China vs United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland: Government expenditure on education, US$

China
712,020 millions
in 2023
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
159,294 millions
in 2021
China rank
2nd
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland rank
4th

Government expenditure on education, US$ over time

  • China
  • United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
0200.0k400.0k600.0k800.0k197119972023

How they compare

China currently reports 712,020 millions against 159,294 millions in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, a difference of 552,726 millions.

That makes China's figure about 4.5 times United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland's.

Across all 22 years both countries report, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland has been ahead every year.

China ranks 2nd and United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ranks 4th of 181 countries.

United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland has averaged higher in every one of the 3 decades both report.

Head to head by decade

Decade China United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland Difference Ahead
1970s 2,384 millions 10,916 millions 8,533 millions United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
1980s 4,942 millions 25,665 millions 20,723 millions United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
1990s 14,574 millions 57,782 millions 43,208 millions United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

Averages of every year both report within each decade.

Frequently asked questions

Which has higher government expenditure on education, us$, China or United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
China, at 712,020 millions against 159,294 millions in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland as of 2023.
What is the difference in government expenditure on education, us$ between China and United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
552,726 millions, with China ahead.
How many years of comparable data are there for China and United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
22 years are reported by both, from 1971 to 1999.
How do China and United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland rank globally for government expenditure on education, us$?
China ranks 2nd and United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ranks 4th of 181 countries.
Where does this data come from?
UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as Government expenditure on education, US$ (millions). Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.

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China vs United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland: Government expenditure on education, US$. Statizoid, drawing on UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Retrieved 04 September 2026, from https://education.statizoid.com/compare/government-expenditure-on-education-us-millions-2/china/united-kingdom/

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About this data

Indicator
Government expenditure on education, US$ (millions)
Unit
millions
Source
UNESCO Institute for Statistics
Licence
CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics)
Coverage
181 places, 4,294 data points, 1970–2025
Last refreshed

February 2026 Data Release