Expenditure on tertiary education in China
China: Expenditure on tertiary education was 24.0% in 1999. ▲ Rising
Expenditure on tertiary education in China, 1971–1999
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 tertiary education in China stood at 24.0%.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 53.9% on the previous year and down 18.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, expenditure on tertiary education in China peaked at 34.2% in 1986 and was at its lowest, 13.9%, in 1971.
China ranks 48th of 160 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 25 years of available data.
Expenditure on tertiary education in China, year by year
| Year | % of government expenditure on education | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1971 | 13.9% | — |
| 1972 | 14.3% | +2.6% |
| 1973 | 15.7% | +10.2% |
| 1974 | 16.0% | +1.6% |
| 1975 | 16.0% | -0.0% |
| 1976 | 16.8% | +5.2% |
| 1977 | 16.5% | -1.6% |
| 1978 | 20.8% | +25.5% |
| 1979 | 26.4% | +27.0% |
| 1980 | 30.7% | +16.2% |
| 1981 | 31.6% | +2.9% |
| 1982 | 30.5% | -3.3% |
| 1983 | 32.5% | +6.6% |
| 1984 | 34.0% | +4.4% |
| 1985 | 34.1% | +0.5% |
| 1986 | 34.2% | +0.1% |
| 1987 | 32.2% | -5.9% |
| 1988 | 29.4% | -8.7% |
| 1992 | 25.9% | -11.7% |
| 1993 | 23.2% | -10.6% |
| 1994 | 21.4% | -7.8% |
| 1995 | 19.5% | -8.6% |
| 1996 | 19.7% | +0.6% |
| 1998 | 15.6% | -20.8% |
| 1999 | 24.0% | +53.9% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 17.4% | 13.9% | 26.4% | 9 |
| 1980s | 32.1% | 29.4% | 34.2% | 9 |
| 1990s | 21.3% | 15.6% | 25.9% | 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 tertiary education in China?
- Expenditure on tertiary education in China was 24.0% in 1999, according to Stat Bulk Data Download Service, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
- What is the highest expenditure on tertiary education recorded in China?
- The highest recorded value was 34.2% in 1986.
- What is the lowest expenditure on tertiary education recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 13.9% in 1971.
- How does China rank for expenditure on tertiary education?
- China ranks 48th out of 160 countries with data for 1999.
- Is expenditure on tertiary education rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is down 18.4%. 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 tertiary education (% of government expenditure on education). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Expenditure on tertiary education is expressed as a percentage of total general government expenditure on education. General government usually refers to local, regional and central governments.