Expenditure on primary education in European Union
European Union: Expenditure on primary education was 23.8% in 2016. ▼ Falling
Expenditure on primary education in European Union, 1979–2016
Source: Stat Bulk Data Download Service, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Measured in % of government expenditure on education.
Analysis
In 2016, expenditure on primary education in European Union stood at 23.8%.
That represents a change of up 1.6% on the previous year and down 2.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, expenditure on primary education in European Union peaked at 35.8% in 1979 and was at its lowest, 21.2%, in 1999.
That places European Union 21st out of 24 groups with data for 2016, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 25 years of available data.
Expenditure on primary education in European Union, year by year
| Year | % of government expenditure on education | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1979 | 35.8% | — |
| 1988 | 27.5% | -23.1% |
| 1993 | 22.4% | -18.7% |
| 1994 | 22.6% | +1.1% |
| 1995 | 22.9% | +1.2% |
| 1996 | 23.5% | +2.3% |
| 1998 | 22.9% | -2.2% |
| 1999 | 21.2% | -7.6% |
| 2000 | 21.2% | +0.0% |
| 2001 | 21.6% | +1.9% |
| 2002 | 22.1% | +2.1% |
| 2003 | 21.7% | -1.8% |
| 2004 | 22.1% | +2.2% |
| 2005 | 23.3% | +5.0% |
| 2006 | 24.3% | +4.5% |
| 2007 | 23.3% | -4.0% |
| 2008 | 24.1% | +3.2% |
| 2009 | 24.1% | -0.0% |
| 2010 | 24.0% | -0.4% |
| 2011 | 22.9% | -4.4% |
| 2012 | 22.0% | -4.1% |
| 2013 | 23.9% | +8.6% |
| 2014 | 23.8% | -0.3% |
| 2015 | 23.4% | -1.5% |
| 2016 | 23.8% | +1.6% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 35.8% | 35.8% | 35.8% | 1 |
| 1980s | 27.5% | 27.5% | 27.5% | 1 |
| 1990s | 22.6% | 21.2% | 23.5% | 6 |
| 2000s | 22.8% | 21.2% | 24.3% | 10 |
| 2010s | 23.4% | 22.0% | 24.0% | 7 |
Countries ranked near European Union
More education data for European Union
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Population ages 0-14 14.2% (2025)
- Population ages 15-64 63.3% (2025)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 37.39 million (2024)
- Secondary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.0517 units per person (2024)
- Primary education, teachers, gaps filled 1.89 million (2024)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 23.26 million (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is expenditure on primary education in European Union?
- Expenditure on primary education in European Union was 23.8% in 2016, according to Stat Bulk Data Download Service, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
- What is the highest expenditure on primary education recorded in European Union?
- The highest recorded value was 35.8% in 1979.
- What is the lowest expenditure on primary education recorded in European Union?
- The lowest recorded value was 21.2% in 1999.
- How does European Union rank for expenditure on primary education?
- European Union ranks 21st out of 24 groups with data for 2016.
- Is expenditure on primary education rising or falling in European Union?
- Over the last ten years it is down 2.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this European Union 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.