Out of the OECD countries, Luxembourg was the country that spent the most on educational institutions per full-time student in 2020. On average, 23,000 U.S dollars were spent on primary education, nearly 27,000 U.S dollars on secondary education, and around 53,000 U.S dollars on tertiary education. The United States followed behind, with Norway in third. Meanwhile, the lowest spending was in Mexico.

In 2022, Luxembourg was the OECD country that spent the highest amount on higher education per student, reaching roughly 35,000 U.S. dollars. This was even though it was the country that spent the lowest amount in terms of share of gross domestic product. The United States stood at 11th place, with the United Kingdom at 30th place. On the other hand, Greece was the OECD country in which the lowest amount was spent per full-time student in higher education.

In 2022, Norway was the country that spent the highest share of its gross domestic product (GDP) on higher education, reaching 1.8 percent. Of this, 0.1 percent came from private sources. Austria followed behind, with its total spending reaching 1.6 percent of its GDP. On the other hand, higher education spending in Luxembourg only amounted to 0.4 percent of its GDP. To find out more about the expenditure on higher education per student in selected countries worldwide, please click here.

The average for 2021 based on 158 countries was 4.48 percent. The highest value was in Kiribati: 14.2 percent and the lowest value was in Nigeria: 0.38 percent. The indicator is available from 1970 to 2023. Below is a chart for all countries where data are available.

This statistic shows the expenditure of different countries on primary school education per student in Purchasing Power Parity (PPP) U.S. dollars. In the USA, about 10.600 U.S. dollars is spent each year per primary school student.

In the 2024-25 school year, New York spent around ****** U.S. dollars per pupil on public elementary and secondary schools - the most out of any state. Vermont, the District of Columbia, Massachusetts, and New Jersey rounded out the top five states for elementary and secondary school expenditure per pupil.

Denmark DK: Government Expenditure per Student: Secondary: % of(GDP) Gross Domestic Productper Capita data was reported at 31.123 % in 2014. This records an increase from the previous number of 27.845 % for 2013. Denmark DK: Government Expenditure per Student: Secondary: % of(GDP) Gross Domestic Productper Capita data is updated yearly, averaging 33.530 % from Dec 1998 (Median) to 2014, with 17 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 37.265 % in 1999 and a record low of 27.845 % in 2013. Denmark DK: Government Expenditure per Student: Secondary: % of(GDP) Gross Domestic Productper Capita data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Denmark – Table DK.World Bank: Education Statistics. Government expenditure per student is the average general government expenditure (current, capital, and transfers) per student in the given level of education, expressed as a percentage of GDP per capita.; ; United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Institute for Statistics.; Median;

Context

Total general government expenditure on education (all levels of government and all levels of education), given as a share of GDP. The last two decades have seen a small but general increase in the share of income that countries devote to education.

Content

Although the data is highly irregular due to missing observations for many countries, we can still observe a broad upward trend for the majority of countries. Specifically, it can be checked that of the 88 countries with available data for 2000/2010, three-fourths increased education spending as a share of GDP within this decade. As incomes – measured by GDP per capita – are generally increasing around the world, this means that the total amount of global resources spent on education is also increasing in absolute terms.

The reference years reflect the school year for which the data are presented. In some countries the school year spans two calendar years (for example, from September 2010 to June 2011); in these cases the reference year refers to the year in which the school year ended (2011 in the example).

Acknowledgements

Data publisher's source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Published by: World Development Indicators - World Bank (2021.07.30). Link: http://data.worldbank.org/data-catalog/world-development-indicators Dataset: https://ourworldindata.org/global-rise-of-education

Inspiration

Which countries have the biggest expenditures when it comes to education?

Dataset Overview 📝

The dataset includes the following key indicators, collected for over 200 countries:

• Government Expenditure on Education (% of GDP): Shows the percentage of a country’s GDP allocated to education.
• Literacy Rate (Adult Total): Represents the percentage of the population aged 15 and above who can read and write.
• Primary Completion Rate: The percentage of children who complete their primary education within the official age group.
• Pupil-Teacher Ratio (Primary and Secondary Education): Indicates the average number of students per teacher at the primary and secondary levels.
• School Enrollment Rates (Primary, Secondary, Tertiary): Reflects the percentage of the relevant age group enrolled in schools across different education levels.

Data Source 🌐

World Bank: This dataset is compiled from the World Bank's educational database, providing reliable, updated statistics on educational progress worldwide.

Potential Use Cases 🔍 This dataset is ideal for anyone interested in:

Educational Research: Understanding how education spending and policies impact literacy, enrollment, and overall educational outcomes. Predictive Modeling: Building models to predict educational success factors, such as completion rates and literacy. Global Education Analysis: Analyzing trends in global education systems and how different countries allocate resources to education. Policy Development: Helping governments and organizations make data-driven decisions regarding educational reforms and funding.

Key Questions You Can Explore 🤔

How does government expenditure on education correlate with literacy rates and school enrollment across different regions? What are the trends in pupil-teacher ratios over time, and how do they affect educational outcomes? How do education indicators differ between low-income and high-income countries? Can we predict which countries will achieve universal primary education based on current trends?

Important Notes ⚠️ - Missing Data: Some values may be missing for certain years or countries. Consider using techniques like forward filling or interpolation when working with time series models. - Data Limitations: This dataset provides global averages and may not capture regional disparities within countries.

Venezuela VE: Government Expenditure per Student: Primary: % of(GDP) Gross Domestic Productper Capita data was reported at 0.019 % in 2015. This records a decrease from the previous number of 17.908 % for 2009. Venezuela VE: Government Expenditure per Student: Primary: % of(GDP) Gross Domestic Productper Capita data is updated yearly, averaging 8.555 % from Dec 2006 (Median) to 2015, with 4 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 17.908 % in 2009 and a record low of 0.019 % in 2015. Venezuela VE: Government Expenditure per Student: Primary: % of(GDP) Gross Domestic Productper Capita data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Venezuela – Table VE.World Bank.WDI: Education Statistics. Government expenditure per student is the average general government expenditure (current, capital, and transfers) per student in the given level of education, expressed as a percentage of GDP per capita.; ; United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Institute for Statistics.; Median;

Pakistan PK: Government Expenditure per Student: Primary: % of(GDP) Gross Domestic Productper Capita data was reported at 9.564 % in 2016. This records an increase from the previous number of 7.693 % for 2015. Pakistan PK: Government Expenditure per Student: Primary: % of(GDP) Gross Domestic Productper Capita data is updated yearly, averaging 8.045 % from Dec 2013 (Median) to 2016, with 4 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 9.564 % in 2016 and a record low of 7.693 % in 2015. Pakistan PK: Government Expenditure per Student: Primary: % of(GDP) Gross Domestic Productper Capita data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Pakistan – Table PK.World Bank: Education Statistics. Government expenditure per student is the average general government expenditure (current, capital, and transfers) per student in the given level of education, expressed as a percentage of GDP per capita.; ; United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Institute for Statistics.; Median;

The per capita consumer spending on education ranking is led by Singapore with ******** U.S. dollars, while Australia is following with ******** U.S. dollars. In contrast, Ethiopia is at the bottom of the ranking with **** U.S. dollars, showing a difference of ******** U.S. dollars to Singapore. Consumer spending, in this case education-related spending per capita, refers to the domestic demand of private households and non-profit institutions serving households (NPISHs). Spending by corporations and the state is not included. The forecast has been adjusted for the expected impact of COVID-19.Consumer spending is the biggest component of the gross domestic product as computed on an expenditure basis in the context of national accounts. The other components in this approach are consumption expenditure of the state, gross domestic investment as well as the net exports of goods and services. Consumer spending is broken down according to the United Nations' Classification of Individual Consumption By Purpose (COICOP). The shown data adheres broadly to group tenth As not all countries and regions report data in a harmonized way, all data shown here has been processed by Statista to allow the greatest level of comparability possible. The underlying input data are usually household budget surveys conducted by government agencies that track spending of selected households over a given period.The data is shown in nominal terms which means that monetary data is valued at prices of the respective year and has not been adjusted for inflation. For future years the price level has been projected as well. The data has been converted from local currencies to US$ using the average exchange rate of the respective year. For forecast years, the exchange rate has been projected as well. The timelines therefore incorporate currency effects.

Japan JP: Government Expenditure per Student: Secondary: % of(GDP) Gross Domestic Productper Capita data was reported at 23.936 % in 2014. This records a decrease from the previous number of 24.652 % for 2013. Japan JP: Government Expenditure per Student: Secondary: % of(GDP) Gross Domestic Productper Capita data is updated yearly, averaging 21.537 % from Dec 1998 to 2014, with 16 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 24.703 % in 2012 and a record low of 19.435 % in 1998. Japan JP: Government Expenditure per Student: Secondary: % of(GDP) Gross Domestic Productper Capita data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Japan – Table JP.World Bank: Education Statistics. Government expenditure per student is the average general government expenditure (current, capital, and transfers) per student in the given level of education, expressed as a percentage of GDP per capita.; ; United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Institute for Statistics.; Median;

This statistic shows the expenditure of different countries on tertiary education per student in Purchasing Power Parity (PPP) constant 2010 U.S. dollars. In the United States, 26,400 U.S. dollars was spent per tertiary school student in 2010.

The biannual operation Public Education Expenditure and Finance gives information on the characteristics and activity of all the public centres of regulated education, such as existing types of centre, size, education levels taught and others such as the territorial location of the centre and the sources of funding. This information, along with that provided by the Education Statistics operation on students of the Basque Country, lets us obtain macro-figures of the public education sector in order to incorporate them into the Economic accounts and Input-Output Tables of the Basque Country.

Hong Kong HK: Government Expenditure per Student: Tertiary: % of(GDP) Gross Domestic Productper Capita data was reported at 24.379 % in 2016. This records an increase from the previous number of 23.357 % for 2015. Hong Kong HK: Government Expenditure per Student: Tertiary: % of(GDP) Gross Domestic Productper Capita data is updated yearly, averaging 30.168 % from Dec 2004 (Median) to 2016, with 13 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 63.037 % in 2004 and a record low of 23.357 % in 2015. Hong Kong HK: Government Expenditure per Student: Tertiary: % of(GDP) Gross Domestic Productper Capita data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Hong Kong – Table HK.World Bank: Education Statistics. Government expenditure per student is the average general government expenditure (current, capital, and transfers) per student in the given level of education, expressed as a percentage of GDP per capita.; ; United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Institute for Statistics.; Median;

Nepal NP: Government Expenditure per Student: Secondary: % of(GDP) Gross Domestic Productper Capita data was reported at 11.003 % in 2015. This records a decrease from the previous number of 11.674 % for 2014. Nepal NP: Government Expenditure per Student: Secondary: % of(GDP) Gross Domestic Productper Capita data is updated yearly, averaging 11.003 % from Dec 1999 (Median) to 2015, with 13 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 13.384 % in 2001 and a record low of 9.266 % in 2003. Nepal NP: Government Expenditure per Student: Secondary: % of(GDP) Gross Domestic Productper Capita data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Nepal – Table NP.World Bank: Education Statistics. Government expenditure per student is the average general government expenditure (current, capital, and transfers) per student in the given level of education, expressed as a percentage of GDP per capita.; ; United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Institute for Statistics.; Median;

Time series data for the statistic Initial government funding per pre-primary student, constant PPP$ and country Finland. Indicator Definition:Total general (local, regional and central, current and capital) initial government funding of education per student, which includes transfers paid (such as scholarships to students), but excludes transfers received, in this case international transfers to government for education (when foreign donors provide education sector budget support or other support integrated in the government budget). Calculation Method: Total general (local, regional and central) government expenditure (current and capital) on a given level of education (primary, secondary, etc) minus international transfers to government for education, divided by the number of student enrolled at that level of education. This is then expressed at constant purchasing power parity (constant PPP$). Limitations: In some instances data on total government expenditure on education refers only to the Ministry of Education, excluding other ministries which may also spend a part of their budget on educational activities. There are also cases where it may not be possible to separate international transfers to government from general government expenditure on education, in which cases they have not been subtracted in the formula. For more information, consult the UNESCO Institute of Statistics website: http://www.uis.unesco.org/Education/The indicator "Initial government funding per pre-primary student, constant PPP$" stands at 10.05 Thousand usd as of 12/31/2017. Regarding the One-Year-Change of the series, the current value constitutes a decrease of -1.70 percent compared to the value the year prior.The 1 year change in percent is -1.70.The 3 year change in percent is -0.3421.The 5 year change in percent is -0.1836.The 10 year change in percent is 73.24.

Indonesia Average Monthly Expenditure per Capita: Goods and Services: School Fee and Non/Formal Education Cost: School Fee data was reported at 21,419.000 IDR in 2018. This records a decrease from the previous number of 22,069.000 IDR for 2017. Indonesia Average Monthly Expenditure per Capita: Goods and Services: School Fee and Non/Formal Education Cost: School Fee data is updated yearly, averaging 12,080.500 IDR from Dec 2003 (Median) to 2018, with 16 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 22,069.000 IDR in 2017 and a record low of 3,366.000 IDR in 2003. Indonesia Average Monthly Expenditure per Capita: Goods and Services: School Fee and Non/Formal Education Cost: School Fee data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Central Bureau of Statistics. The data is categorized under Indonesia Premium Database’s Domestic Trade and Household Survey – Table ID.HC001: Average Monthly Expenditure per Capita.

Time series data for the statistic Initial government funding per pre-primary student, constant PPP$ and country Malta. Indicator Definition:Total general (local, regional and central, current and capital) initial government funding of education per student, which includes transfers paid (such as scholarships to students), but excludes transfers received, in this case international transfers to government for education (when foreign donors provide education sector budget support or other support integrated in the government budget). Calculation Method: Total general (local, regional and central) government expenditure (current and capital) on a given level of education (primary, secondary, etc) minus international transfers to government for education, divided by the number of student enrolled at that level of education. This is then expressed at constant purchasing power parity (constant PPP$). Limitations: In some instances data on total government expenditure on education refers only to the Ministry of Education, excluding other ministries which may also spend a part of their budget on educational activities. There are also cases where it may not be possible to separate international transfers to government from general government expenditure on education, in which cases they have not been subtracted in the formula. For more information, consult the UNESCO Institute of Statistics website: http://www.uis.unesco.org/Education/The indicator "Initial government funding per pre-primary student, constant PPP$" stands at 7.35 Thousand usd as of 12/31/2017. Regarding the One-Year-Change of the series, the current value constitutes an increase of 0.9452 percent compared to the value the year prior.The 1 year change in percent is 0.9452.The 3 year change in percent is -17.99.The 5 year change in percent is 3.38.The 10 year change in percent is 44.37.