Government expenditure on primary education, US$ in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland: Government expenditure on primary education, US$ was 50,498 millions in 2021. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2021)
50,498 millions
Change on year
up 2.0%
World rank
4th
of 154 countries
All-time high
54,757 millions
in 2015
All-time low
1,730 millions
in 1971
Years of data
46
1971–2021

Government expenditure on primary education, US$ in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, 1971–2021

020.0k40.0k60.0k197119962021

Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in millions.

Analysis

In 2021, government expenditure on primary education, us$ in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland stood at 50,498 millions.

The figure is up 2.0% on the previous year and up 18.5% over ten years.

Over the whole period, government expenditure on primary education, us$ in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland peaked at 54,757 millions in 2015 and was at its lowest, 1,730 millions, in 1971.

United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ranks 4th of 154 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, US$ in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, year by year

Annual values for Government expenditure on primary education, US$ (millions) in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, 1971 to 2021.
Year millions Change
1971 1,730 millions
1972 1,872 millions +8.2%
1973 2,288 millions +22.2%
1974 2,582 millions +12.9%
1975 3,268 millions +26.6%
1976 4,383 millions +34.1%
1977 3,948 millions -9.9%
1980 6,021 millions +52.5%
1981 7,904 millions +31.3%
1982 6,568 millions -16.9%
1983 6,005 millions -8.6%
1984 5,296 millions -11.8%
1985 4,800 millions -9.4%
1986 5,307 millions +10.5%
1987 6,775 millions +27.7%
1988 8,354 millions +23.3%
1989 10,007 millions +19.8%
1990 10,051 millions +0.4%
1991 12,312 millions +22.5%
1992 13,545 millions +10.0%
1994 15,624 millions +15.3%
1995 16,795 millions +7.5%
1996 17,453 millions +3.9%
1998 15,520 millions -11.1%
1999 16,121 millions +3.9%
2000 16,759 millions +4.0%
2001 17,065 millions +1.8%
2002 17,979 millions +5.4%
2003 21,844 millions +21.5%
2004 25,489 millions +16.7%
2005 31,593 millions +23.9%
2006 37,267 millions +18.0%
2007 40,874 millions +9.7%
2008 47,911 millions +17.2%
2009 46,152 millions -3.7%
2010 41,377 millions -10.3%
2011 42,618 millions +3.0%
2013 44,556 millions +4.5%
2014 45,105 millions +1.2%
2015 54,757 millions +21.4%
2016 51,376 millions -6.2%
2017 46,648 millions -9.2%
2018 45,297 millions -2.9%
2019 48,828 millions +7.8%
2020 49,518 millions +1.4%
2021 50,498 millions +2.0%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1970s 2,867 millions 1,730 millions 4,383 millions 7
1980s 6,704 millions 4,800 millions 10,007 millions 10
1990s 14,678 millions 10,051 millions 17,453 millions 8
2000s 30,293 millions 16,759 millions 47,911 millions 10
2010s 46,729 millions 41,377 millions 54,757 millions 9
2020s 50,008 millions 49,518 millions 50,498 millions 2

Countries ranked near United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

  1. 1 United States 341,333 millions compare
  2. 2 China 219,842 millions compare
  3. 3 Japan 53,602 millions compare
  4. 5 Chad 36,510 millions compare
  5. 6 India 33,934 millions compare
  6. 7 France 33,255 millions compare

See the full ranking of 154 places →

More education data for United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

All data for United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland →

Frequently asked questions

What is government expenditure on primary education, us$ in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
Government expenditure on primary education, us$ in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland was 50,498 millions in 2021, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
What is the highest government expenditure on primary education, us$ recorded in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
The highest recorded value was 54,757 millions in 2015.
What is the lowest government expenditure on primary education, us$ recorded in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
The lowest recorded value was 1,730 millions in 1971.
How does United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland rank for government expenditure on primary education, us$?
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ranks 4th out of 154 countries with data for 2021.
Is government expenditure on primary education, us$ rising or falling in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
Over the last ten years it is up 18.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland data come from?
The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Government expenditure on primary education, US$ (millions). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Government expenditure on primary education, US$ in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Statizoid, drawing on UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Retrieved 30 August 2026, from https://education.statizoid.com/stat/government-expenditure-on-primary-education-us-millions-2/united-kingdom/

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About this data

Indicator
Government expenditure on primary education, US$ (millions)
Unit
millions
Source
UNESCO Institute for Statistics
Licence
CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics)
Coverage
154 places, 3,328 data points, 1970–2024
Last refreshed

February 2026 Data Release