Expenditure on tertiary education in India
India: Expenditure on tertiary education was 28.5% in 2013. ▲ Rising
Expenditure on tertiary education in India, 1999–2013
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 India is 28.5%, measured in 2013.
The figure is down 11.3% on the previous year and up 42.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, expenditure on tertiary education in India peaked at 36.5% in 2009 and was at its lowest, 17.5%, in 1999.
That places India 27th out of 160 countries with data for 2013, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 11 years of available data.
Expenditure on tertiary education in India, year by year
| Year | % of government expenditure on education | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1999 | 17.5% | — |
| 2000 | 20.3% | +15.7% |
| 2003 | 20.1% | -1.0% |
| 2004 | 20.0% | -0.4% |
| 2005 | 19.6% | -2.3% |
| 2006 | 20.3% | +3.7% |
| 2009 | 36.5% | +79.7% |
| 2010 | 36.1% | -1.0% |
| 2011 | 34.7% | -3.9% |
| 2012 | 32.2% | -7.2% |
| 2013 | 28.5% | -11.3% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 17.5% | 17.5% | 17.5% | 1 |
| 2000s | 22.8% | 19.6% | 36.5% | 6 |
| 2010s | 32.9% | 28.5% | 36.1% | 4 |
Countries ranked near India
- 24 Hong Kong, China 29.4% compare
- 25 Lebanon 28.7% compare
- 26 Barbados 28.5% compare
- 28 Iran, Islamic Republic of 28.2% compare
- 29 Central African Republic 27.3% compare
- 30 Estonia 27.1% compare
More education data for India
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 7.31 million (2025)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 3.10 million (2025)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 19.37 million (2025)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 18.52 million (2025)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 133.16 million (2025)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 126.12 million (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate -8.85 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.0862 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is expenditure on tertiary education in India?
- Expenditure on tertiary education in India was 28.5% in 2013, according to Stat Bulk Data Download Service, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
- What is the highest expenditure on tertiary education recorded in India?
- The highest recorded value was 36.5% in 2009.
- What is the lowest expenditure on tertiary education recorded in India?
- The lowest recorded value was 17.5% in 1999.
- How does India rank for expenditure on tertiary education?
- India ranks 27th out of 160 countries with data for 2013.
- Is expenditure on tertiary education rising or falling in India?
- Over the last ten years it is up 42.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this India 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.