19 Global Response Index. Unlock even more global intelligence with a subscription to FP Insider.

Best Value

One-Year All Access
FP Insider

$450

1-year of full access to FP Insider exclusive content and subscription benefits

See benefits ▾

All FP Analytics Special Reports, including the COVID-19 Global Response Index
FP Analytics Power Maps
Editorial conference calls
Unlimited articles on ForeignPolicy.com
Digital and print editions of FP’s award-winning magazine
Print archive, containing 50 years of FP journalism
Subscriber-only newsletters
Security and defense news alerts
Bonus episodes of FP podcasts
FP mobile app

Hide benefits

One-Month
COVID-19 Report Bundle

$150

30-day Access to the COVID-19 Global Response Index and Global Race to Vaccinate report

Looking for group access? Contact us directly

Statistics and government response factors available on each country profile include:

Pre-COVID Conditions:

Debt to GDP ratio
Infant mortality rates
Hospital beds per 1,000 people
Gini coefficients measuring inequality
Health access and quality

COVID-19 Public Health Directives:

Stay-at home orders
School-closing policy
Public-gathering restrictions
Cancellation of public events
Testing policy and rates per 1,000 people
Emergency healthcare spending per capita
Travel restrictions
Contact tracing

COVID-19 Financial Response:

Stimulus package as a share of GDP
Income support
Debt-forbearance

Public Communications:

Instances of misinformation by leadership
Limitations on press freedom, censorship

Current/Historic In-Country COVID-19 Status:

Death rates per 1 million
Case rates per 1 million