Expenditure on primary education in New Zealand
New Zealand: Expenditure on primary education was 26.1% in 2016. ▼ Falling
Expenditure on primary education in New Zealand, 1973–2016
Source: Stat Bulk Data Download Service, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Measured in % of government expenditure on education.
Analysis
The most recent figure for expenditure on primary education in New Zealand is 26.1%, measured in 2016.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 12.4% on the previous year and up 13.4% over five years.
Over the whole period, expenditure on primary education in New Zealand peaked at 38.3% in 1984 and was at its lowest, 23.0%, in 2014.
That places New Zealand 111th out of 149 countries with data for 2016, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 24 years of available data.
Expenditure on primary education in New Zealand, year by year
| Year | % of government expenditure on education | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1973 | 35.5% | — |
| 1974 | 35.8% | +1.1% |
| 1975 | 35.7% | -0.4% |
| 1976 | 34.1% | -4.5% |
| 1977 | 34.6% | +1.4% |
| 1978 | 34.5% | -0.2% |
| 1979 | 36.5% | +5.6% |
| 1980 | 37.1% | +1.7% |
| 1981 | 35.1% | -5.4% |
| 1982 | 36.4% | +3.8% |
| 1984 | 38.3% | +5.3% |
| 1985 | 38.1% | -0.6% |
| 1986 | 36.7% | -3.7% |
| 1987 | 35.1% | -4.4% |
| 1988 | 34.1% | -2.8% |
| 1989 | 29.0% | -15.1% |
| 1994 | 24.0% | -17.2% |
| 1995 | 24.9% | +3.6% |
| 1996 | 26.8% | +7.7% |
| 1997 | 26.8% | -0.0% |
| 2013 | 23.0% | -14.0% |
| 2014 | 23.0% | -0.1% |
| 2015 | 23.2% | +1.0% |
| 2016 | 26.1% | +12.4% |
New Zealand compared with similar countries
- New Zealand's 26.1% is above the median for high income countries, which is 26.1%, 1.0× the median. (59 countries reporting)
- New Zealand's 26.1% is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 34.3%, 76% of the median. (21 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 35.2% | 34.1% | 36.5% | 7 |
| 1980s | 35.5% | 29.0% | 38.3% | 9 |
| 1990s | 25.6% | 24.0% | 26.8% | 4 |
| 2010s | 23.8% | 23.0% | 26.1% | 4 |
Countries ranked near New Zealand
More education data for New Zealand
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 36,426 (2024)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 12,020 (1992)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 56,552 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 53,804 (2024)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 562,417 (2024)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 383,018 (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 1.15 % change on previous year (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.0724 units per person (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is expenditure on primary education in New Zealand?
- Expenditure on primary education in New Zealand was 26.1% 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 New Zealand?
- The highest recorded value was 38.3% in 1984.
- What is the lowest expenditure on primary education recorded in New Zealand?
- The lowest recorded value was 23.0% in 2014.
- How does New Zealand rank for expenditure on primary education?
- New Zealand ranks 111th out of 149 countries with data for 2016.
- Where does this New Zealand 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.
Download this data
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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.