Government expenditure on education, total in New Zealand
New Zealand: Government expenditure on education, total was 12.7% in 2023. ▲ Rising
Government expenditure on education, total in New Zealand, 1980–2023
Source: Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Measured in % of government expenditure.
Analysis
New Zealand recorded 12.7% for government expenditure on education, total in 2023.
The figure is up 0.9% on the previous year and down 18.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, government expenditure on education, total in New Zealand peaked at 16.2% in 1999 and was at its lowest, 0.0%, in 1980.
New Zealand ranks 96th of 193 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 26 years of available data.
Government expenditure on education, total in New Zealand, year by year
| Year | % of government expenditure | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 0.0% | — |
| 1981 | 0.0% | — |
| 1982 | 0.0% | — |
| 1984 | 0.0% | — |
| 1985 | 8.2% | — |
| 1986 | 8.1% | -1.2% |
| 1987 | 8.9% | +9.7% |
| 1988 | 9.7% | +9.3% |
| 1989 | 10.1% | +4.5% |
| 1994 | 14.1% | +38.9% |
| 1995 | 14.0% | -0.6% |
| 1996 | 16.1% | +15.0% |
| 1997 | 15.8% | -1.9% |
| 1999 | 16.2% | +2.8% |
| 2000 | 14.8% | -8.7% |
| 2013 | 15.6% | +5.0% |
| 2014 | 15.5% | -0.2% |
| 2015 | 15.6% | +0.2% |
| 2016 | 15.4% | -1.2% |
| 2017 | 15.0% | -2.1% |
| 2018 | 14.6% | -3.2% |
| 2019 | 13.5% | -7.4% |
| 2020 | 13.6% | +1.1% |
| 2021 | 13.5% | -1.2% |
| 2022 | 12.6% | -6.3% |
| 2023 | 12.7% | +0.9% |
New Zealand compared with similar countries
- New Zealand's 12.7% is above the median for high income countries, which is 11.8%, 1.1× the median. (70 countries reporting)
- New Zealand's 12.7% is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 12.3%, 1.0× the median. (31 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Government expenditure on education, total in New Zealand 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1994 | +38.9% | 10.1% | 14.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 5.0% | 0.0% | 10.1% | 9 |
| 1990s | 15.2% | 14.0% | 16.2% | 5 |
| 2000s | 14.8% | 14.8% | 14.8% | 1 |
| 2010s | 15.0% | 13.5% | 15.6% | 7 |
| 2020s | 13.1% | 12.6% | 13.6% | 4 |
Countries ranked near New Zealand
More education data for New Zealand
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 36,426 (2024)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 12,020 (1992)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 56,552 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 53,804 (2024)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 562,417 (2024)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- 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)
Frequently asked questions
- What is government expenditure on education, total in New Zealand?
- Government expenditure on education, total in New Zealand was 12.7% in 2023, according to Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
- What is the highest government expenditure on education, total recorded in New Zealand?
- The highest recorded value was 16.2% in 1999.
- What is the lowest government expenditure on education, total recorded in New Zealand?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.0% in 1980.
- How does New Zealand rank for government expenditure on education, total?
- New Zealand ranks 96th out of 193 countries with data for 2023.
- Is government expenditure on education, total rising or falling in New Zealand?
- Over the last ten years it is down 18.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this New Zealand 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.