ISA statistics: How many people have an ISA in the UK?

How much money do Brits place in stocks & shares and cash ISAs?

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Sophie Barber

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George Sweeney, DipFA

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An ISA (individual savings account) is a great way to save your money in a tax-efficient account. A stocks and shares ISA allows you to invest, usually based on the level of risk you are comfortable with. We look at the latest ISA statistics to see how the UK uses these tax-efficient accounts.

ISA statistics UK: Highlights

  • A quarter of UK adults (26%) have a stocks and shares ISA as of 2026, while almost half of Brits (46%) have a cash ISA.
  • 4.1 million stocks and shares ISAs and 9.9 million cash ISAs were subscribed to in 2023/2024.
  • The average stocks and shares ISA deposit in 2023/2024 was £7,594, while the average cash ISA deposit was £6,993.
  • A quarter (27%) of ISA subscriptions in 2023/2024 were stocks and shares ISAs, while two-thirds (66%) were cash ISAs.
  • The average annual return on a stocks and shares ISA over the past 10 years has been 9.64%, compared to 1.2% for cash ISAs.

How many people have a stocks and shares ISA?

According to a 2026 Finder survey, 26% of UK adults currently have a stocks and shares ISA. An additional 17% don’t have one at the moment, but are intending to open a stocks and shares ISA this year.

4.1 million people subscribed to a stocks and shares ISA in the 2023/2024 tax year, up from 3.8 million people in 2022/2023. A quarter (25%) of all ISA subscriptions in 2022/2023 made were to stocks and shares ISAs.

The number of subscriptions has grown by 69% since the 2018/ 2019 financial year when just 2.4 million stocks and shares ISAs were subscribed to.

If you want to know more about opening a stocks and shares ISA, we’ve compiled a list of the best trading apps to help you decide which is best for you.

How many people have a cash ISA?

A 2026 Finder survey revealed that almost half of UK adults (46%) have at least one cash ISA. Another 17% of Brits are intending to open a cash ISA this year, although they don’t have one currently.

9.9 million people subscribed to a cash ISA in 2023/2024, up 26% from 7.9 million in the previous year. Two-thirds (66%) of all ISA subscriptions were to cash ISAs. In total, around 15 million ISAs were subscribed to in the 2023/2024 tax year.

Year Number of stocks and shares ISAs Number of cash ISAs
2023/2024 4.1 million 9.9 million
2022/2023 3.8 million 7.9 million
2021/2022 3.9 million 7.1 million
2020/2021 3.6 million 8 million
2019/2020 2.7 million 9.7 million
2018/2019 2.4 million 8.5 million
2017/2018 2.9 million 7 million
2016/2017 2.6 million 8.5 million
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What is the average return on a stocks and shares ISA?

The average annual return on a stocks and shares ISA over the past 5 years has been 6.37%, compared to 2.08% for a cash ISA. Over the past 10 years, it has been 9.64% annually compared to 1.2% for a cash ISA.

However, the performance of this type of ISA can vary significantly, seeing losses as well as returns over the course of a year. For example, the average stocks and shares ISA experienced a loss of 3.27% between February 2022 and February 2023. The table below highlights the variation in performance year-on-year.

Year Average stocks and shares ISA return Average cash ISA return
2025/2026 11.22% 3.48%
2024/2025 11.86% 3.80%
2023/2024 2.80% 3.73%
2022/2023 -3.27% 1.71%
2021/2022 6.92% 0.51%

How much are Brits paying into ISAs?

Overall, UK adults placed an impressive £31.1 billion in stocks and shares ISA during the 2023/2024 tax year, around £3 billion more than in 2022/2023.

People also significantly increased the amount they were putting into cash ISAs, likely as a result of higher interest rates. £69.5 billion was put into these accounts in 2023/2024 – 67% more than the £41.6 billion subscribed in 2022/2023.

Year Value of stocks and shares ISA subscriptions Value of cash ISA subscriptions
2023/2024 £31.1 billion £69.5 billion
2022/2023 £28 billion £41.6 billion
2021/2022 £34.2 billion £30.9 billion
2020/2021 £33.9 billion £36.8 billion
2019/2020 £24.2 billion £48.7 billion
2018/2019 £22.6 billion £44 billion
2017/2018 £27.8 billion £36.7 billion
2016/2017 £22.3 billion £39.2 billion

What is the average stocks and shares ISA balance?

Over the last 5 years, the average amount deposited in a stocks and shares ISA was £8,389. In the 2023/2024 financial year, this was slightly lower than the average, at £7,594.

What is the average cash ISA balance?

The average deposit per account for a cash ISA over the past 5 years is lower than a stocks and shares ISA, at just £5,242. However, the average subscription in 2023/2024 was higher than this, at £6,993. This year’s figure was 32% higher than the average deposit of £5,296 in 2022/2023.

Year Average subscription (stocks and shares ISA) Average subscription (cash ISA)
2023/2024 £7,594 £6,993
2022/2023 £7,355 £5,296
2021/2022 £8,690 £4,330
2020/2021 £9,432 £4,568
2019/2020 £8,875 £5,024

Methodology

    Finder commissioned Censuswide to carry out a nationally representative survey of adults aged 18+. A total of 2,000 people were questioned throughout Great Britain between 9 and 11 February 2026, with representative quotas for gender, age and region. The online survey has a margin of error of ±2.2% at a 95% confidence level. Censuswide follows the MRS Code of Conduct, ESOMAR principles, and is a member of the British Polling Council.

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Sophie Barber
Communications Manager

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Sophie Barber is a senior content marketing manager for Finder in the UK. She has over 5 years experience in writing and publishing clear, concise and informative articles that help consumers make informed decisions. See full bio

Sophie's expertise
Sophie has written 100 Finder guides across topics including:
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George Sweeney, DipFA's headshot
Deputy editor

George is a deputy editor at Finder. He has previously written for The Motley Fool UK, Nasdaq, Freetrade, Investing in the Web, MoneyMagpie, Online Mortgage Advisor, Wealth, and Compare Forex Brokers. He's focused on making personal finance and investing engaging for everyone. To do this he draws from previous work and his Level 4 Diploma for Financial Advisers (DipFA), sharing what he’s learnt. When he’s not geeking out about money, you’ll find him playing sports and staying active. See full bio

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George has written 327 Finder guides across topics including:
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