Expenditure on tertiary education in European Union
European Union: Expenditure on tertiary education was 21.8% in 2016. ▲ Rising
Expenditure on tertiary education in European Union, 1974–2016
Source: Stat Bulk Data Download Service, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Measured in % of government expenditure on education.
Analysis
In 2016, expenditure on tertiary education in European Union stood at 21.8%.
The figure is down 4.6% on the previous year and down 2.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, expenditure on tertiary education in European Union peaked at 23.4% in 2011 and was at its lowest, 15.3%, in 1974.
That places European Union 10th out of 37 groups with data for 2016, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 30 years of available data.
Expenditure on tertiary education in European Union, year by year
| Year | % of government expenditure on education | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1974 | 15.3% | — |
| 1976 | 16.1% | +5.1% |
| 1978 | 16.9% | +5.0% |
| 1979 | 16.6% | -1.8% |
| 1988 | 19.5% | +17.1% |
| 1991 | 19.4% | -0.2% |
| 1992 | 19.0% | -2.0% |
| 1993 | 18.0% | -5.6% |
| 1994 | 18.5% | +3.2% |
| 1995 | 18.5% | -0.5% |
| 1996 | 19.4% | +4.9% |
| 1998 | 22.4% | +15.7% |
| 1999 | 19.6% | -12.7% |
| 2000 | 21.4% | +9.4% |
| 2001 | 21.8% | +1.7% |
| 2002 | 20.7% | -5.1% |
| 2003 | 20.2% | -2.2% |
| 2004 | 21.5% | +6.5% |
| 2005 | 21.9% | +1.8% |
| 2006 | 22.3% | +1.6% |
| 2007 | 22.9% | +2.7% |
| 2008 | 22.5% | -1.5% |
| 2009 | 22.6% | +0.5% |
| 2010 | 22.4% | -1.1% |
| 2011 | 23.4% | +4.6% |
| 2012 | 23.4% | -0.0% |
| 2013 | 22.4% | -4.3% |
| 2014 | 22.5% | +0.4% |
| 2015 | 22.9% | +1.6% |
| 2016 | 21.8% | -4.6% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 16.3% | 15.3% | 16.9% | 4 |
| 1980s | 19.5% | 19.5% | 19.5% | 1 |
| 1990s | 19.3% | 18.0% | 22.4% | 8 |
| 2000s | 21.8% | 20.2% | 22.9% | 10 |
| 2010s | 22.7% | 21.8% | 23.4% | 7 |
Countries ranked near European Union
- 7 Gabon 37.8% compare
- 8 Macau, China 37.1% compare
- 9 Puerto Rico 36.8% compare
- 10 Greece 36.1% compare
- 11 Canada 35.6% compare
- 12 Singapore 35.3% compare
- 13 British Virgin Islands 35.1% compare
More education data for European Union
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Population ages 0-14 14.2% (2025)
- Population ages 15-64 63.3% (2025)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 37.39 million (2024)
- Secondary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.0517 units per person (2024)
- Primary education, teachers, gaps filled 1.89 million (2024)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 23.26 million (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is expenditure on tertiary education in European Union?
- Expenditure on tertiary education in European Union was 21.8% in 2016, according to Stat Bulk Data Download Service, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
- What is the highest expenditure on tertiary education recorded in European Union?
- The highest recorded value was 23.4% in 2011.
- What is the lowest expenditure on tertiary education recorded in European Union?
- The lowest recorded value was 15.3% in 1974.
- How does European Union rank for expenditure on tertiary education?
- European Union ranks 10th out of 37 groups with data for 2016.
- Is expenditure on tertiary education rising or falling in European Union?
- Over the last ten years it is down 2.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this European Union 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.