Initial government funding per pre-primary student as a percentage of in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland: Initial government funding per pre-primary student as a percentage of was 9.4% in 2021. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2021)
9.4%
Change on year
up 16.0%
World rank
75th
of 145 countries
All-time high
22.8%
in 2004
All-time low
0.0%
in 1971
Years of data
32
1971–2021
Initial government funding per pre-primary student as a percentage of in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, 1971–2021
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
In 2021, initial government funding per pre-primary student as a percentage of in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland stood at 9.4%.
The figure is up 16.0% on the previous year and down 39.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, initial government funding per pre-primary student as a percentage of in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland peaked at 22.8% in 2004 and was at its lowest, 0.0%, in 1971.
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ranks 75th of 145 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Initial government funding per pre-primary student as a percentage of in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1971 | 0.0% | — |
| 1972 | 0.0% | — |
| 1973 | 0.0% | — |
| 1974 | 0.0% | — |
| 1975 | 0.0% | — |
| 1976 | 0.0% | — |
| 1977 | 0.0% | — |
| 1980 | 0.0% | — |
| 1981 | 0.0% | — |
| 1998 | 17.8% | — |
| 1999 | 17.6% | -0.8% |
| 2000 | 18.0% | +1.8% |
| 2001 | 19.2% | +6.6% |
| 2002 | 19.8% | +3.5% |
| 2003 | 17.1% | -13.9% |
| 2004 | 22.8% | +33.3% |
| 2005 | 17.7% | -22.2% |
| 2006 | 17.7% | +0.0% |
| 2007 | 19.8% | +11.5% |
| 2008 | 14.4% | -27.1% |
| 2009 | 15.1% | +4.9% |
| 2010 | 15.7% | +3.8% |
| 2011 | 15.6% | -0.7% |
| 2013 | 16.3% | +4.6% |
| 2014 | 12.7% | -21.9% |
| 2015 | 8.1% | -36.6% |
| 2016 | 7.1% | -11.8% |
| 2017 | 8.3% | +16.4% |
| 2018 | 8.2% | -0.6% |
| 2019 | 8.4% | +1.7% |
| 2020 | 8.1% | -3.3% |
| 2021 | 9.4% | +16.0% |
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland compared with similar countries
- United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland's 9.4% is below the median for high income countries, which is 16.7%, 56% of the median. (57 countries reporting)
- United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland's 9.4% is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 18.2%, 52% of the median. (44 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 7 |
| 1980s | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 2 |
| 1990s | 17.7% | 17.6% | 17.8% | 2 |
| 2000s | 18.1% | 14.4% | 22.8% | 10 |
| 2010s | 11.1% | 7.1% | 16.3% | 9 |
| 2020s | 8.7% | 8.1% | 9.4% | 2 |
Countries ranked near United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
- 72 Andorra 10.6% compare
- 73 Dominican Republic 10.2% compare
- 74 El Salvador 9.6% compare
- 76 Benin 9.3% compare
- 77 Cyprus 9.3% compare
- 78 Tanzania, United Republic of 9.2% compare
More education data for United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 388,714 (2023)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 0 (2012)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 830,495 (2023)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 790,556 (2023)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 6.40 million (2023)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 4.86 million (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate -0.0111 % change on previous year (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.071 units per person (2023)
All data for United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland →
Frequently asked questions
- What is initial government funding per pre-primary student as a percentage of in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
- Initial government funding per pre-primary student as a percentage of in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland was 9.4% in 2021, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest initial government funding per pre-primary student as a percentage of recorded in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
- The highest recorded value was 22.8% in 2004.
- What is the lowest initial government funding per pre-primary student as a percentage of recorded in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.0% in 1971.
- How does United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland rank for initial government funding per pre-primary student as a percentage of?
- United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ranks 75th out of 145 countries with data for 2021.
- Is initial government funding per pre-primary student as a percentage of rising or falling in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
- Over the last ten years it is down 39.7%. 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 Initial government funding per pre-primary student as a percentage of GDP per capita. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release