Expenditure on education as a percentage of total government in France
France: Expenditure on education as a percentage of total government was 9.1% in 2022. ▼ Falling
Expenditure on education as a percentage of total government in France, 1981–2022
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in UIS calculation.
Analysis
France recorded 9.1% for expenditure on education as a percentage of total government in 2022.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.1% on the previous year and down 3.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, expenditure on education as a percentage of total government in France peaked at 11.5% in 1981 and was at its lowest, 9.1%, in 2021.
That places France 165th out of 197 countries with data for 2022, putting it 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 France, year by year
| Year | UIS calculation | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1981 | 11.5% | — |
| 1982 | 11.4% | -1.0% |
| 1983 | 10.7% | -5.8% |
| 1984 | 10.2% | -5.1% |
| 1985 | 9.8% | -3.6% |
| 1986 | 9.4% | -3.7% |
| 1987 | 9.2% | -2.9% |
| 1988 | 9.4% | +2.3% |
| 1989 | 9.3% | -0.8% |
| 1990 | 9.5% | +1.6% |
| 1991 | 9.8% | +3.8% |
| 1992 | 9.4% | -4.4% |
| 1993 | 10.2% | +9.1% |
| 1994 | 10.3% | +1.1% |
| 1995 | 10.8% | +4.0% |
| 1996 | 10.6% | -1.5% |
| 1998 | 10.6% | -0.1% |
| 2017 | 9.5% | -10.4% |
| 2018 | 9.6% | +1.6% |
| 2019 | 9.7% | +0.7% |
| 2020 | 9.2% | -5.4% |
| 2021 | 9.1% | -0.7% |
| 2022 | 9.1% | +0.1% |
France compared with similar countries
- France's 9.1% is below the median for high income countries, which is 11.8%, 77% of the median. (70 countries reporting)
- France's 9.1% is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 11.9%, 77% of the median. (50 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 10.1% | 9.2% | 11.5% | 9 |
| 1990s | 10.1% | 9.4% | 10.8% | 8 |
| 2010s | 9.6% | 9.5% | 9.7% | 3 |
| 2020s | 9.1% | 9.1% | 9.2% | 3 |
Countries ranked near France
More education data for France
- 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)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.0602 units per person (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is expenditure on education as a percentage of total government in France?
- Expenditure on education as a percentage of total government in France was 9.1% in 2022, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest expenditure on education as a percentage of total government recorded in France?
- The highest recorded value was 11.5% in 1981.
- What is the lowest expenditure on education as a percentage of total government recorded in France?
- The lowest recorded value was 9.1% in 2021.
- How does France rank for expenditure on education as a percentage of total government?
- France ranks 165th out of 197 countries with data for 2022.
- Is expenditure on education as a percentage of total government rising or falling in France?
- Over the last ten years it is down 3.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this France 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