Expenditure on primary education in Sweden
Sweden: Expenditure on primary education was 24.1% in 2016. ▼ Falling
Expenditure on primary education in Sweden, 1979–2016
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 Sweden is 24.1%, measured in 2016.
The figure is up 3.3% on the previous year and down 3.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, expenditure on primary education in Sweden peaked at 54.5% in 1991 and was at its lowest, 22.0%, in 2012.
That places Sweden 115th out of 149 countries with data for 2016, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 28 years of available data.
Expenditure on primary education in Sweden, year by year
| Year | % of government expenditure on education | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1979 | 42.3% | — |
| 1980 | 36.0% | -14.8% |
| 1981 | 48.2% | +33.8% |
| 1990 | 51.5% | +6.7% |
| 1991 | 54.5% | +5.9% |
| 1992 | 52.5% | -3.6% |
| 1993 | 48.8% | -7.1% |
| 1995 | 26.2% | -46.3% |
| 1996 | 26.8% | +2.4% |
| 1998 | 26.3% | -1.9% |
| 1999 | 26.5% | +0.7% |
| 2000 | 27.9% | +5.2% |
| 2001 | 27.3% | -2.0% |
| 2002 | 28.0% | +2.4% |
| 2003 | 27.6% | -1.6% |
| 2004 | 26.9% | -2.3% |
| 2005 | 26.2% | -2.5% |
| 2006 | 24.9% | -5.1% |
| 2007 | 25.0% | +0.6% |
| 2008 | 24.6% | -1.7% |
| 2009 | 24.1% | -2.2% |
| 2010 | 24.3% | +0.9% |
| 2011 | 24.3% | -0.1% |
| 2012 | 22.0% | -9.4% |
| 2013 | 22.4% | +1.8% |
| 2014 | 22.8% | +1.8% |
| 2015 | 23.3% | +2.5% |
| 2016 | 24.1% | +3.3% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 42.3% | 42.3% | 42.3% | 1 |
| 1980s | 42.1% | 36.0% | 48.2% | 2 |
| 1990s | 39.2% | 26.2% | 54.5% | 8 |
| 2000s | 26.3% | 24.1% | 28.0% | 10 |
| 2010s | 23.3% | 22.0% | 24.3% | 7 |
Countries ranked near Sweden
More education data for Sweden
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 77,813 (2024)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 1,302 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 235,975 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 222,360 (2024)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 987,895 (2024)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 859,847 (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate -0.8572 % change on previous year (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.0814 units per person (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is expenditure on primary education in Sweden?
- Expenditure on primary education in Sweden was 24.1% 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 Sweden?
- The highest recorded value was 54.5% in 1991.
- What is the lowest expenditure on primary education recorded in Sweden?
- The lowest recorded value was 22.0% in 2012.
- How does Sweden rank for expenditure on primary education?
- Sweden ranks 115th out of 149 countries with data for 2016.
- Is expenditure on primary education rising or falling in Sweden?
- Over the last ten years it is down 3.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Sweden 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.