Number of paper Bank of England £5, £10, £20 and £50 banknotes returned or still in circulation as at 28 May 2025

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: 23 June 2025

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*
234
1,169
109
544
£10 paper banknotes returned since 14 September 2017*
731
7,311
60

599

£20 paper banknotes returned since 20 February 2020*
1,683 33,658
160
3,201
£50 paper banknotes returned since 23 June 2021*
301
15,040
46
2,289
Total
2,949
57,178
375
6,633

All genuine Bank of England banknotes that have been withdrawn from circulation retain their face value.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.