Government expenditure on education, total in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland: Government expenditure on education, total was 11.8% in 2021. ▲ Rising
Government expenditure on education, total in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, 1981–2021
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 United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is 11.8%, measured in 2021.
That represents a change of down 15.8% on the previous year and down 5.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, government expenditure on education, total in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland peaked at 14.0% in 2020 and was at its lowest, 10.2%, in 1986.
That places United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 117th out of 193 countries with data for 2021, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 38 years of available data.
Government expenditure on education, total in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, year by year
| Year | % of government expenditure | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1981 | 12.7% | — |
| 1982 | 11.6% | -8.2% |
| 1983 | 11.4% | -1.7% |
| 1984 | 11.2% | -1.7% |
| 1985 | 10.5% | -6.7% |
| 1986 | 10.2% | -2.4% |
| 1987 | 10.5% | +2.6% |
| 1988 | 10.7% | +2.4% |
| 1989 | 11.1% | +3.1% |
| 1990 | 11.1% | -0.0% |
| 1991 | 10.8% | -2.5% |
| 1992 | 11.1% | +2.7% |
| 1994 | 11.8% | +6.4% |
| 1995 | 11.9% | +0.5% |
| 1996 | 11.6% | -1.9% |
| 1998 | 12.1% | +3.6% |
| 1999 | 11.6% | -4.0% |
| 2000 | 11.9% | +2.4% |
| 2001 | 12.1% | +1.9% |
| 2002 | 13.3% | +10.1% |
| 2003 | 13.4% | +0.4% |
| 2004 | 12.7% | -4.7% |
| 2005 | 13.0% | +1.8% |
| 2006 | 12.9% | -0.1% |
| 2007 | 12.8% | -1.0% |
| 2008 | 12.7% | -0.9% |
| 2009 | 12.4% | -2.7% |
| 2010 | 12.8% | +3.3% |
| 2011 | 12.5% | -2.4% |
| 2013 | 12.7% | +1.8% |
| 2014 | 13.4% | +5.5% |
| 2015 | 13.5% | +0.7% |
| 2016 | 13.4% | -0.4% |
| 2017 | 13.8% | +2.5% |
| 2018 | 13.3% | -3.4% |
| 2019 | 13.5% | +1.8% |
| 2020 | 14.0% | +3.7% |
| 2021 | 11.8% | -15.8% |
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland compared with similar countries
- United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland's 11.8% is above the median for high income countries, which is 11.8%, 1.0× the median. (70 countries reporting)
- United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland's 11.8% is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 11.9%, 100% of the median. (50 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 11.1% | 10.2% | 12.7% | 9 |
| 1990s | 11.5% | 10.8% | 12.1% | 8 |
| 2000s | 12.7% | 11.9% | 13.4% | 10 |
| 2010s | 13.2% | 12.5% | 13.8% | 9 |
| 2020s | 12.9% | 11.8% | 14.0% | 2 |
Countries ranked near United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
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, total in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
- Government expenditure on education, total in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland was 11.8% in 2021, according to Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
- What is the highest government expenditure on education, total recorded in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
- The highest recorded value was 14.0% in 2020.
- What is the lowest government expenditure on education, total recorded in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
- The lowest recorded value was 10.2% in 1986.
- How does United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland rank for government expenditure on education, total?
- United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ranks 117th out of 193 countries with data for 2021.
- Is government expenditure on education, total rising or falling in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
- Over the last ten years it is down 5.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 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.