Government expenditure on education, US$ (millions) (education US) in China
China: Government expenditure on education, US$ (millions) (education US) was 712,020 millions in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Government expenditure on education, US$ in China, 1971–2023
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in millions.
Analysis
The most recent figure for government expenditure on education, us$ in China is 712,020 millions, measured in 2023. That is the highest value across all 26 years on record.
Over the whole period, government expenditure on education, us$ in China peaked at 712,020 millions in 2023 and was at its lowest, 1,386 millions, in 1971.
China ranks 2nd of 181 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Government expenditure on education, US$ (millions) (education US) in China, year by year
| Year | millions | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1971 | 1,386 millions | — |
| 1972 | 1,824 millions | +31.6% |
| 1973 | 2,287 millions | +25.4% |
| 1974 | 2,539 millions | +11.0% |
| 1975 | 2,792 millions | +10.0% |
| 1976 | 2,796 millions | +0.2% |
| 1977 | 3,061 millions | +9.4% |
| 1978 | 2,929 millions | -4.3% |
| 1979 | 3,830 millions | +30.7% |
| 1980 | 3,655 millions | -4.6% |
| 1981 | 3,817 millions | +4.4% |
| 1982 | 4,173 millions | +9.3% |
| 1983 | 4,791 millions | +14.8% |
| 1984 | 5,195 millions | +8.4% |
| 1985 | 6,215 millions | +19.6% |
| 1986 | 6,200 millions | -0.2% |
| 1987 | 4,925 millions | -20.6% |
| 1988 | 5,510 millions | +11.9% |
| 1992 | 7,064 millions | +28.2% |
| 1993 | 7,373 millions | +4.4% |
| 1994 | 11,206 millions | +52.0% |
| 1995 | 13,529 millions | +20.7% |
| 1996 | 16,009 millions | +18.3% |
| 1998 | 18,979 millions | +18.6% |
| 1999 | 20,655 millions | +8.8% |
| 2023 | 712,020 millions | +3347.2% |
China compared with similar countries
- China's 712,020 millions is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 1,877 millions, 379.2× the median. (49 countries reporting)
- China's 712,020 millions is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 1,553 millions, 458.6× the median. (26 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Government expenditure on education, US$ (millions) (education US) in China 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | +3347.2% | 20,655 millions | 712,020 millions |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 2,605 millions | 1,386 millions | 3,830 millions | 9 |
| 1980s | 4,942 millions | 3,655 millions | 6,215 millions | 9 |
| 1990s | 13,545 millions | 7,064 millions | 20,655 millions | 7 |
| 2020s | 712,020 millions | 712,020 millions | 712,020 millions | 1 |
Countries ranked near China
- 1 United States 1.16 million millions compare
- 3 Germany 218,138 millions compare
- 4 United Kingdom 159,294 millions compare
- 5 France 148,885 millions compare
More education data for China
- Gender gap education levels, gaps filled 93.37 (1997)
- Primary enrollment selected countries, gaps filled 93.32 (1997)
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 7.41 million (2024)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 7,020 (2021)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 21.58 million (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 19.36 million (2024)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 97.98 million (2024)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 108.57 million (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 0.9587 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is government expenditure on education, us$ in China?
- Government expenditure on education, us$ in China was 712,020 millions in 2023, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest government expenditure on education, us$ recorded in China?
- The highest recorded value was 712,020 millions in 2023.
- What is the lowest government expenditure on education, us$ recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 1,386 millions in 1971.
- How does China rank for government expenditure on education, us$?
- China ranks 2nd out of 181 countries with data for 2023.
- Where does this China data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Government expenditure on education, US$ (millions). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 26 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
About this data
February 2026 Data Release