Government expenditure on tertiary education, US$ (millions) (US) in China
China: Government expenditure on tertiary education, US$ (millions) (US) was 150,308 millions in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Government expenditure on tertiary education, US$ in China, 1971–2023
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in millions.
Analysis
The most recent figure for government expenditure on tertiary education, us$ in China is 150,308 millions, measured in 2023. That is the highest value across all 26 years on record.
Over the whole period, government expenditure on tertiary education, us$ in China peaked at 150,308 millions in 2023 and was at its lowest, 192.95 millions, in 1971.
China ranks 2nd of 164 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, US$ (millions) (US) in China, year by year
| Year | millions | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1971 | 192.95 millions | — |
| 1972 | 260.57 millions | +35.0% |
| 1973 | 359.9 millions | +38.1% |
| 1974 | 405.89 millions | +12.8% |
| 1975 | 446.28 millions | +9.9% |
| 1976 | 470.28 millions | +5.4% |
| 1977 | 506.51 millions | +7.7% |
| 1978 | 608.54 millions | +20.1% |
| 1979 | 1,010 millions | +66.0% |
| 1980 | 1,121 millions | +10.9% |
| 1981 | 1,205 millions | +7.5% |
| 1982 | 1,274 millions | +5.7% |
| 1983 | 1,559 millions | +22.4% |
| 1984 | 1,764 millions | +13.2% |
| 1985 | 2,121 millions | +20.2% |
| 1986 | 2,119 millions | -0.1% |
| 1987 | 1,584 millions | -25.2% |
| 1988 | 1,619 millions | +2.2% |
| 1992 | 1,832 millions | +13.1% |
| 1993 | 1,710 millions | -6.7% |
| 1994 | 2,396 millions | +40.2% |
| 1995 | 2,645 millions | +10.4% |
| 1996 | 3,147 millions | +19.0% |
| 1998 | 2,957 millions | -6.0% |
| 1999 | 4,954 millions | +67.5% |
| 2023 | 150,308 millions | +2934.1% |
China compared with similar countries
- China's 150,308 millions is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 485.82 millions, 309.4× the median. (44 countries reporting)
- China's 150,308 millions is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 1,452 millions, 103.5× the median. (21 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Government expenditure on tertiary education, US$ (millions) (US) in China 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | +2934.1% | 4,954 millions | 150,308 millions |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 473.48 millions | 192.95 millions | 1,010 millions | 9 |
| 1980s | 1,596 millions | 1,121 millions | 2,121 millions | 9 |
| 1990s | 2,806 millions | 1,710 millions | 4,954 millions | 7 |
| 2020s | 150,308 millions | 150,308 millions | 150,308 millions | 1 |
Countries ranked near China
- 1 United States 362,265 millions compare
- 3 Germany 54,106 millions compare
- 4 United Kingdom 43,434 millions compare
- 5 India 41,927 millions compare
More education data for China
- Gender gap education levels, gaps filled 93.37 (1997)
- Primary enrollment selected countries, gaps filled 93.32 (1997)
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 7.41 million (2024)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 7,020 (2021)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 21.58 million (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 19.36 million (2024)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 97.98 million (2024)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 108.57 million (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 0.9587 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is government expenditure on tertiary education, us$ in China?
- Government expenditure on tertiary education, us$ in China was 150,308 millions in 2023, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest government expenditure on tertiary education, us$ recorded in China?
- The highest recorded value was 150,308 millions in 2023.
- What is the lowest government expenditure on tertiary education, us$ recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 192.95 millions in 1971.
- How does China rank for government expenditure on tertiary education, us$?
- China ranks 2nd out of 164 countries with data for 2023.
- Where does this China data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Government expenditure on tertiary education, US$ (millions). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 26 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
About this data
February 2026 Data Release