Government expenditure on education as a percentage of GDP in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland: Government expenditure on education as a percentage of GDP was 5.9% in 2021. ▬ Flat
Latest (2021)
5.9%
Change on year
up 8.6%
World rank
32nd
of 199 countries
All-time high
6.4%
in 1976
All-time low
4.0%
in 1999
Years of data
46
1971–2021
Government expenditure on education as a percentage of GDP in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, 1971–2021
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for government expenditure on education as a percentage of gdp in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is 5.9%, measured in 2021.
That represents a change of up 8.6% on the previous year and up 6.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, government expenditure on education as a percentage of gdp in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland peaked at 6.4% in 1976 and was at its lowest, 4.0%, in 1999.
That places United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 32nd out of 199 countries with data for 2021, putting it in the top quarter.
Government expenditure on education as a percentage of GDP in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1971 | 5.0% | — |
| 1972 | 5.2% | +2.5% |
| 1973 | 5.4% | +5.6% |
| 1974 | 5.4% | -1.1% |
| 1975 | 6.3% | +16.3% |
| 1976 | 6.4% | +2.5% |
| 1977 | 6.1% | -5.6% |
| 1980 | 5.1% | -16.4% |
| 1981 | 5.3% | +4.3% |
| 1982 | 5.2% | -1.9% |
| 1983 | 5.1% | -2.5% |
| 1984 | 4.9% | -3.2% |
| 1985 | 4.6% | -6.2% |
| 1986 | 4.4% | -4.6% |
| 1987 | 4.4% | -0.2% |
| 1988 | 4.3% | -2.4% |
| 1989 | 4.1% | -3.4% |
| 1990 | 4.1% | -1.7% |
| 1991 | 4.1% | +1.7% |
| 1992 | 4.3% | +5.1% |
| 1994 | 4.9% | +11.9% |
| 1995 | 4.8% | -0.2% |
| 1996 | 4.4% | -9.5% |
| 1998 | 4.2% | -3.9% |
| 1999 | 4.0% | -5.2% |
| 2000 | 4.0% | +0.7% |
| 2001 | 4.1% | +2.0% |
| 2002 | 4.6% | +12.5% |
| 2003 | 4.8% | +4.1% |
| 2004 | 4.7% | -1.4% |
| 2005 | 4.9% | +4.1% |
| 2006 | 5.0% | +0.9% |
| 2007 | 4.9% | -1.0% |
| 2008 | 4.9% | -0.3% |
| 2009 | 5.1% | +3.1% |
| 2010 | 5.7% | +12.6% |
| 2011 | 5.6% | -2.2% |
| 2013 | 5.5% | -0.8% |
| 2014 | 5.6% | +1.4% |
| 2015 | 5.6% | -0.8% |
| 2016 | 5.4% | -2.3% |
| 2017 | 5.5% | +0.5% |
| 2018 | 5.2% | -4.6% |
| 2019 | 5.3% | +1.1% |
| 2020 | 5.4% | +3.4% |
| 2021 | 5.9% | +8.6% |
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland compared with similar countries
- United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland's 5.9% is above the median for high income countries, which is 4.4%, 1.3× the median. (72 countries reporting)
- United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland's 5.9% is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 4.5%, 1.3× the median. (51 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 5.7% | 5.0% | 6.4% | 7 |
| 1980s | 4.7% | 4.1% | 5.3% | 10 |
| 1990s | 4.3% | 4.0% | 4.9% | 8 |
| 2000s | 4.7% | 4.0% | 5.1% | 10 |
| 2010s | 5.5% | 5.2% | 5.7% | 9 |
| 2020s | 5.7% | 5.4% | 5.9% | 2 |
Countries ranked near United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
More education data for United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 388,714 (2023)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 0 (2012)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 830,495 (2023)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 790,556 (2023)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 6.40 million (2023)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 4.86 million (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate -0.0111 % change on previous year (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.071 units per person (2023)
All data for United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland →
Frequently asked questions
- What is government expenditure on education as a percentage of gdp in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
- Government expenditure on education as a percentage of gdp in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland was 5.9% in 2021, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest government expenditure on education as a percentage of gdp recorded in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
- The highest recorded value was 6.4% in 1976.
- What is the lowest government expenditure on education as a percentage of gdp recorded in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
- The lowest recorded value was 4.0% in 1999.
- How does United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland rank for government expenditure on education as a percentage of gdp?
- United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ranks 32nd out of 199 countries with data for 2021.
- Is government expenditure on education as a percentage of gdp rising or falling in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
- Over the last ten years it is up 6.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Government expenditure on education as a percentage of GDP (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release