Government expenditure on primary education as a percentage of GDP in Italy
Italy: Government expenditure on primary education as a percentage of GDP was 1.1% in 2022. ▬ Flat
Latest (2022)
1.1%
Change on year
down 4.4%
World rank
104th
of 162 countries
All-time high
1.2%
in 2020
All-time low
0.9%
in 2016
Years of data
40
1974–2022
Government expenditure on primary education as a percentage of GDP in Italy, 1974–2022
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2022, government expenditure on primary education as a percentage of gdp in Italy stood at 1.1%.
That represents a change of down 4.4% on the previous year and up 12.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, government expenditure on primary education as a percentage of gdp in Italy peaked at 1.2% in 2020 and was at its lowest, 0.9%, in 2016.
That places Italy 104th out of 162 countries with data for 2022, putting it in the middle of the range.
Government expenditure on primary education as a percentage of GDP in Italy, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1974 | 1.1% | — |
| 1975 | 1.1% | -0.7% |
| 1976 | 1.1% | -2.0% |
| 1978 | 1.1% | +0.2% |
| 1979 | 1.2% | +6.2% |
| 1983 | 0.9% | -20.9% |
| 1984 | 1.1% | +15.0% |
| 1985 | 1.0% | -2.9% |
| 1986 | 1.0% | -5.9% |
| 1988 | 1.0% | +8.0% |
| 1992 | 1.0% | -5.6% |
| 1993 | 1.0% | +2.2% |
| 1994 | 1.0% | +0.4% |
| 1995 | 1.0% | +0.8% |
| 1996 | 1.0% | +1.9% |
| 1998 | 1.1% | +5.9% |
| 1999 | 1.2% | +6.2% |
| 2000 | 1.1% | -4.9% |
| 2001 | 1.1% | +1.0% |
| 2002 | 1.1% | +2.2% |
| 2003 | 1.2% | +1.9% |
| 2004 | 1.1% | -2.9% |
| 2005 | 1.0% | -7.9% |
| 2006 | 1.1% | +8.7% |
| 2007 | 1.0% | -9.2% |
| 2008 | 1.1% | +7.6% |
| 2009 | 1.1% | +2.8% |
| 2010 | 1.1% | -4.9% |
| 2011 | 1.0% | -6.1% |
| 2012 | 1.0% | -4.4% |
| 2013 | 1.0% | +3.9% |
| 2014 | 1.0% | -1.6% |
| 2015 | 1.0% | +2.3% |
| 2016 | 0.9% | -10.2% |
| 2017 | 1.0% | +7.7% |
| 2018 | 1.0% | -2.6% |
| 2019 | 1.0% | +6.3% |
| 2020 | 1.2% | +17.3% |
| 2021 | 1.1% | -4.7% |
| 2022 | 1.1% | -4.4% |
Italy compared with similar countries
- Italy's 1.1% is above the median for high income countries, which is 1.1%, 1.0× the median. (63 countries reporting)
- Italy's 1.1% is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 1.1%, 96% of the median. (41 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 1.1% | 1.1% | 1.2% | 5 |
| 1980s | 1.0% | 0.9% | 1.1% | 5 |
| 1990s | 1.0% | 1.0% | 1.2% | 7 |
| 2000s | 1.1% | 1.0% | 1.2% | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.0% | 0.9% | 1.1% | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.1% | 1.1% | 1.2% | 3 |
Countries ranked near Italy
More education data for Italy
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 423,797 (2024)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 6,592 (2023)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 667,641 (2023)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 620,157 (2023)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 4.61 million (2023)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 2.63 million (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate -0.167 % change on previous year (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.0445 units per person (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is government expenditure on primary education as a percentage of gdp in Italy?
- Government expenditure on primary education as a percentage of gdp in Italy was 1.1% in 2022, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest government expenditure on primary education as a percentage of gdp recorded in Italy?
- The highest recorded value was 1.2% in 2020.
- What is the lowest government expenditure on primary education as a percentage of gdp recorded in Italy?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.9% in 2016.
- How does Italy rank for government expenditure on primary education as a percentage of gdp?
- Italy ranks 104th out of 162 countries with data for 2022.
- Is government expenditure on primary education as a percentage of gdp rising or falling in Italy?
- Over the last ten years it is up 12.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Italy data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Government expenditure on primary education as a percentage of GDP (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release