Number of paper Bank of England £5, £10, £20 and £50 banknotes returned or still in circulation as at 7 June 2024

Freedom of Information rules mean that, as a public authority, the Bank of England is obliged to disclose certain types of information, both proactively and on request.

Date: 19 July 2024

Disclosure: 

*Date the polymer banknote was issued
Number of returned banknotes (millions)
Value of returned banknotes (millions)
Number of banknotes in circulation (millions)
Value of banknotes in circulation (millions)
£5 paper banknotes returned since 13 September 2016*
233 1,165  110 548
£10 paper banknotes returned since 14 September 2017*
729 7,291
62
619
£20 paper banknotes returned since 20 February 2020*
1,672 33,435

171

3,424
£50 paper banknotes returned since 23 June 2021*
294 14,722
52
2,607
Total
2,928 56,613
395
7,197 

All genuine Bank of England banknotes that have been withdrawn from circulation retain their face value. There is no expiry on the period in which we will exchange banknotes. Details on how to exchange banknotes.