Government expenditure on tertiary education, US$ (millions) (US) in Canada
Canada: Government expenditure on tertiary education, US$ (millions) (US) was 25,975 millions in 2022. ◆ Volatile
Government expenditure on tertiary education, US$ in Canada, 1971–2022
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in millions.
Analysis
The most recent figure for government expenditure on tertiary education, us$ in Canada is 25,975 millions, measured in 2022.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 26.2% on the previous year and down 14.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, government expenditure on tertiary education, us$ in Canada peaked at 30,650 millions in 2014 and was at its lowest, 2,125 millions, in 1971.
That places Canada 7th out of 164 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, US$ (millions) (US) in Canada, year by year
| Year | millions | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1971 | 2,125 millions | — |
| 1972 | 2,371 millions | +11.6% |
| 1973 | 2,477 millions | +4.5% |
| 1974 | 2,698 millions | +8.9% |
| 1975 | 3,248 millions | +20.4% |
| 1976 | 3,673 millions | +13.1% |
| 1977 | 4,119 millions | +12.1% |
| 1978 | 4,367 millions | +6.0% |
| 1979 | 4,489 millions | +2.8% |
| 1980 | 4,696 millions | +4.6% |
| 1981 | 5,266 millions | +12.1% |
| 1982 | 5,865 millions | +11.4% |
| 1983 | 6,485 millions | +10.6% |
| 1984 | 6,998 millions | +7.9% |
| 1985 | 6,739 millions | -3.7% |
| 1986 | 6,840 millions | +1.5% |
| 1987 | 7,374 millions | +7.8% |
| 1988 | 8,216 millions | +11.4% |
| 1989 | 9,807 millions | +19.4% |
| 1990 | 10,771 millions | +9.8% |
| 1991 | 11,502 millions | +6.8% |
| 1992 | 12,708 millions | +10.5% |
| 1993 | 12,679 millions | -0.2% |
| 1994 | 13,331 millions | +5.1% |
| 1995 | 12,895 millions | -3.3% |
| 1998 | 11,155 millions | -13.5% |
| 2007 | 23,148 millions | +107.5% |
| 2008 | 23,405 millions | +1.1% |
| 2009 | 27,114 millions | +15.8% |
| 2010 | 26,057 millions | -3.9% |
| 2011 | 30,297 millions | +16.3% |
| 2013 | 24,234 millions | -20.0% |
| 2014 | 30,650 millions | +26.5% |
| 2015 | 29,367 millions | -4.2% |
| 2016 | 25,128 millions | -14.4% |
| 2017 | 25,275 millions | +0.6% |
| 2018 | 26,906 millions | +6.5% |
| 2019 | 26,974 millions | +0.3% |
| 2020 | 27,353 millions | +1.4% |
| 2021 | 20,584 millions | -24.7% |
| 2022 | 25,975 millions | +26.2% |
Canada compared with similar countries
- Canada's 25,975 millions is above the median for high income countries, which is 1,777 millions, 14.6× the median. (64 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Government expenditure on tertiary education, US$ (millions) (US) in Canada 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | +107.5% | 11,155 millions | 23,148 millions |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 3,285 millions | 2,125 millions | 4,489 millions | 9 |
| 1980s | 6,829 millions | 4,696 millions | 9,807 millions | 10 |
| 1990s | 12,149 millions | 10,771 millions | 13,331 millions | 7 |
| 2000s | 24,556 millions | 23,148 millions | 27,114 millions | 3 |
| 2010s | 27,210 millions | 24,234 millions | 30,650 millions | 9 |
| 2020s | 24,637 millions | 20,584 millions | 27,353 millions | 3 |
Countries ranked near Canada
More education data for Canada
- Gender gap education levels, gaps filled 95.11 (2023)
- Primary enrollment selected countries, gaps filled 95.01 (2023)
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 133,275 (1996)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 0 (2011)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 291,075 (2023)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 273,465 (2023)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 2.70 million (2023)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 2.43 million (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 1.83 % change on previous year (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is government expenditure on tertiary education, us$ in Canada?
- Government expenditure on tertiary education, us$ in Canada was 25,975 millions in 2022, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest government expenditure on tertiary education, us$ recorded in Canada?
- The highest recorded value was 30,650 millions in 2014.
- What is the lowest government expenditure on tertiary education, us$ recorded in Canada?
- The lowest recorded value was 2,125 millions in 1971.
- How does Canada rank for government expenditure on tertiary education, us$?
- Canada ranks 7th out of 164 countries with data for 2022.
- Is government expenditure on tertiary education, us$ rising or falling in Canada?
- Over the last ten years it is down 14.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Canada data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Government expenditure on tertiary education, US$ (millions). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release