Expenditure on education as a percentage of total government in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland: Expenditure on education as a percentage of total government was 11.8% in 2021. ▲ Rising
Expenditure on education as a percentage of total government in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, 1981–2021
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 United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is 11.8%, measured in 2021.
The figure is down 15.8% on the previous year and down 5.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, expenditure on education as a percentage of total government in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland peaked at 14.0% in 2020 and was at its lowest, 10.2%, in 1986.
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ranks 117th of 197 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 38 years of available data.
Expenditure on education as a percentage of total government in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, year by year
| Year | UIS calculation | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1981 | 12.7% | — |
| 1982 | 11.6% | -8.2% |
| 1983 | 11.4% | -1.7% |
| 1984 | 11.2% | -1.7% |
| 1985 | 10.5% | -6.7% |
| 1986 | 10.2% | -2.4% |
| 1987 | 10.5% | +2.6% |
| 1988 | 10.7% | +2.4% |
| 1989 | 11.1% | +3.1% |
| 1990 | 11.1% | -0.0% |
| 1991 | 10.8% | -2.5% |
| 1992 | 11.1% | +2.7% |
| 1994 | 11.8% | +6.4% |
| 1995 | 11.9% | +0.5% |
| 1996 | 11.6% | -1.9% |
| 1998 | 12.1% | +3.6% |
| 1999 | 11.6% | -4.0% |
| 2000 | 11.9% | +2.4% |
| 2001 | 12.1% | +1.9% |
| 2002 | 13.3% | +10.1% |
| 2003 | 13.4% | +0.4% |
| 2004 | 12.7% | -4.7% |
| 2005 | 13.0% | +1.8% |
| 2006 | 12.9% | -0.1% |
| 2007 | 12.8% | -1.0% |
| 2008 | 12.7% | -0.9% |
| 2009 | 12.4% | -2.7% |
| 2010 | 12.8% | +3.3% |
| 2011 | 12.5% | -2.4% |
| 2013 | 12.7% | +1.8% |
| 2014 | 13.4% | +5.5% |
| 2015 | 13.5% | +0.7% |
| 2016 | 13.4% | -0.4% |
| 2017 | 13.8% | +2.5% |
| 2018 | 13.3% | -3.4% |
| 2019 | 13.5% | +1.8% |
| 2020 | 14.0% | +3.7% |
| 2021 | 11.8% | -15.8% |
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland compared with similar countries
- United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland's 11.8% is above the median for high income countries, which is 11.8%, 1.0× the median. (70 countries reporting)
- United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland's 11.8% is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 11.9%, 100% of the median. (50 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 11.1% | 10.2% | 12.7% | 9 |
| 1990s | 11.5% | 10.8% | 12.1% | 8 |
| 2000s | 12.7% | 11.9% | 13.4% | 10 |
| 2010s | 13.2% | 12.5% | 13.8% | 9 |
| 2020s | 12.9% | 11.8% | 14.0% | 2 |
Countries ranked near United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
More education data for United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 388,714 (2023)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 0 (2012)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 830,495 (2023)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 790,556 (2023)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 6.40 million (2023)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 4.86 million (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate -0.0111 % change on previous year (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.071 units per person (2023)
All data for United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland →
Frequently asked questions
- What is expenditure on education as a percentage of total government in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
- Expenditure on education as a percentage of total government in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland was 11.8% in 2021, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest expenditure on education as a percentage of total government recorded in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
- The highest recorded value was 14.0% in 2020.
- What is the lowest expenditure on education as a percentage of total government recorded in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
- The lowest recorded value was 10.2% in 1986.
- How does United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland rank for expenditure on education as a percentage of total government?
- United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ranks 117th out of 197 countries with data for 2021.
- Is expenditure on education as a percentage of total government rising or falling in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
- Over the last ten years it is down 5.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 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