Government expenditure on tertiary education, US$ in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland: Government expenditure on tertiary education, US$ was 43,434 millions in 2021. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2021)
43,434 millions
Change on year
up 1.0%
World rank
4th
of 164 countries
All-time high
43,434 millions
in 2021
All-time low
1,562 millions
in 1971
Years of data
46
1971–2021
Government expenditure on tertiary education, US$ in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, 1971–2021
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in millions.
Analysis
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland recorded 43,434 millions for government expenditure on tertiary education, us$ in 2021. That is the highest value across all 46 years on record.
That represents a change of up 1.0% on the previous year and up 41.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, government expenditure on tertiary education, us$ in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland peaked at 43,434 millions in 2021 and was at its lowest, 1,562 millions, in 1971.
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ranks 4th 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 United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, year by year
| Year | millions | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1971 | 1,562 millions | — |
| 1972 | 1,915 millions | +22.6% |
| 1973 | 2,265 millions | +18.3% |
| 1974 | 2,411 millions | +6.4% |
| 1975 | 2,812 millions | +16.7% |
| 1976 | 3,221 millions | +14.6% |
| 1977 | 3,035 millions | -5.8% |
| 1980 | 4,992 millions | +64.5% |
| 1981 | 6,879 millions | +37.8% |
| 1982 | 6,401 millions | -7.0% |
| 1983 | 5,917 millions | -7.6% |
| 1984 | 5,257 millions | -11.2% |
| 1985 | 4,789 millions | -8.9% |
| 1986 | 4,520 millions | -5.6% |
| 1987 | 5,465 millions | +20.9% |
| 1988 | 6,414 millions | +17.4% |
| 1989 | 7,538 millions | +17.5% |
| 1990 | 7,685 millions | +1.9% |
| 1991 | 9,320 millions | +21.3% |
| 1992 | 10,795 millions | +15.8% |
| 1994 | 11,852 millions | +9.8% |
| 1995 | 13,040 millions | +10.0% |
| 1996 | 13,969 millions | +7.1% |
| 1998 | 14,411 millions | +3.2% |
| 1999 | 13,266 millions | -7.9% |
| 2000 | 11,896 millions | -10.3% |
| 2001 | 11,772 millions | -1.0% |
| 2002 | 15,703 millions | +33.4% |
| 2003 | 16,942 millions | +7.9% |
| 2004 | 18,770 millions | +10.8% |
| 2005 | 26,611 millions | +41.8% |
| 2006 | 25,441 millions | -4.4% |
| 2007 | 23,189 millions | -8.9% |
| 2008 | 23,837 millions | +2.8% |
| 2009 | 21,311 millions | -10.6% |
| 2010 | 22,543 millions | +5.8% |
| 2011 | 30,603 millions | +35.8% |
| 2013 | 35,836 millions | +17.1% |
| 2014 | 37,946 millions | +5.9% |
| 2015 | 38,848 millions | +2.4% |
| 2016 | 40,710 millions | +4.8% |
| 2017 | 39,056 millions | -4.1% |
| 2018 | 38,652 millions | -1.0% |
| 2019 | 41,408 millions | +7.1% |
| 2020 | 43,002 millions | +3.8% |
| 2021 | 43,434 millions | +1.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 2,460 millions | 1,562 millions | 3,221 millions | 7 |
| 1980s | 5,817 millions | 4,520 millions | 7,538 millions | 10 |
| 1990s | 11,792 millions | 7,685 millions | 14,411 millions | 8 |
| 2000s | 19,547 millions | 11,772 millions | 26,611 millions | 10 |
| 2010s | 36,178 millions | 22,543 millions | 41,408 millions | 9 |
| 2020s | 43,218 millions | 43,002 millions | 43,434 millions | 2 |
Countries ranked near United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
More education data for United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), gaps filled 3.24 million (2023)
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), annual growth rate 1.79 % change on previous year (2023)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 1.62 million (2023)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes (number), annual -0.929 % change on previous year (2023)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) 3.20 million (2023)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) 2.2 % change on previous year (2023)
- Teachers in primary education, female (number), gaps filled 242,999 (2023)
- Teachers in primary education, male (number), gaps filled 38,128 (2023)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female (number) 1.81 million (2023)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female (number) 1.98 % change on previous year (2023)
All data for United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland →
Frequently asked questions
- What is government expenditure on tertiary education, us$ in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
- Government expenditure on tertiary education, us$ in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland was 43,434 millions in 2021, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest government expenditure on tertiary education, us$ recorded in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
- The highest recorded value was 43,434 millions in 2021.
- What is the lowest government expenditure on tertiary education, us$ recorded in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
- The lowest recorded value was 1,562 millions in 1971.
- How does United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland rank for government expenditure on tertiary education, us$?
- United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ranks 4th out of 164 countries with data for 2021.
- Is government expenditure on tertiary education, us$ rising or falling in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
- Over the last ten years it is up 41.9%. 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, US$ (millions). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 46 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
About this data
February 2026 Data Release