Creative industries contributed £126.6 billion in GVA in 2022, a £25.6 billion advertising and marketing engine alongside a growing set of digital and cultural services. What stands out is how quickly this sector moved, with 21.6% GVA growth from 2019 to 2022 compared with just 6.0% for the wider UK economy. From trade surplus and patent support to where jobs cluster and who does the work, these figures set up a clear question worth answering.
Key Takeaways
- The UK creative industries contributed £126.6 billion in Gross Value Added (GVA) to the economy in 2022, accounting for 5.6% of total UK GVA
- Creative industries generated £57.1 billion in consumer spending in 2022, representing 6.2% of total household final consumption expenditure
- The sector's GVA grew by 21.6% from 2019 to 2022, outpacing the overall UK economy's 6.0% growth
- The UK creative industries employed 2.38 million people in 2022, 7.1% of the total workforce
- Employment in advertising and marketing reached 315,000 in 2022
- Film, TV, radio and photography employed 244,000 people
- Creative industries exports reached £28.6 billion in 2022, 16% of total UK services exports
- Net trade surplus £16.2 billion for creatives in 2022
- US accounts for 39% of creative exports value £11.1bn in 2022
- Total creative industries grew 20.7% in GVA 2019-2022 vs 5.6% UK economy
- Employment in creatives up 15.3% 2019-2022 to 2.38m
- Consumer spending on creatives +22.4% to £57.1bn 2019-2022
- Advertising and marketing GVA grew 34% from 2019-2022 to £25.6bn
- Film, TV, video, photography GVA up 16% to £14.6bn 2019-2022
- Publishing GVA increased 4% to £8.9bn from 2019-2022
In 2022 the UK creative industries generated £126.6bn GVA and powered 21.6% growth since 2019.
Related reading
01 · Category
Economic Contribution30 stats
01
The UK creative industries contributed £126.6 billion in Gross Value Added (GVA) to the economy in 2022, accounting for 5.6% of total UK GVA
02
Creative industries generated £57.1 billion in consumer spending in 2022, representing 6.2% of total household final consumption expenditure
03
The sector's GVA grew by 21.6% from 2019 to 2022, outpacing the overall UK economy's 6.0% growth
04
Advertising and marketing services contributed £25.6 billion GVA in 2022, the largest creative sub-sector
05
Film, TV, radio, photography contributed £14.6 billion GVA in 2022
06
IT, software and computer services added £36.9 billion GVA, though partially attributed
07
Publishing contributed £8.9 billion GVA in 2022
08
Music, performing and visual arts added £6.3 billion GVA
09
Architecture contributed £4.4 billion GVA
10
Design and design support activities £4.5 billion GVA
11
Crafts contributed £1.1 billion GVA in 2022
12
Creative industries paid £70.3 billion in compensation of employees in 2022
13
The sector's gross operating surplus was £33.9 billion in 2022
14
Creative industries turnover reached £151.9 billion in 2022
15
London accounted for 43% of creative industries GVA in 2022 at £54.5 billion
16
South East contributed 11% of creative GVA with £13.9 billion in 2022
17
North West's creative GVA was £8.2 billion, 6.5% of total
18
Scotland's creative industries GVA stood at £5.6 billion in 2022
19
Wales contributed £2.1 billion GVA from creatives
20
Northern Ireland's creative GVA was £1.0 billion in 2022
21
Creative industries' productivity per head was £49,800 GVA per job in 2022, above UK average
22
The sector imported £12.4 billion in goods and services in 2022
23
Exports from creative industries totalled £28.6 billion in 2022
24
Net trade surplus for creatives was £16.2 billion in 2022
25
Creative industries R&D expenditure was £4.7 billion in 2022
26
London creative GVA per head was £59,400 in 2022
27
Creative sector tax contributions estimated at £40 billion annually pre-2022
28
Creative industries supported 1 in 6 UK patents filed in 2022
29
The sector's multiplier effect generates £2.50 additional output per £1 GVA in 2022 estimates
30
Creative industries accounted for 12% of UK business births in 2022
Interpretation
Economic Contribution Interpretation
Despite what the taxman might think, creativity is not a frivolous expense but a highly productive, export-heavy economic engine, proving that Britain's true national resources are its imagination and storytelling prowess.
02 · Category
Employment and Workforce30 stats
01
The UK creative industries employed 2.38 million people in 2022, 7.1% of the total workforce
02
Employment in advertising and marketing reached 315,000 in 2022
03
Film, TV, radio and photography employed 244,000 people
04
IT, software and computer services had 1.02 million jobs
05
Publishing sector employed 168,000
06
Music, performing and visual arts: 141,000 jobs
07
Architecture employed 101,000
08
Design and support: 87,000 jobs
09
Crafts: 21,000 employed
10
London hosted 745,000 creative jobs, 31% of total in 2022
11
South East: 272,000 creative jobs
12
North West: 182,000 jobs
13
55% of creative workers are aged 16-34 in 2022
14
52% of creative workforce are female, up from 49% in 2019
15
BAME representation in creatives at 12% in 2022
16
28% of creative jobs are freelance or self-employed
17
Average salary in creatives £34,200 vs UK £30,900 in 2022
18
41% of creative workers hold degree or higher, above UK average of 33%
19
Scotland creative employment 107,000 in 2022
20
Wales: 45,000 creative jobs
21
Northern Ireland: 27,000 employed in creatives
22
Yorkshire and Humber: 132,000 jobs
23
East of England: 155,000 creative roles
24
West Midlands: 134,000 jobs
25
South West: 170,000 employed
26
East Midlands: 90,000 creative jobs
27
North East: 51,000 jobs
28
15% growth in creative employment from 2019-2022
29
Video games sector employed 47,000 FTEs in 2022
30
Music industry supported 216,000 jobs in 2022
Interpretation
Employment and Workforce Interpretation
While the UK's creative industries are a vibrant, youth-driven engine of growth—employing over 2.38 million people, paying above-average wages, and proving that a degree in the arts is far from frivolous—its glittering skyline is still predominantly lit by London, and its chorus doesn't yet fully reflect the diverse voice of the nation it serves.
03 · Category
Exports and International21 stats
01
Creative industries exports reached £28.6 billion in 2022, 16% of total UK services exports
02
Net trade surplus £16.2 billion for creatives in 2022
03
US accounts for 39% of creative exports value £11.1bn in 2022
04
EU exports from creatives £8.4 billion in 2022
05
Music exports £2.9 billion in 2022
06
Video games exports £6.1 billion, 84% of sector revenue
07
Audiovisual exports £5.5 billion in 2022
08
TV formats and content exports £1.7 billion
09
Book publishing exports £4.2 billion
10
Fashion exports £25 billion annually
11
VFX and animation services exports £1.9 billion to Hollywood
12
Advertising creative services exports £3.5 billion
13
Architecture services exports £2.1 billion
14
Design exports £4.8 billion in 2022
15
UK creatives attract £1.2 billion FDI annually
16
China imports £1.5 billion UK creative goods yearly
17
Games exports to US £2.8 billion
18
Music to Australia £250 million
19
Film distribution abroad £600 million box office
20
70% of top global games developed in UK exported
21
Creative exports grew 12% post-Brexit 2021-2022
Interpretation
Exports and International Interpretation
With Britain selling its imagination to the world—from Hollywood VFX to chart-topping hits and blockbuster games—our cultural output is now a serious economic powerhouse, proving that soft power is, pound for pound, our sharpest export.
More related reading
04 · Category
Growth and Trends20 stats
01
Total creative industries grew 20.7% in GVA 2019-2022 vs 5.6% UK economy
02
Employment in creatives up 15.3% 2019-2022 to 2.38m
03
Consumer spending on creatives +22.4% to £57.1bn 2019-2022
04
Turnover increased 25.6% to £151.9bn 2019-2022
05
UK games market grew 9.4% to £7.3bn in 2022
06
Music streaming revenues up 11.3% to £1.1bn in 2022
07
Film box office recovered to £900m in 2022 post-COVID
08
TV content production spend +8% to £5.5bn in 2022
09
Online ad spend surged 25% to £24bn in 2022
10
E-book sales grew 12% to £600m in 2022
11
Creative startups 25% of all UK tech startups in 2022
12
AI adoption in creatives doubled to 35% firms 2020-2023
13
Post-COVID recovery: creatives +40% productivity growth 2021-2022
14
London creative GVA growth 25% 2019-2022
15
Regions outside London +18% GVA growth 2019-2022
16
Female employment growth 20% in creatives 2019-2022
17
BAME employment up 25% to 12% share 2019-2022
18
Freelance growth 22% to 28% of workforce 2019-2022
19
R&D spend +30% to £4.7bn 2019-2022
20
Digital creatives sub-sector +28% GVA growth
Interpretation
Growth and Trends Interpretation
While the rest of the UK economy was politely applauding its own modest growth, the creative industries crashed the stage, doubled their money, hired a more diverse cast, embraced AI, and essentially started printing their own cultural currency to the tune of a 20.7% boom.
05 · Category
Sector Breakdown19 stats
01
Advertising and marketing GVA grew 34% from 2019-2022 to £25.6bn
02
Film, TV, video, photography GVA up 16% to £14.6bn 2019-2022
03
Publishing GVA increased 4% to £8.9bn from 2019-2022
04
Music, performing, visual arts GVA rose 39% to £6.3bn 2019-2022
05
Architecture GVA up 17% to £4.4bn 2019-2022
06
Design GVA grew 20% to £4.5bn 2019-2022
07
Crafts GVA increased 22% to £1.1bn from 2019-2022
08
Video games market revenue £7.3 billion in 2022
09
UK recorded music revenues £1.25 billion in 2022, up 9.5%
10
BFI reports UK film production spend £1.3 billion in 2022
11
TV sector export revenues £4.2 billion in 2022
12
Book publishing market £6.6 billion consumer spend 2022
13
Fashion design turnover £30 billion annually
14
Animation sector GVA £1.2 billion, 12,000 jobs
15
UK ad market spend £32.7 billion in 2022
16
Visual effects VFX turnover £1.4 billion exports
17
Performing arts box office £1.5 billion pre-COVID, recovering
18
Galleries and museums 70 million visits annually
19
Jewellery and crafts export £4.5 billion
Interpretation
Sector Breakdown Interpretation
While British stiff upper lips are busy creating, the nation's creative industries are having a laugh all the way to the bank, proving that from a blockbuster film to a humble handmade pot, culture is not just our crown jewel but a remarkably shrewd economic engine.
Reference
Cite This Report
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APA
Margot Villeneuve. (2026, February 13). Uk Creative Industry Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/uk-creative-industry-statistics
MLA
Margot Villeneuve. "Uk Creative Industry Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/uk-creative-industry-statistics.
Chicago
Margot Villeneuve. 2026. "Uk Creative Industry Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/uk-creative-industry-statistics.
Sources & references
20 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level