Expenditure on education as a percentage of total government in Spain
Spain: Expenditure on education as a percentage of total government was 9.9% in 2022. ▬ Flat
Latest (2022)
9.9%
Change on year
up 1.5%
World rank
154th
of 197 countries
All-time high
10.9%
in 2008
All-time low
8.8%
in 1987
Years of data
35
1987–2022
Expenditure on education as a percentage of total government in Spain, 1987–2022
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in UIS calculation.
Analysis
Spain recorded 9.9% for expenditure on education as a percentage of total government in 2022.
The figure is up 1.5% on the previous year and up 9.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, expenditure on education as a percentage of total government in Spain peaked at 10.9% in 2008 and was at its lowest, 8.8%, in 1987.
Spain ranks 154th of 197 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
Expenditure on education as a percentage of total government in Spain, year by year
| Year | UIS calculation | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1987 | 8.8% | — |
| 1988 | 9.6% | +9.0% |
| 1989 | 10.3% | +7.3% |
| 1990 | 10.1% | -1.9% |
| 1991 | 10.0% | -1.1% |
| 1992 | 9.7% | -3.0% |
| 1993 | 10.0% | +3.3% |
| 1994 | 10.3% | +2.2% |
| 1995 | 10.7% | +3.8% |
| 1996 | 10.7% | +0.7% |
| 1998 | 10.5% | -2.5% |
| 1999 | 10.7% | +1.9% |
| 2000 | 10.7% | -0.2% |
| 2001 | 10.7% | +0.5% |
| 2002 | 10.7% | -0.0% |
| 2003 | 10.9% | +1.6% |
| 2004 | 10.7% | -1.5% |
| 2005 | 10.8% | +0.5% |
| 2006 | 10.9% | +1.1% |
| 2007 | 10.8% | -0.5% |
| 2008 | 10.9% | +0.8% |
| 2009 | 10.6% | -2.8% |
| 2010 | 10.5% | -0.7% |
| 2011 | 10.3% | -2.6% |
| 2012 | 9.1% | -11.8% |
| 2013 | 9.4% | +3.5% |
| 2014 | 9.5% | +1.2% |
| 2015 | 9.7% | +2.5% |
| 2016 | 10.0% | +2.3% |
| 2017 | 10.2% | +2.3% |
| 2018 | 10.0% | -1.8% |
| 2019 | 10.0% | +0.1% |
| 2020 | 9.4% | -5.7% |
| 2021 | 9.7% | +3.1% |
| 2022 | 9.9% | +1.5% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 9.6% | 8.8% | 10.3% | 3 |
| 1990s | 10.3% | 9.7% | 10.7% | 9 |
| 2000s | 10.8% | 10.6% | 10.9% | 10 |
| 2010s | 9.9% | 9.1% | 10.5% | 10 |
| 2020s | 9.7% | 9.4% | 9.9% | 3 |
Countries ranked near Spain
More education data for Spain
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 344,203 (2024)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 37,817 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 570,954 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 538,977 (2024)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 3.71 million (2024)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 2.83 million (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate -1.08 % change on previous year (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.058 units per person (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is expenditure on education as a percentage of total government in Spain?
- Expenditure on education as a percentage of total government in Spain was 9.9% in 2022, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest expenditure on education as a percentage of total government recorded in Spain?
- The highest recorded value was 10.9% in 2008.
- What is the lowest expenditure on education as a percentage of total government recorded in Spain?
- The lowest recorded value was 8.8% in 1987.
- How does Spain rank for expenditure on education as a percentage of total government?
- Spain ranks 154th out of 197 countries with data for 2022.
- Is expenditure on education as a percentage of total government rising or falling in Spain?
- Over the last ten years it is up 9.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Spain 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