Education spending in China
Government spending on education in China was equal to 3.9% of GDP in 2023. The value for 2023 is the highest in the series, which starts in 1971.
China, 2023
3.9%
Change from 1999
+2.0percentage points
World, 2023
3.6%
Median of G20 countries, 2023
4.3%
Education spending in China over time
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China
World
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The chart loads when you scroll to it. The table below shows the same data.
The chart shows a calculation from the published values. The table below keeps the published values.
% of GDP. Source: World Bank, World Development Indicators. Gaps mean no published value; points are not joined across missing years.
| Period | China | World |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 3.9% | 3.6% |
| 2022 | – | 3.9% |
| 2021 | – | 4.2% |
| 2020 | – | 4.3% |
| 2019 | – | 4.2% |
| 2018 | – | 4.2% |
| 2017 | – | 4.1% |
| 2016 | – | 4.2% |
| 2015 | – | 4.2% |
| 2014 | – | 4.2% |
| 2013 | – | 4.3% |
| 2012 | – | 4.0% |
| 2011 | – | 4.1% |
| 2010 | – | 4.2% |
| 2009 | – | 4.7% |
| 2008 | – | 4.2% |
| 2007 | – | 4.0% |
| 2006 | – | 4.0% |
| 2005 | – | 4.0% |
| 2004 | – | 3.9% |
| 2003 | – | 4.1% |
| 2002 | – | 3.9% |
| 2001 | – | 3.9% |
A dash means no value was published for that period.
In short
- The previous available figure was 1.9% in 1999, a change of +2.0 percentage points.
- Since 1986, when it was 2.1%, the figure has changed by +1.8 percentage points.
- The figure for the world in 2023 was 3.6%.
More for China
All statistics for China
Tertiary education enrolment (gross)
76.9%
2024 · World Bank
Primary school enrolment (gross)
99.6%
2024 · World Bank
ILO estimate of the youth NEET rate
11.2%
2025 · ILOSTAT
Primary completion (UIS)
99.2%
2020 · UNESCO UIS
Lower secondary completion
95.7%
2020 · UNESCO UIS
Upper secondary completion
87.5%
2020 · UNESCO UIS