Government expenditure on education, US$ in United Kingdom
United Kingdom: Government expenditure on education, US$ was 159,294 millions in 2021. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2021)
159,294 millions
Change on year
up 2.7%
World rank
4th
of 181 countries
All-time high
170,230 millions
in 2015
All-time low
6,575 millions
in 1971
Years of data
46
1971–2021
Government expenditure on education, US$ in United Kingdom, 1971–2021
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in millions.
Analysis
United Kingdom recorded 159,294 millions for government expenditure on education, us$ in 2021.
The figure is up 2.7% on the previous year and up 15.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, government expenditure on education, us$ in United Kingdom peaked at 170,230 millions in 2015 and was at its lowest, 6,575 millions, in 1971.
That places United Kingdom 4th out of 181 countries with data for 2021, putting it 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$ in United Kingdom, year by year
| Year | millions | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1971 | 6,575 millions | — |
| 1972 | 7,642 millions | +16.2% |
| 1973 | 9,261 millions | +21.2% |
| 1974 | 10,380 millions | +12.1% |
| 1975 | 12,922 millions | +24.5% |
| 1976 | 15,531 millions | +20.2% |
| 1977 | 14,104 millions | -9.2% |
| 1980 | 22,258 millions | +57.8% |
| 1981 | 29,877 millions | +34.2% |
| 1982 | 28,059 millions | -6.1% |
| 1983 | 26,069 millions | -7.1% |
| 1984 | 23,987 millions | -8.0% |
| 1985 | 21,201 millions | -11.6% |
| 1986 | 21,435 millions | +1.1% |
| 1987 | 26,294 millions | +22.7% |
| 1988 | 31,806 millions | +21.0% |
| 1989 | 37,544 millions | +18.0% |
| 1990 | 37,590 millions | +0.1% |
| 1991 | 45,066 millions | +19.9% |
| 1992 | 49,534 millions | +9.9% |
| 1994 | 51,486 millions | +3.9% |
| 1995 | 55,191 millions | +7.2% |
| 1996 | 58,854 millions | +6.6% |
| 1998 | 65,669 millions | +11.6% |
| 1999 | 65,957 millions | +0.4% |
| 2000 | 67,821 millions | +2.8% |
| 2001 | 68,289 millions | +0.7% |
| 2002 | 76,089 millions | +11.4% |
| 2003 | 85,738 millions | +12.7% |
| 2004 | 97,288 millions | +13.5% |
| 2005 | 119,376 millions | +22.7% |
| 2006 | 126,561 millions | +6.0% |
| 2007 | 133,376 millions | +5.4% |
| 2008 | 151,736 millions | +13.8% |
| 2009 | 148,305 millions | -2.3% |
| 2010 | 137,500 millions | -7.3% |
| 2011 | 138,496 millions | +0.7% |
| 2013 | 149,575 millions | +8.0% |
| 2014 | 155,989 millions | +4.3% |
| 2015 | 170,230 millions | +9.1% |
| 2016 | 158,926 millions | -6.6% |
| 2017 | 146,625 millions | -7.7% |
| 2018 | 139,485 millions | -4.9% |
| 2019 | 151,066 millions | +8.3% |
| 2020 | 155,098 millions | +2.7% |
| 2021 | 159,294 millions | +2.7% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 10,916 millions | 6,575 millions | 15,531 millions | 7 |
| 1980s | 26,853 millions | 21,201 millions | 37,544 millions | 10 |
| 1990s | 53,668 millions | 37,590 millions | 65,957 millions | 8 |
| 2000s | 107,458 millions | 67,821 millions | 151,736 millions | 10 |
| 2010s | 149,766 millions | 137,500 millions | 170,230 millions | 9 |
| 2020s | 157,196 millions | 155,098 millions | 159,294 millions | 2 |
Countries ranked near United Kingdom
More education data for United Kingdom
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) 2.2 % change on previous year (2023)
- Teachers in primary education, female (number), gaps filled 242,999 (2023)
- Teachers in primary education, male (number), gaps filled 38,128 (2023)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female (number) 1.81 million (2023)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female (number) 1.98 % change on previous year (2023)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, male (number), gaps 1.38 million (2023)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, male (number) 2.5 % change on previous year (2023)
- Theoretical duration of primary education (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Theoretical duration of pre-primary education (years), annual growth 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Start of the academic school year (pre-primary to post-secondary non) 0.0494 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is government expenditure on education, us$ in United Kingdom?
- Government expenditure on education, us$ in United Kingdom was 159,294 millions in 2021, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest government expenditure on education, us$ recorded in United Kingdom?
- The highest recorded value was 170,230 millions in 2015.
- What is the lowest government expenditure on education, us$ recorded in United Kingdom?
- The lowest recorded value was 6,575 millions in 1971.
- How does United Kingdom rank for government expenditure on education, us$?
- United Kingdom ranks 4th out of 181 countries with data for 2021.
- Is government expenditure on education, us$ rising or falling in United Kingdom?
- Over the last ten years it is up 15.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this United Kingdom 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.
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CSV · JSON — 46 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
About this data
February 2026 Data Release