Government expenditure on tertiary education, constant US$ in New Zealand
New Zealand: Government expenditure on tertiary education, constant US$ was 3,000 millions in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
3,000 millions
Change on year
down 3.9%
World rank
36th
of 159 countries
All-time high
3,592 millions
in 2020
All-time low
885.31 millions
in 1978
Years of data
32
1973–2023
Government expenditure on tertiary education, constant US$ in New Zealand, 1973–2023
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in millions.
Analysis
The most recent figure for government expenditure on tertiary education, constant us$ in New Zealand is 3,000 millions, measured in 2023.
The figure is down 3.9% on the previous year and down 8.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, government expenditure on tertiary education, constant us$ in New Zealand peaked at 3,592 millions in 2020 and was at its lowest, 885.31 millions, in 1978.
That places New Zealand 36th out of 159 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Government expenditure on tertiary education, constant US$ in New Zealand, year by year
| Year | millions | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1973 | 944.79 millions | — |
| 1974 | 987.18 millions | +4.5% |
| 1975 | 1,088 millions | +10.2% |
| 1976 | 1,300 millions | +19.5% |
| 1977 | 895.57 millions | -31.1% |
| 1978 | 885.31 millions | -1.1% |
| 1979 | 908.47 millions | +2.6% |
| 1980 | 1,090 millions | +19.9% |
| 1981 | 1,115 millions | +2.3% |
| 1982 | 1,126 millions | +1.0% |
| 1984 | 1,059 millions | -6.0% |
| 1985 | 960.05 millions | -9.4% |
| 1986 | 1,010 millions | +5.2% |
| 1987 | 1,153 millions | +14.2% |
| 1988 | 1,383 millions | +20.0% |
| 1989 | 1,599 millions | +15.6% |
| 1994 | 1,797 millions | +12.4% |
| 1995 | 1,910 millions | +6.3% |
| 1996 | 2,139 millions | +12.0% |
| 1997 | 2,106 millions | -1.5% |
| 2000 | 2,099 millions | -0.3% |
| 2013 | 3,276 millions | +56.1% |
| 2014 | 3,346 millions | +2.2% |
| 2015 | 3,382 millions | +1.1% |
| 2016 | 3,322 millions | -1.7% |
| 2017 | 3,277 millions | -1.4% |
| 2018 | 3,346 millions | +2.1% |
| 2019 | 3,388 millions | +1.3% |
| 2020 | 3,592 millions | +6.0% |
| 2021 | 3,375 millions | -6.0% |
| 2022 | 3,121 millions | -7.5% |
| 2023 | 3,000 millions | -3.9% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 1,001 millions | 885.31 millions | 1,300 millions | 7 |
| 1980s | 1,166 millions | 960.05 millions | 1,599 millions | 9 |
| 1990s | 1,988 millions | 1,797 millions | 2,139 millions | 4 |
| 2000s | 2,099 millions | 2,099 millions | 2,099 millions | 1 |
| 2010s | 3,334 millions | 3,276 millions | 3,388 millions | 7 |
| 2020s | 3,272 millions | 3,000 millions | 3,592 millions | 4 |
Countries ranked near New Zealand
More education data for New Zealand
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 12,020 (1992)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 56,552 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 53,804 (2024)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 562,417 (2024)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 383,018 (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 1.15 % change on previous year (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.0724 units per person (2024)
- Secondary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is government expenditure on tertiary education, constant us$ in New Zealand?
- Government expenditure on tertiary education, constant us$ in New Zealand was 3,000 millions in 2023, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest government expenditure on tertiary education, constant us$ recorded in New Zealand?
- The highest recorded value was 3,592 millions in 2020.
- What is the lowest government expenditure on tertiary education, constant us$ recorded in New Zealand?
- The lowest recorded value was 885.31 millions in 1978.
- How does New Zealand rank for government expenditure on tertiary education, constant us$?
- New Zealand ranks 36th out of 159 countries with data for 2023.
- Is government expenditure on tertiary education, constant us$ rising or falling in New Zealand?
- Over the last ten years it is down 8.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this New Zealand 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 — 32 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
About this data
February 2026 Data Release