Government expenditure on education, total in European Union
European Union: Government expenditure on education, total was 10.7% in 2022. ▲ Rising
Government expenditure on education, total in European Union, 1988–2022
Source: Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Measured in % of government expenditure.
Analysis
The most recent figure for government expenditure on education, total in European Union is 10.7%, measured in 2022.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.3% on the previous year and down 4.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, government expenditure on education, total in European Union peaked at 12.3% in 2006 and was at its lowest, 0.0%, in 1992.
European Union ranks 44th of 46 groups on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 33 years of available data.
Government expenditure on education, total in European Union, year by year
| Year | % of government expenditure | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1988 | 9.0% | — |
| 1990 | 9.8% | +8.8% |
| 1991 | 9.8% | +0.1% |
| 1992 | 0.0% | -100.0% |
| 1993 | 9.6% | — |
| 1994 | 9.6% | -0.4% |
| 1995 | 9.6% | -0.0% |
| 1996 | 10.6% | +10.8% |
| 1998 | 10.6% | -0.1% |
| 1999 | 11.3% | +7.0% |
| 2000 | 11.0% | -2.6% |
| 2001 | 11.3% | +2.6% |
| 2002 | 10.9% | -3.5% |
| 2003 | 11.6% | +6.5% |
| 2004 | 11.7% | +0.6% |
| 2005 | 11.7% | +0.1% |
| 2006 | 12.3% | +4.8% |
| 2007 | 11.3% | -7.6% |
| 2008 | 11.4% | +0.5% |
| 2009 | 11.2% | -2.0% |
| 2010 | 11.0% | -1.4% |
| 2011 | 11.0% | -0.6% |
| 2012 | 11.2% | +2.1% |
| 2013 | 11.4% | +2.2% |
| 2014 | 11.4% | -0.2% |
| 2015 | 11.1% | -2.5% |
| 2016 | 11.7% | +4.7% |
| 2017 | 11.0% | -5.2% |
| 2018 | 11.0% | -0.2% |
| 2019 | 11.2% | +1.4% |
| 2020 | 10.6% | -5.2% |
| 2021 | 10.6% | +0.6% |
| 2022 | 10.7% | +0.3% |
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Government expenditure on education, total in European Union 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1992 | -100.0% | 9.8% | 0.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 9.0% | 9.0% | 9.0% | 1 |
| 1990s | 9.0% | 0.0% | 11.3% | 9 |
| 2000s | 11.5% | 10.9% | 12.3% | 10 |
| 2010s | 11.2% | 11.0% | 11.7% | 10 |
| 2020s | 10.6% | 10.6% | 10.7% | 3 |
Countries ranked near European Union
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 10.7% 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 12.3% in 2006.
- What is the lowest government expenditure on education, total recorded in European Union?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.0% in 1992.
- How does European Union rank for government expenditure on education, total?
- European Union ranks 44th 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 4.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- 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 government expenditure). 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 total general government expenditure on all sectors (including health, education, social services, etc.). It includes expenditure funded by transfers from international sources to government. General government usually refers to local, regional and central governments.