Education spending in United Kingdom
Government spending on education in United Kingdom was equal to 5.9% of GDP in 2021. The value for 2021 is the highest since 1977.
United Kingdom, 2021
5.9%
Change from 2020
+0.5percentage points
World, 2021
4.2%
Median of OECD (38 countries), 2021
5.1%
Education spending in United Kingdom over time
View
United Kingdom
World
×
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 | United Kingdom | World |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | – | 3.6% |
| 2022 | – | 3.9% |
| 2021 | 5.9% | 4.2% |
| 2020 | 5.4% | 4.3% |
| 2019 | 5.3% | 4.2% |
| 2018 | 5.2% | 4.2% |
| 2017 | 5.5% | 4.1% |
| 2016 | 5.4% | 4.2% |
| 2015 | 5.6% | 4.2% |
| 2014 | 5.6% | 4.2% |
| 2013 | 5.5% | 4.3% |
| 2012 | – | 4.0% |
| 2011 | 5.6% | 4.1% |
| 2010 | 5.7% | 4.2% |
| 2009 | 5.1% | 4.7% |
| 2008 | 4.9% | 4.2% |
| 2007 | 4.9% | 4.0% |
| 2006 | 5.0% | 4.0% |
| 2005 | 4.9% | 4.0% |
| 2004 | 4.7% | 3.9% |
| 2003 | 4.8% | 4.1% |
| 2002 | 4.6% | 3.9% |
| 2001 | 4.1% | 3.9% |
A dash means no value was published for that period.
In short
- That is a change of +0.5 percentage points from 5.4% in 2020.
- Since 2010, when it was 5.7%, the figure has changed by +0.2 percentage points.
- The figure for the world in 2021 was 4.2%.
More for United Kingdom
All statistics for United Kingdom
Tertiary education enrolment (gross)
80.4%
2023 · World Bank
Primary school enrolment (gross)
102.2%
2023 · World Bank
Tertiary education attainment, ages 25 to 34
49.4%
2019 · Eurostat
Early leavers from education and training
10.9%
2019 · Eurostat
Adult participation in learning
14.8%
2019 · Eurostat
ILO estimate of the youth NEET rate
14.3%
2025 · ILOSTAT