Capital expenditure as a percentage of total expenditure in primary in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland: Capital expenditure as a percentage of total expenditure in primary was 6.7% in 2021. ◆ Volatile
Capital expenditure as a percentage of total expenditure in primary in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, 1998–2021
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.
Analysis
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland recorded 6.7% for capital expenditure as a percentage of total expenditure in primary in 2021.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 8.4% on the previous year and up 6.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, capital expenditure as a percentage of total expenditure in primary in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland peaked at 11.8% in 2010 and was at its lowest, 2.1%, in 2019.
That places United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 60th out of 124 countries with data for 2021, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Capital expenditure as a percentage of total expenditure in primary in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1998 | 4.5% | — |
| 1999 | 5.9% | +32.1% |
| 2000 | 5.5% | -6.4% |
| 2001 | 7.7% | +38.7% |
| 2002 | 6.7% | -12.5% |
| 2003 | 5.6% | -17.3% |
| 2004 | 7.8% | +40.2% |
| 2005 | 9.4% | +20.4% |
| 2006 | 10.9% | +15.8% |
| 2007 | 9.1% | -16.2% |
| 2008 | 10.9% | +19.6% |
| 2009 | 11.8% | +8.1% |
| 2010 | 11.8% | +0.1% |
| 2011 | 6.3% | -46.3% |
| 2013 | 2.8% | -55.9% |
| 2014 | 2.8% | -0.1% |
| 2015 | 2.7% | -2.6% |
| 2016 | 2.3% | -15.3% |
| 2017 | 2.5% | +9.6% |
| 2018 | 2.4% | -6.3% |
| 2019 | 2.1% | -9.4% |
| 2020 | 7.4% | +244.2% |
| 2021 | 6.7% | -8.4% |
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland compared with similar countries
- United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland's 6.7% is below the median for high income countries, which is 7.5%, 89% of the median. (55 countries reporting)
- United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland's 6.7% is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 8.1%, 83% of the median. (39 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Capital expenditure as a percentage of total expenditure in primary in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | +244.2% | 2.1% | 7.4% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 5.2% | 4.5% | 5.9% | 2 |
| 2000s | 8.5% | 5.5% | 11.8% | 10 |
| 2010s | 4.0% | 2.1% | 11.8% | 9 |
| 2020s | 7.0% | 6.7% | 7.4% | 2 |
Countries ranked near United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
More education data for United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 388,714 (2023)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 0 (2012)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 830,495 (2023)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 790,556 (2023)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 6.40 million (2023)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 4.86 million (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate -0.0111 % change on previous year (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.071 units per person (2023)
All data for United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland →
Frequently asked questions
- What is capital expenditure as a percentage of total expenditure in primary in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
- Capital expenditure as a percentage of total expenditure in primary in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland was 6.7% in 2021, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest capital expenditure as a percentage of total expenditure in primary recorded in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
- The highest recorded value was 11.8% in 2010.
- What is the lowest capital expenditure as a percentage of total expenditure in primary recorded in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.1% in 2019.
- How does United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland rank for capital expenditure as a percentage of total expenditure in primary?
- United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ranks 60th out of 124 countries with data for 2021.
- Is capital expenditure as a percentage of total expenditure in primary rising or falling in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
- Over the last ten years it is up 6.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Capital expenditure as a percentage of total expenditure in primary public institutions (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release