UK economy and politics in charts

Key Points:

• On June 23, 2016, the UK voted to leave the EU by 52% to 48%, triggering economic turmoil, including a sharp drop in the pound and the FTSE 100, and leading to Prime Minister David Cameron's resignation.
• Brexit has negatively impacted the UK economy, with estimates suggesting a 6-8% reduction in GDP by 2025 due to uncertainty, reduced demand, and resource misallocation during the prolonged Brexit process.
• Post-Brexit immigration shifted significantly, with net emigration to the EU and increased migration from non-EU countries due to labor shortages and emergency visa schemes, while EU work visa uptake has remained low.
• The pound sterling has remained about 10% below its pre-referendum value against the euro and dollar, increasing costs for UK consumers due to higher prices for imported goods and materials.
• UK stock markets reflect Brexit's mixed impact: the multinational FTSE 100 outperformed the domestically focused FTSE 250, but overall UK equities have lagged behind US markets, showing little change over the past decade.
• Despite Brexit, the EU remains the UK's largest trading partner, accounting for 41% of exports and 50% of imports in 2025, with a trade deal signed in 2021 preventing tariffs or quotas between the two sides.
• Since the referendum, the UK has seen high political turnover with no prime minister lasting more than three years; most recently, Prime Minister Keir Starmer resigned amid leadership challenges, marking the seventh prime minister in a decade.