Government expenditure on tertiary education, PPP$ in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland: Government expenditure on tertiary education, PPP$ was 51,846 millions in 2021. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2021)
51,846 millions
Change on year
up 3.1%
World rank
5th
of 148 countries
All-time high
51,846 millions
in 2021
All-time low
8,324 millions
in 1991
Years of data
28
1991–2021

Government expenditure on tertiary education, PPP$ in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, 1991–2021

10.0k20.0k30.0k40.0k50.0k1991200620211991: 8.3k millions1992: 9.4k millions1994: 12.0k millions1995: 13.0k millions1996: 12.4k millions1998: 12.4k millions1999: 11.1k millions2000: 10.1k millions2001: 11.0k millions2002: 15.7k millions2003: 16.4k millions2004: 16.5k millions2005: 21.1k millions2006: 19.8k millions2007: 18.1k millions2008: 16.8k millions2009: 16.5k millions2010: 20.4k millions2011: 28.2k millions2013: 32.3k millions2014: 34.9k millions2015: 33.8k millions2016: 38.5k millions2017: 42.0k millions2018: 43.9k millions2019: 45.1k millions2020: 50.3k millions2021: 51.8k millions

Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in millions.

Analysis

United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland recorded 51,846 millions for government expenditure on tertiary education, ppp$ in 2021. That is the highest value across all 28 years on record.

Compared with earlier readings it is up 3.1% on the previous year and up 83.9% over ten years.

Over the whole period, government expenditure on tertiary education, ppp$ in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland peaked at 51,846 millions in 2021 and was at its lowest, 8,324 millions, in 1991.

United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ranks 5th of 148 countries on this measure, 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, PPP$ in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, year by year

Annual values for Government expenditure on tertiary education, PPP$ (millions) in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, 1991 to 2021.
Year millions Change
1991 8,324 millions
1992 9,430 millions +13.3%
1994 12,009 millions +27.4%
1995 13,042 millions +8.6%
1996 12,408 millions -4.9%
1998 12,418 millions +0.1%
1999 11,114 millions -10.5%
2000 10,131 millions -8.8%
2001 11,043 millions +9.0%
2002 15,708 millions +42.3%
2003 16,386 millions +4.3%
2004 16,522 millions +0.8%
2005 21,132 millions +27.9%
2006 19,774 millions -6.4%
2007 18,095 millions -8.5%
2008 16,802 millions -7.1%
2009 16,522 millions -1.7%
2010 20,378 millions +23.3%
2011 28,199 millions +38.4%
2013 32,333 millions +14.7%
2014 34,912 millions +8.0%
2015 33,802 millions -3.2%
2016 38,486 millions +13.9%
2017 42,007 millions +9.1%
2018 43,869 millions +4.4%
2019 45,134 millions +2.9%
2020 50,308 millions +11.5%
2021 51,846 millions +3.1%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 11,249 millions 8,324 millions 13,042 millions 7
2000s 16,211 millions 10,131 millions 21,132 millions 10
2010s 35,458 millions 20,378 millions 45,134 millions 9
2020s 51,077 millions 50,308 millions 51,846 millions 2

Countries ranked near United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

  1. 2 China 292,222 millions compare
  2. 3 India 153,156 millions compare
  3. 4 Germany 73,602 millions compare
  4. 6 France 46,031 millions compare
  5. 7 Brazil 40,969 millions compare
  6. 8 Türkiye 35,054 millions compare

See the full ranking of 148 places →

More education data for United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

All data for United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland →

Frequently asked questions

What is government expenditure on tertiary education, ppp$ in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
Government expenditure on tertiary education, ppp$ in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland was 51,846 millions in 2021, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
What is the highest government expenditure on tertiary education, ppp$ recorded in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
The highest recorded value was 51,846 millions in 2021.
What is the lowest government expenditure on tertiary education, ppp$ recorded in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
The lowest recorded value was 8,324 millions in 1991.
How does United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland rank for government expenditure on tertiary education, ppp$?
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ranks 5th out of 148 countries with data for 2021.
Is government expenditure on tertiary education, ppp$ rising or falling in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
Over the last ten years it is up 83.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
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, PPP$ (millions). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Government expenditure on tertiary education, PPP$ in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Statizoid, drawing on UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Retrieved 31 August 2026, from https://education.statizoid.com/stat/government-expenditure-on-tertiary-education-ppp-millions-2/united-kingdom/

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About this data

Indicator
Government expenditure on tertiary education, PPP$ (millions)
Unit
millions
Source
UNESCO Institute for Statistics
Licence
CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics)
Coverage
148 places, 2,498 data points, 1984–2024
Last refreshed

February 2026 Data Release