Official Statistics

Commentary for Annual savings statistics: September 2024

Updated 4 December 2024

This bulletin provides commentary and analysis on the Individual Savings Accounts (including Lifetime ISA), Child Trust Fund and Help to Save statistics contained in this release.

1. Individual Savings Accounts (ISAs)

1.1 Number of ISAs subscribed to (chart uses data from Table 9.4)

Chart 1 below shows that around 12.4 million Adult ISA accounts were subscribed to in 2022 to 2023, up from 11.8 million in 2021 to 2022. Similarly, the number of cash ISAs subscribed to increased by 722,000. As a result, the share of accounts subscribed to in cash has risen to 63.2%, a 2.5% growth from 2021 to 2022. Meanwhile, the number subscribing to stocks and shares ISAs decreased by around 126,000.

Chart 1: Number of Adult ISA accounts subscribed to per tax year

Around 1.25 million Junior ISA accounts were subscribed to in 2022 to 2023, the eleventh full financial year since the scheme was launched, up from 1.21 million in 2021 to 2022.

1.2 Amounts subscribed (chart uses data from Table 9.4)

Chart 2 shows that around £71.6 billion was subscribed to Adult ISAs in 2022 to 2023, an increase of £4.7 billion compared to 2021 to 2022. This increase was driven by the rise in cash ISA and LISA subscriptions, which grew by 34.7% (£10.7 billion) and 10.1% (£0.2 billion), respectively. Conversely, the amounts subscribed to stocks and shares ISAs has decreased by £6.2 billion since 2021 to 2022.

Chart 2: Amounts subscribed to Adult ISAs per tax year

In 2022 to 2023, £1.5 billion was subscribed to Junior ISAs, around 42.2% of which was in cash. The average subscription in 2022 to 2023 remained relatively constant at £1,220, a small decrease of 0.75% on the 2021 to 2022 figure.

HMRC identified and investigated an issue with the Lifetime ISA (LISA) subscription data submitted by a small number of providers and, in December 2024, published revised figures on LISA subscriptions (number of accounts, amounts subscribed, and average subscription in Table 9.4). Therefore, sections 1.1 and 1.2 and charts 1 and 2 in this commentary have been updated to include the revised figures.

1.3 Market value of ISA funds (chart uses data from Table 9.6)

Chart 3 shows that at the end of 2022 to 2023, the market value of Adult ISA holdings stood at £725.9 billion. This is a 2.1% decrease compared to the value at the end of 2021 to 2022. This was driven by a 5.6% decrease in the market value of funds held in Stocks and Shares ISAs. Stocks and shares ISA holdings account for 59.3% of the market value of ISA funds, a decrease from 61.5% in 2021 to 2022. Cash ISAs account for 40.5% of the market value, an increase from 38.4% in 2021 to 2022.

Chart 3: Adult Cash and Stocks and Shares ISA market values per tax year

1.4 ISA holders by income (charts use data from Tables 9.7 and 9.10)

Chart 4 shows details of the 22.3 million Adult ISA holders analysed by income band for the year 2021 to 2022. The median ISA holder (by income) had annual income of between £20,000 and £29,999, the average ISA market value of this income group was £31,014, representing a 5.5% increase in comparison to 2020 to 2021. At higher earnings levels, the number of ISA holders declines (due to fewer people in higher income bands), but is accompanied by a large increase in average ISA savings values. For ISA holders with incomes of £150,000 or more, the average market value was £96,171.

The number of ISA accounts in 2021 to 2022 has risen to 22.3 million, from 22.2 million in 2020 to 2021. Due to the calibration done to equalise the individual and aggregate ISA returns received from providers, the reported number of ISA accounts can fluctuate due to differences between these two datasets.

Chart 4: Number of ISA holders and average ISA market value by income band in 2021 to 2022

Chart 5 shows that the amount subscribed to an ISA increases with the income of the individual subscriber. 16.9% of the total subscribers saved at the maximum in 2021 to 2022, rising to 38.2% of those with income of £100,000 to £149,999, and to 58.5% of those with income of £150,000 or more. The highest proportion of savers, around 46.2%, saved between £1 and £2,499.

The chart suggests that some individuals may have contributed more to their ISAs than their annual earnings allow (such as those subscribing the maximum £20,000 with an income of less than £5,000). This may be possible where individuals have existing taxable savings that they are transferring into ISA accounts.

Alternatively, in households with more than one adult, earnings from one high income individual may enable other adults in the household to open an ISA account, in order to make the most use of the tax free allowance on their savings.

Chart 5: ISA subscriptions by income band and size of subscription in 2021 to 2022

Chart 6 shows the proportion of ISA holders with different levels of ISA savings value across income bands. Amongst ISA savers with income of £150,000 or more, 48.4% have at least £50,000 in ISA savings, compared to just 9.9% of savers on an income below £5,000.

Chart 6: ISA holdings by income band and ISA market value in 2021 to 2022

1.5 ISA holders by age and sex (charts use data from Tables 9.8 and 9.11)

Chart 7 illustrates the distribution of Adult ISA holdings across different age groups. The lowest number of ISA holders was in the youngest category (under 25), but approximately 69.7% of this group were active savers in 2021 to 2022.

The greatest number of ISA holders was in the 65 and over group however, a large portion of this group (67.6%) were not active savers in 2021 to 2022.

Chart 7: Age distribution and average market value of ISA holders in 2021 to 2022

Chart 8 demonstrates the distribution of ISA subscribers across different age groups and market value groups (indicated by the coloured bands). The proportion of ISA holders with ISAs valued at £50,000 or more is highest amongst those aged 65 and above and lowest amongst those under 25. While the size of ISA holdings generally increases with increasing age, the proportion of ISA holders with ISAs valued between £1 and £2,499 is around the same (55.7% to 57.7%) for under 25, 25 to 34, and 35 to 44 categories.

A similar trend can be observed between the average market value and the age of the ISA subscriber. The average ISA market value at the end of 2021 to 2022 was around £7,698, and £9,477 for the under 25, and 25 to 34 age groups, respectively. This is compared to around £63,365 in the 65 and over group.

Chart 8: ISA holdings by age range and ISA market value in 2021 to 2022

The sex split of total number of ISA holders is approximately equal. Chart 9 shows that in 2021 to 2022, females accounted for a marginally higher proportion of the total number of ISAs. Females accounted for 51.8% of all ISAs and 49.8% of ISA holdings worth £50,000 or more.

Chart 9: ISA savings by sex in 2021 to 2022

1.6 Geographical location of ISA holders (charts use data from Table 9.9 and 9.12)

Chart 10 provides a breakdown of the percentage of ISA holders in England. The South East and South West regions have among the highest proportion of adults holding ISAs at 45.6% and 46.4% each, while London has the lowest at 37.4%.

Chart 10: Proportion of population with ISAs and average market value by English region in 2021 to 2022

Chart 11 shows that at the end of 2021 to 2022, 42.0% of adults in England had an ISA. In comparison to 2021 to 2022, the proportion of ISA holders in the United Kingdom has remained relatively constant, with a small decrease of 0.3%. However, its average market value has increased from £30,885 to £33,278, representing a growth of 7.8%. Similar to 2020 to 2021, England and Scotland have higher average market values than the rest of the United Kingdom.

Chart 11: Proportion of population with ISAs and average market value by UK region in 2021 to 2022

2. Lifetime Individual Savings Accounts (LISAs)

2.1 Withdrawals for a house purchase (charts use data from LISA Table 1a)

Chart 12 shows that 56,900 account holders withdrew from their LISA in order to purchase a first time property in 2023 to 2024, an increase of around 1,150 on the previous tax year.

Chart 12: Number of individuals withdrawing for a house purchase

Chart 13 shows that the average withdrawal value for a house purchase was £14,927 for tax year 2023 to 2024. The average value of withdrawal for a house purchase has increased by approximately £1,054 since the 2022 to 2023 tax year.

Chart 13: Value of withdrawals for a house purchase

3. Child Trust Funds

This publication’s tables include additional data for tax years 2022 to 2023 and 2023 to 2024. However, the charts below are based on data from the most recent tax year only, which is 2023 to 2024.

3.1 Number of CTF accounts

As of 5 April 2024, there were around 4.2 million open Child Trust Fund (CTF) accounts, of which around 671,000 were matured accounts continuing as CTF accounts. Around a further 345,000 accounts matured during the tax year 2023 to 2024 and were claimed or automatically transferred to an ISA. The number of open CTFs is decreasing, mainly due to matured accounts being claimed or transferred to ISAs, and accounts that have not yet matured being transferred to Junior ISAs.

The oldest children on the scheme turned 18 in September 2020. Between then and April 2024, around 2,333,000 accounts matured in total, of which around 1,662,000 were claimed or automatically transferred to an ISA as of April 2024.

3.2 Average market value of CTFs (chart uses data from Table 1a)

Chart 14 shows that the average market value of a CTF in April 2024 was £2,212. This is up from £2,060 in April 2023.

The average market value of stakeholder and non-stakeholder accounts as of April 2024 were £2,047 and £2,717, respectively. The average market value of a matured account that was claimed or automatically transferred to an ISA in 2023 to 2024 was £2,960. The average market value of a matured account that was continuing as a CTF as of April 2024 was £2,082.

Chart 14: Average market value of Child Trust Funds in 2023 to 2024

3.3 Amounts subscribed to CTFs (chart uses data from Table 2a)

Chart 15 shows that in 2023 to 2024, as subscription amount increases, the number of individuals subscribing decreases. The majority of CTF subscriptions were in the £0.01 to £249 band, with 266,000 accounts having £0.01 to £249 subscribed to them in the tax year 2023 to 2024. The average subscription to stakeholder accounts was £494 whilst the average subscription to non-stakeholder accounts was £690. The average subscription across all CTFs was £547.

Chart 15: Child Trust Fund accounts by subscription amount in 2023 to 2024

4. Help to Save

4.1 Number of open Help to Save accounts

Chart 16 shows the number of Help to Save accounts that were open in each month between May 2021 and April 2024. It also shows the total number of accounts that received a deposit and the total value of deposits paid into accounts in each calendar month over this timeframe.

The total number of open Help to Save accounts was 335,200, as of April 2024. The number of open accounts remained relatively stable over the course of the 2023 to 2024 tax year. This is because, whilst new Help to Save accounts continue to be opened, the accounts created towards the start of the scheme are now reaching the four-year maturation point. Since the start of the scheme, 516,800 Help to Save accounts have been opened in total, as of April 2024.

This version of the release also contains statistics at the level of government office regions. Breakdowns by local authority district and parliamentary constituency level are not included in this release as HMRC has discontinued these breakdowns in response to feedback received in a statistical consultation. Please see the 2022 Annual Savings Statistics for the latest version of these tables.

4.2 Number of Help to Save accounts receiving deposits and the total value of deposit per month (chart uses data from Table 1)

In total, since the start of the scheme, around 443,900 people have deposited into a Help to Save account. This is an increase of roughly 15% from March 2023. For those individuals making deposits, the average deposit per person per month has remained at £48; the maximum permitted monthly deposit is £50, with 93% of monthly deposits being the maximum. However, there are 40,000 open accounts that have still received no deposit.

Total deposits to the scheme in the 12-month period of April 2023 to March 2024 were around £112 million.

Chart 16: Total number of open Help to Save accounts, number of accounts receiving deposits per month, and total value of monthly deposits between May 2021 and April 2024

Source: HMRC data

4.3 Contact Information

The statistical contacts for this publication are:

• K Ismail

• A Jenkins

• L Carrick

• A How

• personaltax.statistics@hmrc.gov.uk

For press queries, please contact HMRC Press Office: news.desk@hmrc.gov.uk