Government expenditure on education, constant US$ (millions) in Australia
Australia: Government expenditure on education, constant US$ (millions) was 84,516 millions in 2022. ◆ Volatile
Government expenditure on education, constant US$ in Australia, 1978–2022
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in millions.
Analysis
The most recent figure for government expenditure on education, constant us$ in Australia is 84,516 millions, measured in 2022.
That represents a change of down 1.3% on the previous year.
Over the whole period, government expenditure on education, constant us$ in Australia peaked at 85,595 millions in 2021 and was at its lowest, 26,347 millions, in 1980.
That places Australia 13th out of 174 countries with data for 2022, putting it in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Government expenditure on education, constant US$ (millions) in Australia, year by year
| Year | millions | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1978 | 26,673 millions | — |
| 1979 | 26,411 millions | -1.0% |
| 1980 | 26,347 millions | -0.2% |
| 1982 | 27,188 millions | +3.2% |
| 1983 | 27,540 millions | +1.3% |
| 1985 | 28,338 millions | +2.9% |
| 1986 | 29,122 millions | +2.8% |
| 1987 | 29,064 millions | -0.2% |
| 1988 | 28,920 millions | -0.5% |
| 1989 | 29,538 millions | +2.1% |
| 1990 | 30,215 millions | +2.3% |
| 1991 | 32,087 millions | +6.2% |
| 1992 | 31,283 millions | -2.5% |
| 1993 | 36,937 millions | +18.1% |
| 1994 | 36,612 millions | -0.9% |
| 2020 | 84,534 millions | +130.9% |
| 2021 | 85,595 millions | +1.3% |
| 2022 | 84,516 millions | -1.3% |
Australia compared with similar countries
- Australia's 84,516 millions is above the median for high income countries, which is 7,845 millions, 10.8× the median. (64 countries reporting)
- Australia's 84,516 millions is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 1,596 millions, 53.0× the median. (26 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Government expenditure on education, constant US$ (millions) in Australia changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | +130.9% | 36,612 millions | 84,534 millions |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 26,542 millions | 26,411 millions | 26,673 millions | 2 |
| 1980s | 28,257 millions | 26,347 millions | 29,538 millions | 8 |
| 1990s | 33,427 millions | 30,215 millions | 36,937 millions | 5 |
| 2020s | 84,882 millions | 84,516 millions | 85,595 millions | 3 |
Countries ranked near Australia
More education data for Australia
- Gender gap education levels, gaps filled 99.9 (2023)
- Primary enrollment selected countries, gaps filled 99.88 (2024)
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 104,110 (1992)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 316,638 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 292,593 (2024)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 2.65 million (2024)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 2.27 million (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 0.4362 % change on previous year (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is government expenditure on education, constant us$ in Australia?
- Government expenditure on education, constant us$ in Australia was 84,516 millions in 2022, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest government expenditure on education, constant us$ recorded in Australia?
- The highest recorded value was 85,595 millions in 2021.
- What is the lowest government expenditure on education, constant us$ recorded in Australia?
- The lowest recorded value was 26,347 millions in 1980.
- How does Australia rank for government expenditure on education, constant us$?
- Australia ranks 13th out of 174 countries with data for 2022.
- Where does this Australia data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Government expenditure on education, constant US$ (millions). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 18 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
About this data
February 2026 Data Release