Which has higher expenditure on tertiary education, Australia or East Asia & Pacific?

Australia, at 26.8% against 16.4% in East Asia & Pacific as of 2016.

How many years of comparable data are there for Australia and East Asia & Pacific?

5 years are reported by both, from 2009 to 2013.

Where does this data come from?

Stat Bulk Data Download Service, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), published as Expenditure on tertiary education (% of government expenditure on education). Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.

Australia vs East Asia & Pacific: Expenditure on tertiary education

Australia

26.8%

in 2016

East Asia & Pacific

16.4%

in 2013

Australia rank

32nd

East Asia & Pacific rank

31st

Expenditure on tertiary education over time

Australia
East Asia & Pacific

How they compare

Australia currently reports 26.8% against 16.4% in East Asia & Pacific, a difference of 10.4%.

That makes Australia's figure about 1.6 times East Asia & Pacific's.

Across all 5 years both countries report, Australia has been ahead every year.

Australia ranks 32nd and East Asia & Pacific ranks 31st of 160 countries.

Australia has averaged higher in every one of the 2 decades both report.

Head to head by decade

Decade	Australia	East Asia & Pacific	Difference	Ahead
2000s	22.1%	19.3%	2.8%	Australia
2010s	23.8%	17.7%	6.1%	Australia

Averages of every year both report within each decade.

Frequently asked questions

Which has higher expenditure on tertiary education, Australia or East Asia & Pacific?: Australia, at 26.8% against 16.4% in East Asia & Pacific as of 2016.
What is the difference in expenditure on tertiary education between Australia and East Asia & Pacific?: 10.4%, with Australia ahead.
How many years of comparable data are there for Australia and East Asia & Pacific?: 5 years are reported by both, from 2009 to 2013.
How do Australia and East Asia & Pacific rank globally for expenditure on tertiary education?: Australia ranks 32nd and East Asia & Pacific ranks 31st of 160 countries.
Where does this data come from?: Stat Bulk Data Download Service, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), published as Expenditure on tertiary education (% of government expenditure on education). Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.

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Australia vs East Asia & Pacific: Expenditure on tertiary education. Statizoid, drawing on Stat Bulk Data Download Service, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Retrieved 16 September 2026, from https://education.statizoid.com/compare/expenditure-on-tertiary-education-percent-of-government-expenditure-on-education/australia/east-asia-and-pacific/

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<a href="https://education.statizoid.com/compare/expenditure-on-tertiary-education-percent-of-government-expenditure-on-education/australia/east-asia-and-pacific/">Australia vs East Asia & Pacific: Expenditure on tertiary education</a> — Statizoid

About this data

Indicator: Expenditure on tertiary education (% of government expenditure on education)
Unit: % of government expenditure on education
Source: Stat Bulk Data Download Service, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
Licence: CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage: 197 places, 3,723 data points, 1970–2019
Last refreshed: 03 September 2026

Expenditure on tertiary education is expressed as a percentage of total general government expenditure on education. General government usually refers to local, regional and central governments.