Government expenditure on tertiary education, US$ in India

India: Government expenditure on tertiary education, US$ was 41,927 millions in 2021. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2021)
41,927 millions
Change on year
down 2.7%
World rank
5th
of 164 countries
All-time high
43,092 millions
in 2020
All-time low
3,264 millions
in 1999
Years of data
18
1999–2021

Government expenditure on tertiary education, US$ in India, 1999–2021

010.0k20.0k30.0k40.0k1999201020211999: 3.3k millions2000: 4.0k millions2003: 3.7k millions2004: 4.1k millions2005: 4.4k millions2006: 5.2k millions2009: 14.3k millions2010: 16.4k millions2011: 22.1k millions2012: 22.7k millions2013: 20.0k millions2015: 25.6k millions2016: 25.9k millions2017: 33.1k millions2018: 37.8k millions2019: 36.0k millions2020: 43.1k millions2021: 41.9k millions

Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in millions.

Analysis

In 2021, government expenditure on tertiary education, us$ in India stood at 41,927 millions.

Compared with earlier readings it is down 2.7% on the previous year and up 90.1% over ten years.

Over the whole period, government expenditure on tertiary education, us$ in India peaked at 43,092 millions in 2020 and was at its lowest, 3,264 millions, in 1999.

India ranks 5th 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$ in India, year by year

Annual values for Government expenditure on tertiary education, US$ (millions) in India, 1999 to 2021.
Year millions Change
1999 3,264 millions
2000 4,027 millions +23.4%
2003 3,738 millions -7.2%
2004 4,077 millions +9.1%
2005 4,422 millions +8.5%
2006 5,230 millions +18.3%
2009 14,326 millions +173.9%
2010 16,352 millions +14.1%
2011 22,060 millions +34.9%
2012 22,680 millions +2.8%
2013 20,045 millions -11.6%
2015 25,633 millions +27.9%
2016 25,898 millions +1.0%
2017 33,095 millions +27.8%
2018 37,764 millions +14.1%
2019 36,004 millions -4.7%
2020 43,092 millions +19.7%
2021 41,927 millions -2.7%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 3,264 millions 3,264 millions 3,264 millions 1
2000s 5,970 millions 3,738 millions 14,326 millions 6
2010s 26,614 millions 16,352 millions 37,764 millions 9
2020s 42,510 millions 41,927 millions 43,092 millions 2

Countries ranked near India

  1. 2 China 150,308 millions compare
  2. 3 Germany 54,106 millions compare
  3. 4 United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 43,434 millions compare
  4. 6 France 33,661 millions compare
  5. 7 Canada 25,975 millions compare
  6. 8 Brazil 19,130 millions compare

See the full ranking of 164 places →

More education data for India

All data for India →

Frequently asked questions

What is government expenditure on tertiary education, us$ in India?
Government expenditure on tertiary education, us$ in India was 41,927 millions in 2021, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
What is the highest government expenditure on tertiary education, us$ recorded in India?
The highest recorded value was 43,092 millions in 2020.
What is the lowest government expenditure on tertiary education, us$ recorded in India?
The lowest recorded value was 3,264 millions in 1999.
How does India rank for government expenditure on tertiary education, us$?
India ranks 5th out of 164 countries with data for 2021.
Is government expenditure on tertiary education, us$ rising or falling in India?
Over the last ten years it is up 90.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this India 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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Government expenditure on tertiary education, US$ in India. Statizoid, drawing on UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Retrieved 25 August 2026, from https://education.statizoid.com/stat/government-expenditure-on-tertiary-education-us-millions-2/india/

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About this data

Indicator
Government expenditure on tertiary education, US$ (millions)
Unit
millions
Source
UNESCO Institute for Statistics
Licence
CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics)
Coverage
164 places, 3,651 data points, 1970–2024
Last refreshed

February 2026 Data Release