Expenditure on education as a percentage of total government in China
China: Expenditure on education as a percentage of total government was 11.9% in 2023. ▲ Rising
Expenditure on education as a percentage of total government in China, 1981–2023
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in UIS calculation.
Analysis
The most recent figure for expenditure on education as a percentage of total government in China is 11.9%, measured in 2023.
Over the whole period, expenditure on education as a percentage of total government in China peaked at 20.1% in 1994 and was at its lowest, 0.0%, in 1981.
That places China 115th out of 197 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 16 years of available data.
Expenditure on education as a percentage of total government in China, year by year
| Year | UIS calculation | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1981 | 0.0% | — |
| 1982 | 0.0% | — |
| 1983 | 9.6% | — |
| 1984 | 9.8% | +2.1% |
| 1985 | 10.7% | +9.5% |
| 1986 | 10.4% | -2.3% |
| 1987 | 9.5% | -9.4% |
| 1988 | 10.7% | +13.6% |
| 1992 | 12.3% | +14.4% |
| 1993 | 14.8% | +20.2% |
| 1994 | 20.1% | +35.8% |
| 1995 | 18.7% | -6.7% |
| 1996 | 19.5% | +4.2% |
| 1998 | 14.6% | -25.4% |
| 1999 | 12.6% | -13.2% |
| 2023 | 11.9% | -5.7% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 7.6% | 0.0% | 10.7% | 8 |
| 1990s | 16.1% | 12.3% | 20.1% | 7 |
| 2020s | 11.9% | 11.9% | 11.9% | 1 |
Countries ranked near China
- 112 Bulgaria 12.0% compare
- 113 Netherlands 12.0% compare
- 114 Azerbaijan 11.9% compare
- 116 Bangladesh 11.9% compare
- 117 United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 11.8% compare
- 118 Lithuania 11.7% compare
More education data for China
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 7.41 million (2024)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 7,020 (2021)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 21.58 million (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 19.36 million (2024)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 97.98 million (2024)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 108.57 million (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 0.9587 % change on previous year (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.0771 units per person (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is expenditure on education as a percentage of total government in China?
- Expenditure on education as a percentage of total government in China was 11.9% in 2023, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest expenditure on education as a percentage of total government recorded in China?
- The highest recorded value was 20.1% in 1994.
- What is the lowest expenditure on education as a percentage of total government recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.0% in 1981.
- How does China rank for expenditure on education as a percentage of total government?
- China ranks 115th out of 197 countries with data for 2023.
- Where does this China 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 (%) (UIS calculation). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release