Expenditure on education as a percentage of total government in Italy
Italy: Expenditure on education as a percentage of total government was 7.4% in 2022. ▲ Rising
Latest (2022)
7.4%
Change on year
down 0.5%
World rank
182nd
of 197 countries
All-time high
9.8%
in 2001
All-time low
0.0%
in 1983
Years of data
34
1983–2022
Expenditure on education as a percentage of total government in Italy, 1983–2022
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in UIS calculation.
Analysis
Italy recorded 7.4% for expenditure on education as a percentage of total government in 2022.
The figure is down 0.5% on the previous year and down 7.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, expenditure on education as a percentage of total government in Italy peaked at 9.8% in 2001 and was at its lowest, 0.0%, in 1983.
Italy ranks 182nd of 197 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 34 years of available data.
Expenditure on education as a percentage of total government in Italy, year by year
| Year | UIS calculation | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1983 | 0.0% | — |
| 1984 | 0.0% | — |
| 1985 | 0.0% | — |
| 1986 | 0.0% | — |
| 1988 | 0.0% | — |
| 1993 | 8.7% | — |
| 1994 | 8.3% | -5.5% |
| 1995 | 8.6% | +4.3% |
| 1996 | 9.1% | +6.1% |
| 1998 | 9.3% | +1.3% |
| 1999 | 9.6% | +3.4% |
| 2000 | 9.2% | -3.5% |
| 2001 | 9.8% | +6.5% |
| 2002 | 9.5% | -3.4% |
| 2003 | 9.6% | +1.5% |
| 2004 | 9.4% | -2.8% |
| 2005 | 9.0% | -4.2% |
| 2006 | 9.5% | +5.5% |
| 2007 | 8.8% | -7.4% |
| 2008 | 9.2% | +4.4% |
| 2009 | 8.8% | -3.6% |
| 2010 | 8.7% | -1.8% |
| 2011 | 8.4% | -3.6% |
| 2012 | 8.0% | -4.3% |
| 2013 | 8.1% | +1.3% |
| 2014 | 8.0% | -1.6% |
| 2015 | 8.1% | +1.3% |
| 2016 | 7.7% | -4.0% |
| 2017 | 8.3% | +6.5% |
| 2018 | 8.8% | +6.3% |
| 2019 | 8.4% | -4.0% |
| 2020 | 7.8% | -7.6% |
| 2021 | 7.4% | -4.3% |
| 2022 | 7.4% | -0.5% |
Italy compared with similar countries
- Italy's 7.4% is below the median for high income countries, which is 11.8%, 63% of the median. (70 countries reporting)
- Italy's 7.4% is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 11.9%, 62% of the median. (50 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 5 |
| 1990s | 8.9% | 8.3% | 9.6% | 6 |
| 2000s | 9.3% | 8.8% | 9.8% | 10 |
| 2010s | 8.2% | 7.7% | 8.8% | 10 |
| 2020s | 7.5% | 7.4% | 7.8% | 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 7.4% 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 9.8% in 2001.
- What is the lowest expenditure on education as a percentage of total government recorded in Italy?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.0% in 1983.
- How does Italy rank for expenditure on education as a percentage of total government?
- Italy ranks 182nd out of 197 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 7.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- 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 (%) (UIS calculation). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release