Expenditure on primary education in Spain
Spain: Expenditure on primary education was 26.9% in 2016. ▼ Falling
Expenditure on primary education in Spain, 1970–2016
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 Spain is 26.9%, measured in 2016.
The figure is up 1.1% on the previous year and up 4.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, expenditure on primary education in Spain peaked at 61.7% in 1977 and was at its lowest, 21.2%, in 1993.
That places Spain 110th 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 36 years of available data.
Expenditure on primary education in Spain, year by year
| Year | % of government expenditure on education | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 51.8% | — |
| 1971 | 44.8% | -13.5% |
| 1972 | 53.5% | +19.3% |
| 1976 | 61.5% | +15.1% |
| 1977 | 61.7% | +0.3% |
| 1978 | 53.1% | -13.9% |
| 1979 | 58.0% | +9.1% |
| 1987 | 29.9% | -48.5% |
| 1988 | 28.0% | -6.2% |
| 1989 | 26.5% | -5.5% |
| 1990 | 24.6% | -7.1% |
| 1991 | 23.2% | -5.7% |
| 1992 | 23.1% | -0.3% |
| 1993 | 21.2% | -8.5% |
| 1994 | 21.3% | +0.6% |
| 1995 | 22.9% | +7.7% |
| 1996 | 24.6% | +7.3% |
| 1998 | 25.8% | +5.0% |
| 1999 | 26.5% | +2.7% |
| 2000 | 25.8% | -2.6% |
| 2001 | 26.1% | +1.0% |
| 2002 | 25.8% | -1.0% |
| 2003 | 25.7% | -0.4% |
| 2004 | 26.0% | +1.0% |
| 2005 | 25.8% | -0.8% |
| 2006 | 25.7% | -0.3% |
| 2007 | 25.4% | -1.1% |
| 2008 | 25.4% | -0.1% |
| 2009 | 25.3% | -0.3% |
| 2010 | 25.5% | +1.0% |
| 2011 | 25.5% | +0.0% |
| 2012 | 25.9% | +1.6% |
| 2013 | 26.1% | +0.7% |
| 2014 | 26.3% | +0.8% |
| 2015 | 26.6% | +1.2% |
| 2016 | 26.9% | +1.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 54.9% | 44.8% | 61.7% | 7 |
| 1980s | 28.1% | 26.5% | 29.9% | 3 |
| 1990s | 23.7% | 21.2% | 26.5% | 9 |
| 2000s | 25.7% | 25.3% | 26.1% | 10 |
| 2010s | 26.2% | 25.5% | 26.9% | 7 |
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 primary education in Spain?
- Expenditure on primary education in Spain was 26.9% 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 Spain?
- The highest recorded value was 61.7% in 1977.
- What is the lowest expenditure on primary education recorded in Spain?
- The lowest recorded value was 21.2% in 1993.
- How does Spain rank for expenditure on primary education?
- Spain ranks 110th out of 149 countries with data for 2016.
- Is expenditure on primary education rising or falling in Spain?
- Over the last ten years it is up 4.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Spain 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.