Government expenditure on tertiary education, US$ in New Zealand
New Zealand: Government expenditure on tertiary education, US$ was 3,000 millions in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
3,000 millions
Change on year
down 3.0%
World rank
36th
of 164 countries
All-time high
3,525 millions
in 2021
All-time low
122.75 millions
in 1973
Years of data
32
1973–2023
Government expenditure on tertiary education, US$ in New Zealand, 1973–2023
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in millions.
Analysis
New Zealand recorded 3,000 millions for government expenditure on tertiary education, us$ in 2023.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 3.0% on the previous year and down 8.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, government expenditure on tertiary education, us$ in New Zealand peaked at 3,525 millions in 2021 and was at its lowest, 122.75 millions, in 1973.
That places New Zealand 36th out of 164 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Government expenditure on tertiary education, US$ in New Zealand, year by year
| Year | millions | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1973 | 122.75 millions | — |
| 1974 | 159.21 millions | +29.7% |
| 1975 | 180.26 millions | +13.2% |
| 1976 | 202.28 millions | +12.2% |
| 1977 | 171.07 millions | -15.4% |
| 1978 | 202.23 millions | +18.2% |
| 1979 | 227.19 millions | +12.3% |
| 1980 | 301.65 millions | +32.8% |
| 1981 | 309.8 millions | +2.7% |
| 1982 | 306.91 millions | -0.9% |
| 1984 | 238.56 millions | -22.3% |
| 1985 | 242.42 millions | +1.6% |
| 1986 | 307.88 millions | +27.0% |
| 1987 | 459.3 millions | +49.2% |
| 1988 | 618.77 millions | +34.7% |
| 1989 | 694.27 millions | +12.2% |
| 1994 | 877.34 millions | +26.4% |
| 1995 | 1,029 millions | +17.3% |
| 1996 | 1,220 millions | +18.6% |
| 1997 | 1,109 millions | -9.1% |
| 2000 | 804.99 millions | -27.4% |
| 2013 | 3,279 millions | +307.3% |
| 2014 | 3,403 millions | +3.8% |
| 2015 | 2,933 millions | -13.8% |
| 2016 | 2,947 millions | +0.5% |
| 2017 | 3,074 millions | +4.3% |
| 2018 | 3,110 millions | +1.2% |
| 2019 | 3,093 millions | -0.6% |
| 2020 | 3,289 millions | +6.4% |
| 2021 | 3,525 millions | +7.2% |
| 2022 | 3,094 millions | -12.2% |
| 2023 | 3,000 millions | -3.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 180.71 millions | 122.75 millions | 227.19 millions | 7 |
| 1980s | 386.62 millions | 238.56 millions | 694.27 millions | 9 |
| 1990s | 1,059 millions | 877.34 millions | 1,220 millions | 4 |
| 2000s | 804.99 millions | 804.99 millions | 804.99 millions | 1 |
| 2010s | 3,120 millions | 2,933 millions | 3,403 millions | 7 |
| 2020s | 3,227 millions | 3,000 millions | 3,525 millions | 4 |
Countries ranked near New Zealand
More education data for New Zealand
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 53,804 (2024)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 562,417 (2024)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 383,018 (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 1.15 % change on previous year (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.0724 units per person (2024)
- Secondary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 383,018 (2024)
- Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number), annual growth 1.15 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is government expenditure on tertiary education, us$ in New Zealand?
- Government expenditure on tertiary education, us$ in New Zealand was 3,000 millions in 2023, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest government expenditure on tertiary education, us$ recorded in New Zealand?
- The highest recorded value was 3,525 millions in 2021.
- What is the lowest government expenditure on tertiary education, us$ recorded in New Zealand?
- The lowest recorded value was 122.75 millions in 1973.
- How does New Zealand rank for government expenditure on tertiary education, us$?
- New Zealand ranks 36th out of 164 countries with data for 2023.
- Is government expenditure on tertiary education, us$ rising or falling in New Zealand?
- Over the last ten years it is down 8.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this New Zealand 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 — 32 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
About this data
February 2026 Data Release