Government expenditure on education, total in European Union
European Union: Government expenditure on education, total was 4.7% in 2022. ▬ Flat
Government expenditure on education, total in European Union, 1979–2022
Source: Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Measured in % of GDP.
Analysis
In 2022, government expenditure on education, total in European Union stood at 4.7%.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 2.8% on the previous year and down 3.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, government expenditure on education, total in European Union peaked at 5.6% in 2009 and was at its lowest, 4.5%, in 1998.
European Union ranks 8th of 46 groups on this measure, in the top quarter.
Government expenditure on education, total in European Union, year by year
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1979 | 4.9% | — |
| 1988 | 4.6% | -7.0% |
| 1990 | 4.6% | -0.1% |
| 1991 | 4.9% | +6.6% |
| 1992 | 5.0% | +2.6% |
| 1993 | 5.0% | -1.0% |
| 1994 | 4.7% | -5.1% |
| 1995 | 4.7% | -0.5% |
| 1996 | 4.8% | +1.7% |
| 1998 | 4.5% | -4.6% |
| 1999 | 4.6% | +0.7% |
| 2000 | 4.9% | +6.5% |
| 2001 | 5.1% | +4.5% |
| 2002 | 5.2% | +1.9% |
| 2003 | 5.1% | -1.4% |
| 2004 | 5.0% | -1.2% |
| 2005 | 5.1% | +0.6% |
| 2006 | 4.9% | -2.5% |
| 2007 | 4.9% | -1.7% |
| 2008 | 5.0% | +2.9% |
| 2009 | 5.6% | +11.4% |
| 2010 | 5.4% | -3.5% |
| 2011 | 5.1% | -4.7% |
| 2012 | 4.8% | -5.5% |
| 2013 | 5.0% | +3.4% |
| 2014 | 4.9% | -2.3% |
| 2015 | 4.8% | -0.8% |
| 2016 | 4.8% | -0.4% |
| 2017 | 4.6% | -3.8% |
| 2018 | 4.6% | -1.2% |
| 2019 | 4.6% | +1.0% |
| 2020 | 4.9% | +6.6% |
| 2021 | 4.8% | -2.8% |
| 2022 | 4.7% | -2.8% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 4.9% | 4.9% | 4.9% | 1 |
| 1980s | 4.6% | 4.6% | 4.6% | 1 |
| 1990s | 4.7% | 4.5% | 5.0% | 9 |
| 2000s | 5.1% | 4.9% | 5.6% | 10 |
| 2010s | 4.9% | 4.6% | 5.4% | 10 |
| 2020s | 4.8% | 4.7% | 4.9% | 3 |
Countries ranked near European Union
- 5 Algeria 9.0% compare
- 6 Cuba 8.4% compare
- 7 Solomon Islands 8.3% compare
- 8 Botswana 8.1% compare
- 9 Marshall Islands 7.7% compare
- 10 Vanuatu 7.6% compare
- 11 Mauritania 7.6% compare
More education data for European Union
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Population ages 0-14 14.2% (2025)
- Population ages 15-64 63.3% (2025)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 37.39 million (2024)
- Secondary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.0517 units per person (2024)
- Primary education, teachers, gaps filled 1.89 million (2024)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 23.26 million (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is government expenditure on education, total in European Union?
- Government expenditure on education, total in European Union was 4.7% in 2022, according to Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
- What is the highest government expenditure on education, total recorded in European Union?
- The highest recorded value was 5.6% in 2009.
- What is the lowest government expenditure on education, total recorded in European Union?
- The lowest recorded value was 4.5% in 1998.
- How does European Union rank for government expenditure on education, total?
- European Union ranks 8th out of 46 groups with data for 2022.
- Is government expenditure on education, total rising or falling in European Union?
- Over the last ten years it is down 3.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this European Union data come from?
- The figures come from Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), published as part of Government expenditure on education, total (% of GDP). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
General government expenditure on education (current, capital, and transfers) is expressed as a percentage of GDP. It includes expenditure funded by transfers from international sources to government. General government usually refers to local, regional and central governments.