Government expenditure on tertiary education, constant US$ in Malaysia
Malaysia: Government expenditure on tertiary education, constant US$ was 2,269 millions in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
2,269 millions
Change on year
up 10.4%
World rank
46th
of 159 countries
All-time high
5,196 millions
in 2011
All-time low
106.52 millions
in 1971
Years of data
33
1971–2023
Government expenditure on tertiary education, constant US$ in Malaysia, 1971–2023
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in millions.
Analysis
In 2023, government expenditure on tertiary education, constant us$ in Malaysia stood at 2,269 millions.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 10.4% on the previous year and down 49.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, government expenditure on tertiary education, constant us$ in Malaysia peaked at 5,196 millions in 2011 and was at its lowest, 106.52 millions, in 1971.
That places Malaysia 46th out of 159 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Government expenditure on tertiary education, constant US$ in Malaysia, year by year
| Year | millions | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1971 | 106.52 millions | — |
| 1979 | 274.18 millions | +157.4% |
| 1980 | 351.75 millions | +28.3% |
| 1981 | 463.29 millions | +31.7% |
| 1982 | 528.84 millions | +14.1% |
| 1984 | 507.03 millions | -4.1% |
| 1985 | 586.14 millions | +15.6% |
| 1986 | 707.1 millions | +20.6% |
| 1987 | 624.55 millions | -11.7% |
| 1992 | 971.01 millions | +55.5% |
| 1993 | 815.01 millions | -16.1% |
| 1994 | 907.11 millions | +11.3% |
| 1995 | 1,015 millions | +11.9% |
| 1996 | 1,504 millions | +48.1% |
| 1997 | 1,850 millions | +23.0% |
| 2000 | 2,826 millions | +52.8% |
| 2001 | 3,804 millions | +34.6% |
| 2002 | 3,988 millions | +4.8% |
| 2003 | 4,343 millions | +8.9% |
| 2004 | 3,500 millions | -19.4% |
| 2006 | 3,184 millions | -9.0% |
| 2007 | 3,016 millions | -5.3% |
| 2009 | 4,630 millions | +53.5% |
| 2010 | 3,963 millions | -14.4% |
| 2011 | 5,196 millions | +31.1% |
| 2012 | 4,203 millions | -19.1% |
| 2013 | 4,503 millions | +7.2% |
| 2016 | 3,483 millions | -22.7% |
| 2017 | 3,254 millions | -6.6% |
| 2018 | 3,324 millions | +2.1% |
| 2019 | 3,432 millions | +3.2% |
| 2020 | 2,055 millions | -40.1% |
| 2023 | 2,269 millions | +10.4% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 190.35 millions | 106.52 millions | 274.18 millions | 2 |
| 1980s | 538.39 millions | 351.75 millions | 707.1 millions | 7 |
| 1990s | 1,177 millions | 815.01 millions | 1,850 millions | 6 |
| 2000s | 3,661 millions | 2,826 millions | 4,630 millions | 8 |
| 2010s | 3,920 millions | 3,254 millions | 5,196 millions | 8 |
| 2020s | 2,162 millions | 2,055 millions | 2,269 millions | 2 |
Countries ranked near Malaysia
More education data for Malaysia
- Theoretical duration of upper secondary education (years), annual 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Theoretical duration of secondary education (years), annual growth 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Start of the academic school year (tertiary education), gaps filled 2,024 tertiary education (2024)
- Start of the academic school year (tertiary education), annual growth 0.0494 % change on previous year (2024)
- Primary education, teachers, gaps filled 273,792 (2024)
- Duration of pre primary education, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Duration of pre primary education 2 (2025)
- Official entrance age to pre primary education 4 (2025)
- Population ages 15-64 70.7% (2025)
- Population ages 0-14 21.3% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is government expenditure on tertiary education, constant us$ in Malaysia?
- Government expenditure on tertiary education, constant us$ in Malaysia was 2,269 millions in 2023, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest government expenditure on tertiary education, constant us$ recorded in Malaysia?
- The highest recorded value was 5,196 millions in 2011.
- What is the lowest government expenditure on tertiary education, constant us$ recorded in Malaysia?
- The lowest recorded value was 106.52 millions in 1971.
- How does Malaysia rank for government expenditure on tertiary education, constant us$?
- Malaysia ranks 46th out of 159 countries with data for 2023.
- Is government expenditure on tertiary education, constant us$ rising or falling in Malaysia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 49.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Malaysia data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Government expenditure on tertiary education, constant US$ (millions). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 33 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
About this data
February 2026 Data Release