Expenditure on primary education in China
China: Expenditure on primary education was 32.6% in 1999. ▲ Rising
Expenditure on primary education in China, 1980–1999
Source: Stat Bulk Data Download Service, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Measured in % of government expenditure on education.
Analysis
In 1999, expenditure on primary education in China stood at 32.6%.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 9.6% on the previous year and up 0.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, expenditure on primary education in China peaked at 40.4% in 1996 and was at its lowest, 29.4%, in 1985.
That places China 72nd out of 149 countries with data for 1999, 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 primary education in China, year by year
| Year | % of government expenditure on education | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 29.6% | — |
| 1981 | 30.3% | +2.4% |
| 1982 | 31.4% | +3.8% |
| 1983 | 30.9% | -1.8% |
| 1984 | 30.0% | -2.9% |
| 1985 | 29.4% | -2.0% |
| 1986 | 29.4% | +0.1% |
| 1987 | 30.7% | +4.5% |
| 1988 | 32.6% | +6.0% |
| 1992 | 34.3% | +5.2% |
| 1993 | 34.8% | +1.4% |
| 1994 | 39.0% | +12.1% |
| 1995 | 30.1% | -22.8% |
| 1996 | 40.4% | +34.2% |
| 1998 | 36.1% | -10.7% |
| 1999 | 32.6% | -9.6% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 30.5% | 29.4% | 32.6% | 9 |
| 1990s | 35.3% | 30.1% | 40.4% | 7 |
Countries ranked near China
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 primary education in China?
- Expenditure on primary education in China was 32.6% in 1999, according to Stat Bulk Data Download Service, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
- What is the highest expenditure on primary education recorded in China?
- The highest recorded value was 40.4% in 1996.
- What is the lowest expenditure on primary education recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 29.4% in 1985.
- How does China rank for expenditure on primary education?
- China ranks 72nd out of 149 countries with data for 1999.
- Is expenditure on primary education rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is up 0.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this China data come from?
- The figures come from Stat Bulk Data Download Service, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), published as part of Expenditure on primary education (% of government expenditure on education). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Expenditure on primary education is expressed as a percentage of total general government expenditure on education. General government usually refers to local, regional and central governments.