Education spending in European Union
Government spending on education in the European Union was equal to 4.7% of GDP in 2022.
European Union is a group: European Union, 27 member states (composition from February 2020). The value is the aggregate published by World Bank, not an average calculated on this site.
European Union, 2022
4.7%
Change from 2021
−0.1percentage points
World, 2022
3.9%
Education spending in European Union over time
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European Union
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 | European Union | World |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | – | 3.6% |
| 2022 | 4.7% | 3.9% |
| 2021 | 4.8% | 4.2% |
| 2020 | 4.9% | 4.3% |
| 2019 | 4.6% | 4.2% |
| 2018 | 4.6% | 4.2% |
| 2017 | 4.6% | 4.1% |
| 2016 | 4.8% | 4.2% |
| 2015 | 4.8% | 4.2% |
| 2014 | 4.9% | 4.2% |
| 2013 | 5.0% | 4.3% |
| 2012 | 4.8% | 4.0% |
| 2011 | 5.1% | 4.1% |
| 2010 | 5.4% | 4.2% |
| 2009 | 5.6% | 4.7% |
| 2008 | 5.0% | 4.2% |
| 2007 | 4.9% | 4.0% |
| 2006 | 4.9% | 4.0% |
| 2005 | 5.1% | 4.0% |
| 2004 | 5.0% | 3.9% |
| 2003 | 5.1% | 4.1% |
| 2002 | 5.2% | 3.9% |
| 2001 | 5.1% | 3.9% |
A dash means no value was published for that period.
In short
- That is a change of −0.1 percentage points from 4.8% in 2021.
- Since 2012, when it was 4.8%, the figure has changed by −0.2 percentage points.
- The figure for the world in 2022 was 3.9%.
More for European Union
All statistics for European Union
Tertiary education enrolment (gross)
79.5%
2024 · World Bank
Primary school enrolment (gross)
102.4%
2024 · World Bank
NEET rate, ages 15 to 29
11.0%
2025 · Eurostat
Tertiary education attainment, ages 25 to 34
44.8%
2025 · Eurostat
Early leavers from education and training
9.1%
2025 · Eurostat
Adult participation in learning
13.7%
2025 · Eurostat