Government expenditure on tertiary education, PPP$ (millions) (PPP) in Iran
Iran: Government expenditure on tertiary education, PPP$ (millions) (PPP) was 8,847 millions in 2022. ▲ Rising
Government expenditure on tertiary education, PPP$ in Iran, 1991–2022
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in millions.
Analysis
In 2022, government expenditure on tertiary education, ppp$ in Iran stood at 8,847 millions.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 9.9% on the previous year and down 24.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, government expenditure on tertiary education, ppp$ in Iran peaked at 13,789 millions in 2017 and was at its lowest, 2,326 millions, in 1991.
That places Iran 30th out of 148 countries with data for 2022, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 26 years of available data.
Government expenditure on tertiary education, PPP$ (millions) (PPP) in Iran, year by year
| Year | millions | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 2,326 millions | — |
| 1992 | 2,803 millions | +20.5% |
| 1993 | 3,458 millions | +23.3% |
| 1995 | 4,986 millions | +44.2% |
| 1996 | 4,741 millions | -4.9% |
| 2001 | 5,215 millions | +10.0% |
| 2002 | 5,729 millions | +9.8% |
| 2003 | 5,660 millions | -1.2% |
| 2004 | 5,658 millions | -0.0% |
| 2005 | 5,617 millions | -0.7% |
| 2006 | 8,478 millions | +50.9% |
| 2007 | 9,725 millions | +14.7% |
| 2008 | 9,332 millions | -4.0% |
| 2009 | 9,978 millions | +6.9% |
| 2010 | 9,491 millions | -4.9% |
| 2011 | 12,176 millions | +28.3% |
| 2012 | 11,768 millions | -3.3% |
| 2013 | 8,480 millions | -27.9% |
| 2014 | 9,164 millions | +8.1% |
| 2015 | 9,704 millions | +5.9% |
| 2016 | 10,707 millions | +10.3% |
| 2017 | 13,789 millions | +28.8% |
| 2018 | 13,098 millions | -5.0% |
| 2019 | 11,113 millions | -15.2% |
| 2020 | 9,817 millions | -11.7% |
| 2022 | 8,847 millions | -9.9% |
Iran compared with similar countries
- Iran's 8,847 millions is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 1,103 millions, 8.0× the median. (40 countries reporting)
- Iran's 8,847 millions is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 2,330 millions, 3.8× the median. (13 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 3,663 millions | 2,326 millions | 4,986 millions | 5 |
| 2000s | 7,266 millions | 5,215 millions | 9,978 millions | 9 |
| 2010s | 10,949 millions | 8,480 millions | 13,789 millions | 10 |
| 2020s | 9,332 millions | 8,847 millions | 9,817 millions | 2 |
Countries ranked near Iran
More education data for Iran
- Gender gap education levels, gaps filled 98.5 (2020)
- Primary enrollment selected countries, gaps filled 99.9 (2023)
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 406,399 (2023)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 108,066 (2023)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 519,698 (2020)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 505,053 (2020)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 6.62 million (2023)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 9.09 million (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 3.31 % change on previous year (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is government expenditure on tertiary education, ppp$ in Iran?
- Government expenditure on tertiary education, ppp$ in Iran was 8,847 millions in 2022, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest government expenditure on tertiary education, ppp$ recorded in Iran?
- The highest recorded value was 13,789 millions in 2017.
- What is the lowest government expenditure on tertiary education, ppp$ recorded in Iran?
- The lowest recorded value was 2,326 millions in 1991.
- How does Iran rank for government expenditure on tertiary education, ppp$?
- Iran ranks 30th out of 148 countries with data for 2022.
- Is government expenditure on tertiary education, ppp$ rising or falling in Iran?
- Over the last ten years it is down 24.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Iran data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Government expenditure on tertiary education, PPP$ (millions). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release