Expenditure on tertiary education in Latin America & the Caribbean (IDA & IBRD countries)

Latin America & the Caribbean (IDA & IBRD countries): Expenditure on tertiary education was 21.1% in 2016. ▬ Flat

Latest (2016)
21.1%
Change on year
up 0.6%
Rank
15th
of 37 groups
All-time high
23.2%
in 1995
All-time low
17.0%
in 2007
Years of data
12
1995–2016

Expenditure on tertiary education in Latin America & the Caribbean (IDA & IBRD countries), 1995–2016

05101520251995200520161995: 23.2 % of government expenditure on education2002: 18.8 % of government expenditure on education2004: 17.4 % of government expenditure on education2007: 17 % of government expenditure on education2009: 19 % of government expenditure on education2010: 19.7 % of government expenditure on education2011: 19.8 % of government expenditure on education2012: 19.5 % of government expenditure on education2013: 18.5 % of government expenditure on education2014: 19.8 % of government expenditure on education2015: 21 % of government expenditure on education2016: 21.1 % 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 Latin America & the Caribbean (IDA & IBRD countries) is 21.1%, measured in 2016.

That represents a change of up 0.6% on the previous year and up 24.4% over ten years.

Over the whole period, expenditure on tertiary education in Latin America & the Caribbean (IDA & IBRD countries) peaked at 23.2% in 1995 and was at its lowest, 17.0%, in 2007.

That places Latin America & the Caribbean (IDA & IBRD countries) 15th out of 37 groups with data for 2016, putting it in the middle of the range.

Expenditure on tertiary education in Latin America & the Caribbean (IDA & IBRD countries), year by year

Annual values for Expenditure on tertiary education (% of government expenditure on education) in Latin America & the Caribbean (IDA & IBRD countries), 1995 to 2016.
Year % of government expenditure on education Change
1995 23.2%
2002 18.8% -18.8%
2004 17.4% -7.5%
2007 17.0% -2.5%
2009 19.0% +11.9%
2010 19.7% +3.6%
2011 19.8% +0.9%
2012 19.5% -1.9%
2013 18.5% -4.7%
2014 19.8% +7.0%
2015 21.0% +5.6%
2016 21.1% +0.6%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 23.2% 23.2% 23.2% 1
2000s 18.0% 17.0% 19.0% 4
2010s 19.9% 18.5% 21.1% 7

Countries ranked near Latin America & the Caribbean (IDA & IBRD countries)

  1. 12 Singapore 35.3% compare
  2. 13 British Virgin Islands 35.1% compare
  3. 14 Bangladesh 33.3% compare
  4. 15 Senegal 32.8% compare
  5. 16 Kuwait 32.6% compare
  6. 17 Austria 32.5% compare
  7. 18 Netherlands 31.9% compare

See the full ranking of 197 places →

More education data for Latin America & the Caribbean (IDA & IBRD countries)

All data for Latin America & the Caribbean (IDA & IBRD countries) →

Frequently asked questions

What is expenditure on tertiary education in Latin America & the Caribbean (IDA & IBRD countries)?
Expenditure on tertiary education in Latin America & the Caribbean (IDA & IBRD countries) was 21.1% 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 Latin America & the Caribbean (IDA & IBRD countries)?
The highest recorded value was 23.2% in 1995.
What is the lowest expenditure on tertiary education recorded in Latin America & the Caribbean (IDA & IBRD countries)?
The lowest recorded value was 17.0% in 2007.
How does Latin America & the Caribbean (IDA & IBRD countries) rank for expenditure on tertiary education?
Latin America & the Caribbean (IDA & IBRD countries) ranks 15th out of 37 groups with data for 2016.
Is expenditure on tertiary education rising or falling in Latin America & the Caribbean (IDA & IBRD countries)?
Over the last ten years it is up 24.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
Where does this Latin America & the Caribbean (IDA & IBRD countries) 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 Latin America & the Caribbean (IDA & IBRD countries). Statizoid, drawing on Stat Bulk Data Download Service, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Retrieved 17 September 2026, from https://education.statizoid.com/stat/expenditure-on-tertiary-education-percent-of-government-expenditure-on-education/latin-america-and-the-caribbean-ida-and-ibrd-countries/

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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.