Government expenditure on tertiary education, constant US$ (millions) in Spain
Spain: Government expenditure on tertiary education, constant US$ (millions) was 16,996 millions in 2022. ◆ Volatile
Government expenditure on tertiary education, constant US$ in Spain, 1970–2022
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in millions.
Analysis
The most recent figure for government expenditure on tertiary education, constant us$ in Spain is 16,996 millions, measured in 2022. That is the highest value across all 43 years on record.
The figure is up 5.7% on the previous year and up 23.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, government expenditure on tertiary education, constant us$ in Spain peaked at 16,996 millions in 2022 and was at its lowest, 1,302 millions, in 1974.
That places Spain 12th out of 159 countries with data for 2022, putting it in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Government expenditure on tertiary education, constant US$ (millions) in Spain, year by year
| Year | millions | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 1,619 millions | — |
| 1971 | 1,796 millions | +11.0% |
| 1972 | 1,729 millions | -3.7% |
| 1974 | 1,302 millions | -24.7% |
| 1976 | 1,896 millions | +45.6% |
| 1977 | 2,103 millions | +10.9% |
| 1978 | 2,115 millions | +0.6% |
| 1979 | 2,022 millions | -4.4% |
| 1987 | 3,516 millions | +73.9% |
| 1988 | 4,050 millions | +15.2% |
| 1989 | 4,799 millions | +18.5% |
| 1990 | 5,841 millions | +21.7% |
| 1991 | 6,371 millions | +9.1% |
| 1992 | 6,708 millions | +5.3% |
| 1993 | 6,776 millions | +1.0% |
| 1994 | 7,166 millions | +5.7% |
| 1995 | 7,563 millions | +5.6% |
| 1996 | 8,559 millions | +13.2% |
| 1998 | 8,866 millions | +3.6% |
| 1999 | 9,335 millions | +5.3% |
| 2000 | 10,417 millions | +11.6% |
| 2001 | 11,176 millions | +7.3% |
| 2002 | 11,565 millions | +3.5% |
| 2003 | 12,211 millions | +5.6% |
| 2004 | 12,367 millions | +1.3% |
| 2005 | 12,468 millions | +0.8% |
| 2006 | 13,029 millions | +4.5% |
| 2007 | 14,079 millions | +8.1% |
| 2008 | 15,232 millions | +8.2% |
| 2009 | 15,716 millions | +3.2% |
| 2010 | 15,952 millions | +1.5% |
| 2011 | 15,453 millions | -3.1% |
| 2012 | 13,741 millions | -11.1% |
| 2013 | 13,005 millions | -5.4% |
| 2014 | 13,072 millions | +0.5% |
| 2015 | 13,440 millions | +2.8% |
| 2016 | 13,303 millions | -1.0% |
| 2017 | 13,900 millions | +4.5% |
| 2018 | 14,079 millions | +1.3% |
| 2019 | 14,589 millions | +3.6% |
| 2020 | 14,867 millions | +1.9% |
| 2021 | 16,076 millions | +8.1% |
| 2022 | 16,996 millions | +5.7% |
Spain compared with similar countries
- Spain's 16,996 millions is above the median for high income countries, which is 2,290 millions, 7.4× the median. (62 countries reporting)
- Spain's 16,996 millions is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 1,298 millions, 13.1× the median. (47 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Government expenditure on tertiary education, constant US$ (millions) in Spain 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1987 | +73.9% | 2,022 millions | 3,516 millions |
| 1976 | +45.6% | 1,302 millions | 1,896 millions |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 1,823 millions | 1,302 millions | 2,115 millions | 8 |
| 1980s | 4,121 millions | 3,516 millions | 4,799 millions | 3 |
| 1990s | 7,465 millions | 5,841 millions | 9,335 millions | 9 |
| 2000s | 12,826 millions | 10,417 millions | 15,716 millions | 10 |
| 2010s | 14,053 millions | 13,005 millions | 15,952 millions | 10 |
| 2020s | 15,979 millions | 14,867 millions | 16,996 millions | 3 |
Countries ranked near Spain
More education data for Spain
- Gender gap education levels, gaps filled 98.71 (2024)
- Primary enrollment selected countries, gaps filled 98.76 (2024)
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 344,203 (2024)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 37,817 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 570,954 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 538,977 (2024)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 3.71 million (2024)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 2.83 million (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate -1.08 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is government expenditure on tertiary education, constant us$ in Spain?
- Government expenditure on tertiary education, constant us$ in Spain was 16,996 millions in 2022, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest government expenditure on tertiary education, constant us$ recorded in Spain?
- The highest recorded value was 16,996 millions in 2022.
- What is the lowest government expenditure on tertiary education, constant us$ recorded in Spain?
- The lowest recorded value was 1,302 millions in 1974.
- How does Spain rank for government expenditure on tertiary education, constant us$?
- Spain ranks 12th out of 159 countries with data for 2022.
- Is government expenditure on tertiary education, constant us$ rising or falling in Spain?
- Over the last ten years it is up 23.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Spain 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 — 43 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
About this data
February 2026 Data Release