Government expenditure on primary education, constant US$ (millions) in China
China: Government expenditure on primary education, constant US$ (millions) was 219,842 millions in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Government expenditure on primary education, constant US$ in China, 1980–2023
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in millions.
Analysis
In 2023, government expenditure on primary education, constant us$ in China stood at 219,842 millions. That is the highest value across all 17 years on record.
Over the whole period, government expenditure on primary education, constant us$ in China peaked at 219,842 millions in 2023 and was at its lowest, 2,509 millions, in 1980.
China ranks 2nd of 148 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 primary education, constant US$ (millions) in China, year by year
| Year | millions | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 2,509 millions | — |
| 1981 | 2,751 millions | +9.7% |
| 1982 | 3,252 millions | +18.2% |
| 1983 | 3,610 millions | +11.0% |
| 1984 | 3,887 millions | +7.7% |
| 1985 | 4,342 millions | +11.7% |
| 1986 | 4,862 millions | +12.0% |
| 1987 | 4,966 millions | +2.1% |
| 1988 | 5,724 millions | +15.3% |
| 1992 | 7,633 millions | +33.3% |
| 1993 | 8,833 millions | +15.7% |
| 1994 | 13,408 millions | +51.8% |
| 1995 | 10,655 millions | -20.5% |
| 1996 | 15,816 millions | +48.4% |
| 1998 | 16,534 millions | +4.5% |
| 1999 | 16,463 millions | -0.4% |
| 2023 | 219,842 millions | +1235.4% |
China compared with similar countries
- China's 219,842 millions is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 548.6 millions, 400.7× the median. (42 countries reporting)
- China's 219,842 millions is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 2,766 millions, 79.5× the median. (21 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Government expenditure on primary education, constant US$ (millions) 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 | +1235.4% | 16,463 millions | 219,842 millions |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 3,989 millions | 2,509 millions | 5,724 millions | 9 |
| 1990s | 12,763 millions | 7,633 millions | 16,534 millions | 7 |
| 2020s | 219,842 millions | 219,842 millions | 219,842 millions | 1 |
Countries ranked near China
- 1 United States 382,365 millions compare
- 3 United Kingdom 51,226 millions compare
- 4 Japan 44,221 millions compare
- 5 India 35,963 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 primary education, constant us$ in China?
- Government expenditure on primary education, constant us$ in China was 219,842 millions in 2023, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest government expenditure on primary education, constant us$ recorded in China?
- The highest recorded value was 219,842 millions in 2023.
- What is the lowest government expenditure on primary education, constant us$ recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 2,509 millions in 1980.
- How does China rank for government expenditure on primary education, constant us$?
- China ranks 2nd out of 148 countries with data for 2023.
- Where does this China data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Government expenditure on primary education, constant US$ (millions). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 17 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
About this data
February 2026 Data Release