Stocks and shares ISA statistics

Less than 5% of Brits have a stocks and shares ISA. How much do Brits invest in stocks and shares ISAs?

An ISA (individual savings account) is a great way to save your money in a tax-free savings account. Across the different types of ISAs, adults (18+) have a tax-free allowance of £20,000, while junior ISAs now have an allowance of £9,000.

We’ve looked into the latest stocks and shares ISA statistics to see how the UK is utilising these tax-free accounts.

  • Less than 5% of Brits currently have a stocks and shares ISA.
  • 12 million adult ISA accounts were subscribed to in 2020 to 2021.
  • In 2021, £72 billion was subscribed to adult ISAs.
  • In 2020-21, the average subscription per account for cash ISAs was £9,432 and for stocks and shares ISAs was £4,568.
  • 943,000 Junior ISA accounts were subscribed to in 2020 to 2021. Out of which, 668,000 were cash and 275,000 were stocks and shares.
  • The total amount subscribed to junior ISAs reached the over £1 billion in 2021.
  • The average amount invested for junior cash ISAs in 2020/2021 is £913, with junior stocks and shares ISAs being £1,665 in 2020/2021.
  • The annual ISA allowance stands at £20,000 for the tax year 2022-23, unchanged from 2021-22.

Adult ISAs

An ISA (individual savings account) is the most popular type of savings account, thanks to its tax-free benefits. But how many Brits are taking advantage of these tax-free savings accounts, whether in the form of a cash ISA or a stocks and shares ISA?

If you’re not familiar with stocks and shares ISAs, they’re savings accounts that allow you to invest in stocks and shares, usually based on the level of risk that you are comfortable with. If you want to know more, we’ve compiled a list of the best trading apps to help you decide which is best for you.

Cash ISAs have become less popular over the years from 2015 to 2021, while stocks and shares ISAs have become more popular. Read on to find out more about the changes in adult ISAs in the UK.

Number of adult ISAs

In 2021, the number of adult ISA accounts have decreased to 11.55 million – this is 880,000 less than in 2020. There are over 8.05 million cash ISAs, which is 1.65 million less than in 2020. However, stocks and share ISAs have increased from 2021 to 3.5 million – this is 770,000 more than in 2021

Year Cash ISAs Stocks and shares ISAs
2015/2016 10.12 million 2.54 million
2016/2017 8.48 million 2.59 million
2017/2018 7.78 million 2.84 million
2018/2019 8.48 million 2.42 million
2019/2020 9.70 million 2.73 million
2020-2021 8.05 million 3.5 million

Total amount subscribed to adult ISAs

Cash ISAs

In 2020/2021, the total amount subscribed to cash ISAs was £37 billion – this is £12 billion less than in 2019/2020.

Stocks and shares ISAs

In 2020/2021, the total amount subscribed to stocks and share ISAs was £34 billion – this is £10 billion more than in 2019/2020.

null Cash ISAs Stocks and shares ISAs
2015/2016 £59 billion £21 billion
2016/2017 £39 billion £22 billion
2017/2018 £40 billion £28 billion
2018/2019 £44 billion £23 billion
2019/2020 £49 billion £24 billion
2020/2021 £37 billion £34 billion

Average amount subscribed to adult ISAs

In the year 2020 to 2021, the average subscription per account for cash ISAs is £9,432 and for stocks and shares ISAs is £4,568.

Year Cash ISAs Stocks and shares ISAs
2015/2016 £5,801 £8,322
2016/2017 £4,622 £8,623
2017/2018 £5,228 £9,685
2018/2019 £5,187 £9,331
2019/2020 £5,024 £8,875
2020/2021 £4,568 £9,432

Junior ISAs

A junior cash ISA is a tax-free long-term savings account for under-18s in the UK. The current savings limit for the 2021/2022 year is £9,000.

Number of junior ISAs

By 2021, the number of Junior ISA accounts subscribed grew to 943,000, from 706,00 in 2020, representing an increase of 34% in the year. From this, 668,000 were cash ISA accounts and 275,000 were stocks and shares ISA accounts.

Year Cash ISAs Stocks and shares ISAs
2015/2016 497,000 241,000
2016/2017 569,000 225,000
2017/2018 636,000 271,000
2018/2019 668,000 286,000
2019/2020 706,000 317,000
2020/2021 668,000 275,000

Total amount subscribed to junior ISAs

The total amount subscribed to junior ISAs in 2020/2021 reached over £1 billion (£1.068 billion), this is £97 million in 2019/2020.
The total amount in stocks and shares ISAs increased £84 million in a single year, where Cash ISAs increased by £13 million. Junior cash ISAs hold 57% of total junior ISAs, with stocks and shares making up the remaining 43%.

Year Cash ISAs Stocks and shares ISAs
2015/2016 £522 million £399 million
2016/2017 £525 million £333 million
2017/2018 £517 milllion £385 million
2018/2019 £555 million £419 million
2019/20 £597 million £374 million
2020/2021 £610 million £458 million

Average amount subscribed to junior ISAs

Interestingly, the average amount invested in junior stocks and shares ISAs is more than junior cash ISAs. The average amount invested into a stocks and shares ISA was £1,665 in 2021 – this is 82% more than the average amount invested into a junior cash ISA (£913). Explore the graph below to find out more.

2015/2016 £5,801 £8,322
2016/2017 £4,622 £8,623
2017/2018 £5,228 £9,685
2018/2019 £5,187 £9,331
2019/2020 £5,024 £8,875

Sources

Click here for more research. For all media enquiries, please contact:

Matt Mckenna
UK communications manager
T: +44 20 8191 8806
matt.mckenna@finder.com@MichHutchison/in/matthewmckenna2

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