Government expenditure on tertiary education, constant US$ in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland: Government expenditure on tertiary education, constant US$ was 44,061 millions in 2021. ▲ Rising
Latest (2021)
44,061 millions
Change on year
down 4.2%
World rank
5th
of 159 countries
All-time high
45,993 millions
in 2020
All-time low
12,398 millions
in 1971
Years of data
46
1971–2021
Government expenditure on tertiary education, constant US$ in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, 1971–2021
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in millions.
Analysis
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland recorded 44,061 millions for government expenditure on tertiary education, constant us$ in 2021.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 4.2% on the previous year and up 39.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, government expenditure on tertiary education, constant us$ in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland peaked at 45,993 millions in 2020 and was at its lowest, 12,398 millions, in 1971.
That places United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 5th out of 159 countries with data for 2021, putting it in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 46 years of available data.
Government expenditure on tertiary education, constant US$ in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, year by year
| Year | millions | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1971 | 12,398 millions | — |
| 1972 | 13,880 millions | +12.0% |
| 1973 | 14,924 millions | +7.5% |
| 1974 | 14,934 millions | +0.1% |
| 1975 | 15,868 millions | +6.3% |
| 1976 | 15,270 millions | -3.8% |
| 1977 | 15,388 millions | +0.8% |
| 1980 | 14,854 millions | -3.5% |
| 1981 | 15,584 millions | +4.9% |
| 1982 | 15,030 millions | -3.6% |
| 1983 | 14,879 millions | -1.0% |
| 1984 | 14,492 millions | -2.6% |
| 1985 | 14,323 millions | -1.2% |
| 1986 | 13,281 millions | -7.3% |
| 1987 | 13,474 millions | +1.5% |
| 1988 | 13,454 millions | -0.1% |
| 1989 | 13,687 millions | +1.7% |
| 1990 | 14,054 millions | +2.7% |
| 1991 | 14,558 millions | +3.6% |
| 1992 | 15,952 millions | +9.6% |
| 1994 | 19,404 millions | +21.6% |
| 1995 | 20,632 millions | +6.3% |
| 1996 | 19,227 millions | -6.8% |
| 1998 | 18,386 millions | -4.4% |
| 1999 | 16,519 millions | -10.2% |
| 2000 | 14,958 millions | -9.5% |
| 2001 | 15,650 millions | +4.6% |
| 2002 | 21,618 millions | +38.1% |
| 2003 | 21,936 millions | +1.5% |
| 2004 | 21,790 millions | -0.7% |
| 2005 | 26,854 millions | +23.2% |
| 2006 | 25,112 millions | -6.5% |
| 2007 | 22,005 millions | -12.4% |
| 2008 | 20,344 millions | -7.5% |
| 2009 | 19,140 millions | -5.9% |
| 2010 | 23,446 millions | +22.5% |
| 2011 | 31,589 millions | +34.7% |
| 2013 | 34,867 millions | +10.4% |
| 2014 | 36,535 millions | +4.8% |
| 2015 | 35,073 millions | -4.0% |
| 2016 | 39,327 millions | +12.1% |
| 2017 | 41,869 millions | +6.5% |
| 2018 | 42,679 millions | +1.9% |
| 2019 | 43,278 millions | +1.4% |
| 2020 | 45,993 millions | +6.3% |
| 2021 | 44,061 millions | -4.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 14,666 millions | 12,398 millions | 15,868 millions | 7 |
| 1980s | 14,306 millions | 13,281 millions | 15,584 millions | 10 |
| 1990s | 17,341 millions | 14,054 millions | 20,632 millions | 8 |
| 2000s | 20,941 millions | 14,958 millions | 26,854 millions | 10 |
| 2010s | 36,518 millions | 23,446 millions | 43,278 millions | 9 |
| 2020s | 45,027 millions | 44,061 millions | 45,993 millions | 2 |
Countries ranked near United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
More education data for United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
- Enrolment in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 6.40 million (2023)
- Enrolment in secondary education, both sexes (number), annual growth 1.49 % change on previous year (2023)
- Teachers in primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 281,128 (2023)
- Teachers in primary education, both sexes (number), annual growth rate -0.4388 % change on previous year (2023)
- Enrolment in secondary education, female (number), gaps filled 3.16 million (2023)
- Enrolment in secondary education, female (number), annual growth rate 1.19 % change on previous year (2023)
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), gaps filled 3.24 million (2023)
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), annual growth rate 1.79 % change on previous year (2023)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 1.62 million (2023)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes (number), annual -0.929 % change on previous year (2023)
All data for United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland →
Frequently asked questions
- What is government expenditure on tertiary education, constant us$ in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
- Government expenditure on tertiary education, constant us$ in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland was 44,061 millions in 2021, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest government expenditure on tertiary education, constant us$ recorded in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
- The highest recorded value was 45,993 millions in 2020.
- What is the lowest government expenditure on tertiary education, constant us$ recorded in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
- The lowest recorded value was 12,398 millions in 1971.
- How does United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland rank for government expenditure on tertiary education, constant us$?
- United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ranks 5th out of 159 countries with data for 2021.
- Is government expenditure on tertiary education, constant us$ rising or falling in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
- Over the last ten years it is up 39.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- 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 tertiary education, constant US$ (millions). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release