Government expenditure on education, constant US$ in New Zealand
New Zealand: Government expenditure on education, constant US$ was 13,304 millions in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
13,304 millions
Change on year
up 2.3%
World rank
38th
of 174 countries
All-time high
13,475 millions
in 2021
All-time low
3,443 millions
in 1986
Years of data
33
1973–2023
Government expenditure on education, constant US$ in New Zealand, 1973–2023
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in millions.
Analysis
New Zealand recorded 13,304 millions for government expenditure on education, constant us$ in 2023.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 2.3% on the previous year and up 18.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, government expenditure on education, constant us$ in New Zealand peaked at 13,475 millions in 2021 and was at its lowest, 3,443 millions, in 1986.
That places New Zealand 38th out of 174 countries with data for 2023, putting it 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$ in New Zealand, year by year
| Year | millions | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1973 | 3,500 millions | — |
| 1974 | 3,768 millions | +7.7% |
| 1975 | 4,348 millions | +15.4% |
| 1976 | 4,510 millions | +3.7% |
| 1977 | 3,601 millions | -20.2% |
| 1978 | 3,677 millions | +2.1% |
| 1979 | 3,704 millions | +0.7% |
| 1980 | 3,554 millions | -4.0% |
| 1981 | 3,902 millions | +9.8% |
| 1982 | 4,020 millions | +3.0% |
| 1984 | 3,891 millions | -3.2% |
| 1985 | 3,466 millions | -10.9% |
| 1986 | 3,443 millions | -0.7% |
| 1987 | 3,971 millions | +15.3% |
| 1988 | 4,470 millions | +12.6% |
| 1989 | 4,874 millions | +9.0% |
| 1994 | 6,714 millions | +37.8% |
| 1995 | 6,813 millions | +1.5% |
| 1996 | 7,848 millions | +15.2% |
| 1997 | 7,727 millions | -1.5% |
| 1999 | 8,327 millions | +7.8% |
| 2000 | 7,690 millions | -7.7% |
| 2013 | 11,231 millions | +46.1% |
| 2014 | 11,498 millions | +2.4% |
| 2015 | 11,718 millions | +1.9% |
| 2016 | 11,726 millions | +0.1% |
| 2017 | 11,628 millions | -0.8% |
| 2018 | 11,836 millions | +1.8% |
| 2019 | 12,074 millions | +2.0% |
| 2020 | 13,127 millions | +8.7% |
| 2021 | 13,475 millions | +2.7% |
| 2022 | 13,006 millions | -3.5% |
| 2023 | 13,304 millions | +2.3% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 3,872 millions | 3,500 millions | 4,510 millions | 7 |
| 1980s | 3,955 millions | 3,443 millions | 4,874 millions | 9 |
| 1990s | 7,486 millions | 6,714 millions | 8,327 millions | 5 |
| 2000s | 7,690 millions | 7,690 millions | 7,690 millions | 1 |
| 2010s | 11,673 millions | 11,231 millions | 12,074 millions | 7 |
| 2020s | 13,228 millions | 13,006 millions | 13,475 millions | 4 |
Countries ranked near New Zealand
More education data for New Zealand
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 383,018 (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 1.15 % change on previous year (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.0724 units per person (2024)
- Secondary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 383,018 (2024)
- Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number), annual growth 1.15 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number), per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number), per capita 0.0724 units per person (2024)
- Enrolment in primary education, female (number), gaps filled 186,396 (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is government expenditure on education, constant us$ in New Zealand?
- Government expenditure on education, constant us$ in New Zealand was 13,304 millions in 2023, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest government expenditure on education, constant us$ recorded in New Zealand?
- The highest recorded value was 13,475 millions in 2021.
- What is the lowest government expenditure on education, constant us$ recorded in New Zealand?
- The lowest recorded value was 3,443 millions in 1986.
- How does New Zealand rank for government expenditure on education, constant us$?
- New Zealand ranks 38th out of 174 countries with data for 2023.
- Is government expenditure on education, constant us$ rising or falling in New Zealand?
- Over the last ten years it is up 18.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this New Zealand 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 — 33 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
About this data
February 2026 Data Release