Government expenditure on education, constant US$ (millions) in Malaysia
Malaysia: Government expenditure on education, constant US$ (millions) was 14,049 millions in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Government expenditure on education, constant US$ in Malaysia, 1971–2023
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in millions.
Analysis
Malaysia recorded 14,049 millions for government expenditure on education, constant us$ in 2023.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 4.7% on the previous year and down 4.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, government expenditure on education, constant us$ in Malaysia peaked at 15,570 millions in 2018 and was at its lowest, 941.47 millions, in 1971.
Malaysia ranks 37th of 174 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Government expenditure on education, constant US$ (millions) in Malaysia, year by year
| Year | millions | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1971 | 941.47 millions | — |
| 1979 | 1,969 millions | +109.1% |
| 1980 | 2,381 millions | +20.9% |
| 1981 | 2,977 millions | +25.1% |
| 1982 | 3,313 millions | +11.3% |
| 1984 | 3,056 millions | -7.7% |
| 1985 | 3,262 millions | +6.7% |
| 1986 | 3,914 millions | +20.0% |
| 1987 | 3,596 millions | -8.1% |
| 1992 | 4,530 millions | +26.0% |
| 1993 | 4,533 millions | +0.1% |
| 1994 | 5,005 millions | +10.4% |
| 1995 | 5,073 millions | +1.4% |
| 1996 | 6,314 millions | +24.5% |
| 1997 | 6,372 millions | +0.9% |
| 1999 | 7,711 millions | +21.0% |
| 2000 | 8,815 millions | +14.3% |
| 2001 | 11,106 millions | +26.0% |
| 2002 | 11,975 millions | +7.8% |
| 2003 | 12,412 millions | +3.6% |
| 2004 | 10,465 millions | -15.7% |
| 2006 | 8,813 millions | -15.8% |
| 2007 | 9,132 millions | +3.6% |
| 2008 | 8,666 millions | -5.1% |
| 2009 | 12,881 millions | +48.6% |
| 2010 | 11,504 millions | -10.7% |
| 2011 | 14,055 millions | +22.2% |
| 2012 | 14,763 millions | +5.0% |
| 2013 | 14,762 millions | -0.0% |
| 2014 | 14,882 millions | +0.8% |
| 2015 | 14,686 millions | -1.3% |
| 2016 | 14,891 millions | +1.4% |
| 2017 | 15,503 millions | +4.1% |
| 2018 | 15,570 millions | +0.4% |
| 2019 | 15,092 millions | -3.1% |
| 2020 | 13,424 millions | -11.1% |
| 2023 | 14,049 millions | +4.7% |
Malaysia compared with similar countries
- Malaysia's 14,049 millions is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 1,774 millions, 7.9× the median. (48 countries reporting)
- Malaysia's 14,049 millions is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 1,596 millions, 8.8× the median. (26 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Government expenditure on education, constant US$ (millions) in Malaysia 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1979 | +109.1% | 941.47 millions | 1,969 millions |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 1,455 millions | 941.47 millions | 1,969 millions | 2 |
| 1980s | 3,214 millions | 2,381 millions | 3,914 millions | 7 |
| 1990s | 5,648 millions | 4,530 millions | 7,711 millions | 7 |
| 2000s | 10,474 millions | 8,666 millions | 12,881 millions | 9 |
| 2010s | 14,571 millions | 11,504 millions | 15,570 millions | 10 |
| 2020s | 13,737 millions | 13,424 millions | 14,049 millions | 2 |
Countries ranked near Malaysia
More education data for Malaysia
- Gender gap education levels, gaps filled 88.9 (2024)
- Primary enrollment selected countries, gaps filled 88.03 (2024)
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 217,105 (2024)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 0 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 475,967 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 460,041 (2024)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 2.64 million (2024)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 3.06 million (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate -1.2 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is government expenditure on education, constant us$ in Malaysia?
- Government expenditure on education, constant us$ in Malaysia was 14,049 millions in 2023, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest government expenditure on education, constant us$ recorded in Malaysia?
- The highest recorded value was 15,570 millions in 2018.
- What is the lowest government expenditure on education, constant us$ recorded in Malaysia?
- The lowest recorded value was 941.47 millions in 1971.
- How does Malaysia rank for government expenditure on education, constant us$?
- Malaysia ranks 37th out of 174 countries with data for 2023.
- Is government expenditure on education, constant us$ rising or falling in Malaysia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 4.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Malaysia 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.
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release