Expenditure on tertiary education in Small states

Small states: Expenditure on tertiary education was 13.3% in 2014. ▲ Rising

Latest (2014)
13.3%
Change on year
down 12.3%
Rank
36th
of 37 groups
All-time high
24.4%
in 1999
All-time low
9.5%
in 1990
Years of data
21
1980–2014

Expenditure on tertiary education in Small states, 1980–2014

05101520251980199720141980: 17.4 % of government expenditure on education1982: 12 % of government expenditure on education1983: 13.8 % of government expenditure on education1984: 14.3 % of government expenditure on education1985: 12.2 % of government expenditure on education1989: 9.6 % of government expenditure on education1990: 9.5 % of government expenditure on education1999: 24.4 % of government expenditure on education2001: 19.6 % of government expenditure on education2002: 19.7 % of government expenditure on education2003: 19.3 % of government expenditure on education2004: 19.7 % of government expenditure on education2005: 20.9 % of government expenditure on education2006: 21.3 % of government expenditure on education2008: 20.7 % of government expenditure on education2009: 21.8 % of government expenditure on education2010: 16.6 % of government expenditure on education2011: 19.8 % of government expenditure on education2012: 14.2 % of government expenditure on education2013: 15.2 % of government expenditure on education2014: 13.3 % 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 Small states is 13.3%, measured in 2014.

The figure is down 12.3% on the previous year and down 32.3% over ten years.

Over the whole period, expenditure on tertiary education in Small states peaked at 24.4% in 1999 and was at its lowest, 9.5%, in 1990.

That places Small states 36th out of 37 groups with data for 2014, putting it in the bottom quarter.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 21 years of available data.

Expenditure on tertiary education in Small states, year by year

Annual values for Expenditure on tertiary education (% of government expenditure on education) in Small states, 1980 to 2014.
Year % of government expenditure on education Change
1980 17.4%
1982 12.0% -31.1%
1983 13.8% +15.3%
1984 14.3% +3.2%
1985 12.2% -14.7%
1989 9.6% -21.3%
1990 9.5% -1.2%
1999 24.4% +157.8%
2001 19.6% -19.9%
2002 19.7% +0.8%
2003 19.3% -2.2%
2004 19.7% +2.3%
2005 20.9% +6.1%
2006 21.3% +2.0%
2008 20.7% -2.8%
2009 21.8% +5.4%
2010 16.6% -24.1%
2011 19.8% +19.5%
2012 14.2% -28.0%
2013 15.2% +6.8%
2014 13.3% -12.3%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1980s 13.2% 9.6% 17.4% 6
1990s 16.9% 9.5% 24.4% 2
2000s 20.4% 19.3% 21.8% 8
2010s 15.8% 13.3% 19.8% 5

Countries ranked near Small states

  1. 33 Norway 26.7% compare
  2. 34 Finland 26.5% compare
  3. 35 Nicaragua 26.0% compare
  4. 36 Switzerland 26.0% compare
  5. 37 Germany 26.0% compare
  6. 38 United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 25.6% compare
  7. 39 Malta 25.3% compare

See the full ranking of 197 places →

More education data for Small states

All data for Small states →

Frequently asked questions

What is expenditure on tertiary education in Small states?
Expenditure on tertiary education in Small states was 13.3% in 2014, according to Stat Bulk Data Download Service, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
What is the highest expenditure on tertiary education recorded in Small states?
The highest recorded value was 24.4% in 1999.
What is the lowest expenditure on tertiary education recorded in Small states?
The lowest recorded value was 9.5% in 1990.
How does Small states rank for expenditure on tertiary education?
Small states ranks 36th out of 37 groups with data for 2014.
Is expenditure on tertiary education rising or falling in Small states?
Over the last ten years it is down 32.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this Small states 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 Small states. Statizoid, drawing on Stat Bulk Data Download Service, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Retrieved 09 September 2026, from https://education.statizoid.com/stat/expenditure-on-tertiary-education-percent-of-government-expenditure-on-education/small-states/

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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.