Switzerland vs United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland: Expenditure on tertiary education

Switzerland
26.0%
in 2016
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
25.6%
in 2016
Switzerland rank
36th
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland rank
38th

Expenditure on tertiary education over time

  • Switzerland
  • United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
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How they compare

Switzerland currently reports 26.0% against 25.6% in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, a difference of 0.4%.

The two have swapped places 3 times across 40 shared years of data; in 1971 it was United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ahead.

Switzerland ranks 36th and United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ranks 38th of 160 countries.

Across the 5 decades both report, Switzerland averaged higher in 2 and United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland in 3.

Head to head by decade

Decade Switzerland United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland Difference Ahead
1970s 18.0% 22.9% 4.9% United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
1980s 20.0% 21.8% 1.8% United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
1990s 20.7% 21.9% 1.2% United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
2000s 25.2% 18.4% 6.7% Switzerland
2010s 26.0% 22.5% 3.5% Switzerland

Averages of every year both report within each decade.

Frequently asked questions

Which has higher expenditure on tertiary education, Switzerland or United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
Switzerland, at 26.0% against 25.6% in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland as of 2016.
What is the difference in expenditure on tertiary education between Switzerland and United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
0.4%, with Switzerland ahead.
How many years of comparable data are there for Switzerland and United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
40 years are reported by both, from 1971 to 2016.
How do Switzerland and United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland rank globally for expenditure on tertiary education?
Switzerland ranks 36th and United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ranks 38th 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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Switzerland vs United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland: 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/switzerland/united-kingdom/

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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

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.