Expenditure on tertiary education in Colombia

Colombia: Expenditure on tertiary education was 23.3% in 2018. ▼ Falling

Latest (2018)
23.3%
Change on year
up 3.7%
World rank
54th
of 160 countries
All-time high
25.5%
in 1980
All-time low
13.3%
in 2004
Years of data
23
1979–2018

Expenditure on tertiary education in Colombia, 1979–2018

01020301979199820181979: 23.4 % of government expenditure on education1980: 25.5 % of government expenditure on education1981: 22.8 % of government expenditure on education1984: 20.6 % of government expenditure on education1985: 22.5 % of government expenditure on education1989: 18.8 % of government expenditure on education1998: 19.6 % of government expenditure on education1999: 19.1 % of government expenditure on education2000: 19.9 % of government expenditure on education2001: 19.9 % of government expenditure on education2004: 13.3 % of government expenditure on education2005: 13.8 % of government expenditure on education2008: 22 % of government expenditure on education2009: 19.6 % of government expenditure on education2010: 22.1 % of government expenditure on education2011: 20.6 % of government expenditure on education2012: 22 % of government expenditure on education2013: 17.7 % of government expenditure on education2014: 20.8 % of government expenditure on education2015: 21.4 % of government expenditure on education2016: 23 % of government expenditure on education2017: 22.5 % of government expenditure on education2018: 23.3 % of government expenditure on education

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 tertiary education in Colombia is 23.3%, measured in 2018.

Compared with earlier readings it is up 3.7% on the previous year and up 5.8% over ten years.

Over the whole period, expenditure on tertiary education in Colombia peaked at 25.5% in 1980 and was at its lowest, 13.3%, in 2004.

Colombia ranks 54th of 160 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.

The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 23 years of available data.

Expenditure on tertiary education in Colombia, year by year

Annual values for Expenditure on tertiary education (% of government expenditure on education) in Colombia, 1979 to 2018.
Year % of government expenditure on education Change
1979 23.4%
1980 25.5% +9.3%
1981 22.8% -10.7%
1984 20.6% -9.5%
1985 22.5% +9.1%
1989 18.8% -16.4%
1998 19.6% +4.3%
1999 19.1% -2.7%
2000 19.9% +4.2%
2001 19.9% -0.0%
2004 13.3% -33.0%
2005 13.8% +3.8%
2008 22.0% +59.6%
2009 19.6% -11.1%
2010 22.1% +12.8%
2011 20.6% -6.8%
2012 22.0% +6.6%
2013 17.7% -19.3%
2014 20.8% +17.1%
2015 21.4% +3.0%
2016 23.0% +7.5%
2017 22.5% -2.1%
2018 23.3% +3.7%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1970s 23.4% 23.4% 23.4% 1
1980s 22.0% 18.8% 25.5% 5
1990s 19.3% 19.1% 19.6% 2
2000s 18.1% 13.3% 22.0% 6
2010s 21.5% 17.7% 23.3% 9

Countries ranked near Colombia

  1. 51 Romania 23.8% compare
  2. 52 New Zealand 23.7% compare
  3. 53 Paraguay 23.3% compare
  4. 55 Niger 23.3% compare
  5. 56 Costa Rica 23.1% compare
  6. 57 Malawi 23.1% compare

See the full ranking of 197 places →

More education data for Colombia

All data for Colombia →

Frequently asked questions

What is expenditure on tertiary education in Colombia?
Expenditure on tertiary education in Colombia was 23.3% in 2018, according to Stat Bulk Data Download Service, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
What is the highest expenditure on tertiary education recorded in Colombia?
The highest recorded value was 25.5% in 1980.
What is the lowest expenditure on tertiary education recorded in Colombia?
The lowest recorded value was 13.3% in 2004.
How does Colombia rank for expenditure on tertiary education?
Colombia ranks 54th out of 160 countries with data for 2018.
Is expenditure on tertiary education rising or falling in Colombia?
Over the last ten years it is up 5.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
Where does this Colombia 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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Expenditure on tertiary education in Colombia. Statizoid, drawing on Stat Bulk Data Download Service, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Retrieved 10 September 2026, from https://education.statizoid.com/stat/expenditure-on-tertiary-education-percent-of-government-expenditure-on-education/colombia/

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About this data

Indicator
Expenditure on tertiary education (% of government expenditure on education)
Unit
% of government expenditure on education
Source
Stat Bulk Data Download Service, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
197 places, 3,723 data points, 1970–2019
Last refreshed

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.