Expenditure on education as a percentage of total government in Italy
Italy: Expenditure on education as a percentage of total government was 7.2% in 2022. ▼ Falling
Expenditure on education as a percentage of total government in Italy, 2000–2022
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in IMF calculation.
Analysis
The most recent figure for expenditure on education as a percentage of total government in Italy is 7.2%, measured in 2022.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.7% on the previous year and down 9.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, expenditure on education as a percentage of total government in Italy peaked at 9.6% in 2003 and was at its lowest, 7.2%, in 2021.
Italy ranks 114th of 123 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 23 years of available data.
Expenditure on education as a percentage of total government in Italy, year by year
| Year | IMF calculation | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 9.3% | — |
| 2001 | 9.3% | +0.2% |
| 2002 | 9.5% | +1.8% |
| 2003 | 9.6% | +1.3% |
| 2004 | 9.2% | -4.3% |
| 2005 | 9.4% | +2.1% |
| 2006 | 9.2% | -2.7% |
| 2007 | 9.5% | +3.2% |
| 2008 | 9.0% | -5.2% |
| 2009 | 8.9% | -1.1% |
| 2010 | 8.7% | -1.8% |
| 2011 | 8.3% | -5.2% |
| 2012 | 8.0% | -2.9% |
| 2013 | 8.0% | +0.0% |
| 2014 | 7.9% | -1.0% |
| 2015 | 7.9% | +0.0% |
| 2016 | 7.9% | -1.0% |
| 2017 | 7.9% | +0.7% |
| 2018 | 8.1% | +2.5% |
| 2019 | 8.0% | -0.8% |
| 2020 | 7.5% | -7.1% |
| 2021 | 7.2% | -3.8% |
| 2022 | 7.2% | +0.7% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 9.3% | 8.9% | 9.6% | 10 |
| 2010s | 8.1% | 7.9% | 8.7% | 10 |
| 2020s | 7.3% | 7.2% | 7.5% | 3 |
Countries ranked near Italy
More education data for Italy
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 423,797 (2024)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 6,592 (2023)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 667,641 (2023)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 620,157 (2023)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 4.61 million (2023)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 2.63 million (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate -0.167 % change on previous year (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.0445 units per person (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is expenditure on education as a percentage of total government in Italy?
- Expenditure on education as a percentage of total government in Italy was 7.2% in 2022, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest expenditure on education as a percentage of total government recorded in Italy?
- The highest recorded value was 9.6% in 2003.
- What is the lowest expenditure on education as a percentage of total government recorded in Italy?
- The lowest recorded value was 7.2% in 2021.
- How does Italy rank for expenditure on education as a percentage of total government?
- Italy ranks 114th out of 123 countries with data for 2022.
- Is expenditure on education as a percentage of total government rising or falling in Italy?
- Over the last ten years it is down 9.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Italy data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Expenditure on education as a percentage of total government expenditure (%) (IMF calculation). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release