Education expenditure (% of GDP) — all countries

Education expenditure (% of GDP) — United Kingdom

Education expenditure (% of GDP) in the United Kingdom in 2021 — 5.91%. Ranked 25 in the world out of 168. Since 1971, the indicator has risen by 0.87 pp.

2021 5.91% +0.47 pp vs 2020
World rank 25of 168
Period maximum 6.42%1976
Period minimum 3.99%1999

Trend over time

1971–2021 · % of GDP

Education expenditure (% of GDP) — United Kingdom, 1971–202134567197119761981198619911996200120062011201620211971: 5.03%1972: 5.16%1973: 5.45%1974: 5.39%1975: 6.27%1976: 6.42%1977: 6.06%1980: 5.07%1981: 5.29%1982: 5.19%1983: 5.06%1984: 4.9%1985: 4.59%1986: 4.38%1987: 4.37%1988: 4.27%1989: 4.13%1990: 4.06%1991: 4.12%1992: 4.33%1994: 4.85%1995: 4.84%1996: 4.38%1998: 4.21%1999: 3.99%2000: 4.02%2001: 4.1%2002: 4.61%2003: 4.8%2004: 4.74%2005: 4.93%2006: 4.98%2007: 4.92%2008: 4.91%2009: 5.06%2010: 5.7%2011: 5.57%2013: 5.53%2014: 5.6%2015: 5.55%2016: 5.43%2017: 5.45%2018: 5.2%2019: 5.26%2020: 5.44%2021: 5.91%
Change over the period: +0.87 pp Annual average: 0.02 pp

Comparison, 2021

How the value compares with the world and the groups this territory belongs to: United Kingdom

United Kingdom 5.91%
World 4.2%
Northern Europe computed 6%
High-income countries computed 5.07%
Education expenditure (% of GDP) — United Kingdom, by year United Kingdom All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2021 5.91 +0.47 pp
2020 5.44 +0.18 pp
2019 5.26 +0.06 pp
2018 5.2 −0.25 pp
2017 5.45 +0.02 pp
2016 5.43 −0.13 pp
2015 5.55 −0.05 pp
2014 5.6 +0.08 pp
2013 5.53
2011 5.57 −0.13 pp
2010 5.7 +0.64 pp
2009 5.06 +0.15 pp
2008 4.91 −0.01 pp
2007 4.92 −0.05 pp
2006 4.98 +0.05 pp
2005 4.93 +0.19 pp
2004 4.74 −0.07 pp
2003 4.8 +0.19 pp
2002 4.61 +0.51 pp
2001 4.1 +0.08 pp
2000 4.02 +0.03 pp
1999 3.99 −0.22 pp
1998 4.21
1996 4.38 −0.46 pp
1995 4.84 −0.01 pp
1994 4.85
1992 4.33 +0.21 pp
1991 4.12 +0.07 pp
1990 4.06 −0.07 pp
1989 4.13 −0.14 pp
1988 4.27 −0.1 pp
1987 4.37 −0.01 pp
1986 4.38 −0.21 pp
1985 4.59 −0.3 pp
1984 4.9 −0.16 pp
1983 5.06 −0.13 pp
1982 5.19 −0.1 pp
1981 5.29 +0.22 pp
1980 5.07
1977 6.06 −0.36 pp
1976 6.42 +0.16 pp
1975 6.27 +0.88 pp
1974 5.39 −0.06 pp
1973 5.45 +0.29 pp
1972 5.16 +0.13 pp
1971 5.03

Northern Europe, 2021

The same indicator for neighboring countries — with links to their pages

About the indicator

Total government expenditure on education (current, capital and transfers) as a percentage of GDP, covering all levels from preprimary to tertiary. The international benchmark of the Incheon Declaration is 4–6% of GDP. The indicator leaves out private spending by households, which in some countries is comparable to public spending.

Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), license CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO.