Education spending in France
France: Education spending was 5.32 in 2022. ▲ Rising
Education spending in France, 1870–2022
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
In 2022, education spending in France stood at 5.32.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 1.7% on the previous year and down 2.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, education spending in France peaked at 5.81 in 1995 and was at its lowest, 0.3, in 1870.
That places France 47th out of 199 countries with data for 2022, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 38 years of available data.
Education spending in France, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1870 | 0.3 | — |
| 1913 | 1.5 | +400.0% |
| 1937 | 1.3 | -13.3% |
| 1960 | 2.4 | +84.6% |
| 1970 | 3.47 | +44.4% |
| 1971 | 3.21 | -7.4% |
| 1972 | 3.39 | +5.7% |
| 1973 | 3.26 | -4.0% |
| 1974 | 4.28 | +31.4% |
| 1975 | 4.48 | +4.7% |
| 1976 | 4.47 | -0.2% |
| 1977 | 4.47 | +0.1% |
| 1978 | 4.39 | -1.9% |
| 1979 | 4.32 | -1.5% |
| 1980 | 4.35 | +0.7% |
| 1981 | 4.78 | +9.9% |
| 1982 | 4.91 | +2.7% |
| 1983 | 4.91 | +0.0% |
| 1984 | 4.92 | +0.2% |
| 1985 | 4.9 | -0.3% |
| 1986 | 4.75 | -3.2% |
| 1987 | 4.66 | -1.8% |
| 1988 | 4.58 | -1.8% |
| 1989 | 4.49 | -1.9% |
| 1990 | 4.56 | +1.4% |
| 1991 | 4.88 | +7.1% |
| 1992 | 4.78 | -2.2% |
| 1993 | 5.46 | +14.4% |
| 1994 | 5.66 | +3.6% |
| 1995 | 5.81 | +2.7% |
| 1996 | 5.78 | -0.5% |
| 1998 | 5.71 | -1.2% |
| 2017 | 5.46 | -4.3% |
| 2018 | 5.43 | -0.7% |
| 2019 | 5.37 | -1.1% |
| 2020 | 5.66 | +5.4% |
| 2021 | 5.42 | -4.3% |
| 2022 | 5.32 | -1.7% |
France compared with similar countries
- France's 5.32 is above the median for high income countries, which is 4.4, 1.2× the median. (72 countries reporting)
- France's 5.32 is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 4.5, 1.2× the median. (51 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Education spending in France 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1913 | +400.0% | 0.3 | 1.5 |
| 1960 | +84.6% | 1.3 | 2.4 |
| 1970 | +44.4% | 2.4 | 3.47 |
| 1974 | +31.4% | 3.26 | 4.28 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1870s | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 1 |
| 1910s | 1.5 | 1.5 | 1.5 | 1 |
| 1930s | 1.3 | 1.3 | 1.3 | 1 |
| 1960s | 2.4 | 2.4 | 2.4 | 1 |
| 1970s | 3.97 | 3.21 | 4.48 | 10 |
| 1980s | 4.73 | 4.35 | 4.92 | 10 |
| 1990s | 5.33 | 4.56 | 5.81 | 8 |
| 2010s | 5.42 | 5.37 | 5.46 | 3 |
| 2020s | 5.47 | 5.32 | 5.66 | 3 |
Countries ranked near France
- 44 South Korea 5.41 compare
- 45 Dominica 5.39 compare
- 46 Burkina Faso 5.33 compare
- 48 Costa Rica 5.31 compare
- 49 Tonga 5.31 compare
- 50 Slovenia 5.28 compare
More education data for France
- Gender gap education levels, gaps filled 99.97 (2016)
- Primary enrollment selected countries, gaps filled 99.8 (2024)
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 457,956 (2019)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 43,533 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 1.19 million (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 1.14 million (2024)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 6.27 million (2024)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 4.13 million (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate -1.27 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is education spending in France?
- Education spending in France was 5.32 in 2022, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest education spending recorded in France?
- The highest recorded value was 5.81 in 1995.
- What is the lowest education spending recorded in France?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.3 in 1870.
- How does France rank for education spending?
- France ranks 47th out of 199 countries with data for 2022.
- Is education spending rising or falling in France?
- Over the last ten years it is down 2.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this France data come from?
- The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of Education spending. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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