Government expenditure on education in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland: Government expenditure on education was 5.91 in 2021. ▬ Flat
Latest (2021)
5.91
Change on year
up 8.6%
World rank
12th
of 68 countries
All-time high
6.42
in 1976
All-time low
3.99
in 1999
Years of data
46
1971–2021
Government expenditure on education in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, 1971–2021
Source: UNICEF.
Analysis
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland recorded 5.91 for government expenditure on education in 2021.
The figure is up 8.6% on the previous year and up 6.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, government expenditure on education in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland peaked at 6.42 in 1976 and was at its lowest, 3.99, in 1999.
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ranks 12th of 68 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
Government expenditure on education in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1971 | 5.03 | — |
| 1972 | 5.16 | +2.5% |
| 1973 | 5.45 | +5.6% |
| 1974 | 5.39 | -1.1% |
| 1975 | 6.27 | +16.3% |
| 1976 | 6.42 | +2.5% |
| 1977 | 6.06 | -5.6% |
| 1980 | 5.07 | -16.4% |
| 1981 | 5.29 | +4.3% |
| 1982 | 5.19 | -1.9% |
| 1983 | 5.06 | -2.5% |
| 1984 | 4.9 | -3.2% |
| 1985 | 4.59 | -6.2% |
| 1986 | 4.38 | -4.6% |
| 1987 | 4.37 | -0.2% |
| 1988 | 4.27 | -2.4% |
| 1989 | 4.13 | -3.4% |
| 1990 | 4.06 | -1.7% |
| 1991 | 4.12 | +1.7% |
| 1992 | 4.33 | +5.1% |
| 1994 | 4.85 | +11.9% |
| 1995 | 4.84 | -0.2% |
| 1996 | 4.38 | -9.5% |
| 1998 | 4.21 | -3.9% |
| 1999 | 3.99 | -5.2% |
| 2000 | 4.02 | +0.7% |
| 2001 | 4.1 | +2.0% |
| 2002 | 4.61 | +12.5% |
| 2003 | 4.8 | +4.1% |
| 2004 | 4.74 | -1.4% |
| 2005 | 4.93 | +4.1% |
| 2006 | 4.98 | +0.9% |
| 2007 | 4.92 | -1.0% |
| 2008 | 4.91 | -0.3% |
| 2009 | 5.06 | +3.1% |
| 2010 | 5.7 | +12.6% |
| 2011 | 5.57 | -2.2% |
| 2013 | 5.53 | -0.8% |
| 2014 | 5.6 | +1.4% |
| 2015 | 5.55 | -0.8% |
| 2016 | 5.43 | -2.3% |
| 2017 | 5.45 | +0.5% |
| 2018 | 5.2 | -4.6% |
| 2019 | 5.26 | +1.1% |
| 2020 | 5.44 | +3.4% |
| 2021 | 5.91 | +8.6% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 5.68 | 5.03 | 6.42 | 7 |
| 1980s | 4.72 | 4.13 | 5.29 | 10 |
| 1990s | 4.35 | 3.99 | 4.85 | 8 |
| 2000s | 4.71 | 4.02 | 5.06 | 10 |
| 2010s | 5.48 | 5.2 | 5.7 | 9 |
| 2020s | 5.67 | 5.44 | 5.91 | 2 |
Countries ranked near United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
- 9 Denmark 6.36 compare
- 10 Belgium 6.28 compare
- 11 Morocco 6.02 compare
- 13 Uzbekistan 5.47 compare
- 14 Tajikistan 5.44 compare
- 15 Palestine, State of 5.43 compare
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 in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
- Government expenditure on education in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland was 5.91 in 2021, according to UNICEF.
- What is the highest government expenditure on education recorded in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
- The highest recorded value was 6.42 in 1976.
- What is the lowest government expenditure on education recorded in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.99 in 1999.
- How does United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland rank for government expenditure on education?
- United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ranks 12th out of 68 countries with data for 2021.
- Is government expenditure on education 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 UNICEF, published as part of Government expenditure on education (% of GDP). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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