Government expenditure on tertiary education, constant US$ in Iran

Iran: Government expenditure on tertiary education, constant US$ was 4,844 millions in 2018. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2018)
4,844 millions
Change on year
down 6.3%
World rank
28th
of 153 countries
All-time high
6,132 millions
in 1977
All-time low
527.9 millions
in 1983
Years of data
37
1971–2018

Government expenditure on tertiary education, constant US$ in Iran, 1971–2018

02.0k4.0k6.0k1971199420181971: 694.8 millions1972: 748.9 millions1973: 1.0k millions1974: 1.1k millions1975: 1.6k millions1977: 6.1k millions1981: 921.3 millions1982: 629.8 millions1983: 527.9 millions1984: 1.4k millions1985: 758.5 millions1986: 787.2 millions1987: 768.9 millions1988: 687.6 millions1989: 739.9 millions1990: 801.6 millions1991: 1.1k millions1995: 2.1k millions1996: 2.0k millions2001: 1.9k millions2002: 2.0k millions2003: 2.0k millions2004: 1.9k millions2005: 1.9k millions2006: 2.7k millions2007: 3.0k millions2008: 2.8k millions2009: 3.0k millions2010: 2.8k millions2011: 3.6k millions2012: 3.4k millions2013: 2.5k millions2014: 2.8k millions2015: 3.1k millions2016: 3.7k millions2017: 5.2k millions2018: 4.8k millions

Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in millions.

Analysis

Iran recorded 4,844 millions for government expenditure on tertiary education, constant us$ in 2018.

Compared with earlier readings it is down 6.3% on the previous year and up 70.4% over ten years.

Over the whole period, government expenditure on tertiary education, constant us$ in Iran peaked at 6,132 millions in 1977 and was at its lowest, 527.9 millions, in 1983.

That places Iran 28th out of 153 countries with data for 2018, putting it in the top quarter.

The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.

Government expenditure on tertiary education, constant US$ in Iran, year by year

Annual values for Government expenditure on tertiary education, constant US$ (millions) in Iran, 1971 to 2018.
Year millions Change
1971 694.76 millions —
1972 748.9 millions +7.8%
1973 1,032 millions +37.8%
1974 1,132 millions +9.7%
1975 1,594 millions +40.8%
1977 6,132 millions +284.8%
1981 921.32 millions -85.0%
1982 629.81 millions -31.6%
1983 527.9 millions -16.2%
1984 1,423 millions +169.6%
1985 758.54 millions -46.7%
1986 787.19 millions +3.8%
1987 768.9 millions -2.3%
1988 687.57 millions -10.6%
1989 739.86 millions +7.6%
1990 801.6 millions +8.3%
1991 1,067 millions +33.1%
1995 2,111 millions +97.8%
1996 1,963 millions -7.0%
2001 1,929 millions -1.7%
2002 2,040 millions +5.7%
2003 1,970 millions -3.4%
2004 1,933 millions -1.9%
2005 1,869 millions -3.3%
2006 2,735 millions +46.3%
2007 3,044 millions +11.3%
2008 2,844 millions -6.6%
2009 2,983 millions +4.9%
2010 2,820 millions -5.5%
2011 3,574 millions +26.8%
2012 3,385 millions -5.3%
2013 2,518 millions -25.6%
2014 2,801 millions +11.2%
2015 3,071 millions +9.6%
2016 3,700 millions +20.5%
2017 5,170 millions +39.7%
2018 4,844 millions -6.3%

Iran compared with similar countries

  • Iran's 4,844 millions is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 412.05 millions, 11.8× the median. (42 countries reporting)
  • Iran's 4,844 millions is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 907.25 millions, 5.3× the median. (13 countries reporting)

Biggest year-on-year movements

Years where Government expenditure on tertiary education, constant US$ in Iran changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.

YearChange FromTo
1977 +284.8% 1,594 millions 6,132 millions
1984 +169.6% 527.9 millions 1,423 millions

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1970s 1,889 millions 694.76 millions 6,132 millions 6
1980s 804.95 millions 527.9 millions 1,423 millions 9
1990s 1,486 millions 801.6 millions 2,111 millions 4
2000s 2,372 millions 1,869 millions 3,044 millions 9
2010s 3,543 millions 2,518 millions 5,170 millions 9

Countries ranked near Iran

  1. 25 Poland 5,665 millions compare
  2. 26 Saudi Arabia 5,262 millions compare
  3. 27 Indonesia 5,211 millions compare
  4. 29 Hong Kong 4,548 millions compare
  5. 30 Turkey 4,371 millions compare
  6. 31 Finland 4,223 millions compare

See the full ranking of 153 places →

More reference data data for Iran

All data for Iran →

Frequently asked questions

What is government expenditure on tertiary education, constant us$ in Iran?
Government expenditure on tertiary education, constant us$ in Iran was 4,844 millions in 2018, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
What is the highest government expenditure on tertiary education, constant us$ recorded in Iran?
The highest recorded value was 6,132 millions in 1977.
What is the lowest government expenditure on tertiary education, constant us$ recorded in Iran?
The lowest recorded value was 527.9 millions in 1983.
How does Iran rank for government expenditure on tertiary education, constant us$?
Iran ranks 28th out of 153 countries with data for 2018.
Is government expenditure on tertiary education, constant us$ rising or falling in Iran?
Over the last ten years it is up 70.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this Iran data come from?
The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Government expenditure on tertiary education, constant US$ (millions). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Government expenditure on tertiary education, constant US$ in Iran. Statizoid, drawing on UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Retrieved 29 September 2026, from https://reference.statizoid.com/stat/government-expenditure-on-tertiary-education-constant-us-millions/iran-islamic-rep/

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About this data

Indicator
Government expenditure on tertiary education, constant US$ (millions)
Unit
millions
Source
UNESCO Institute for Statistics
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
153 places, 3,093 data points, 1970–2019
Last refreshed

Total general (local, regional and central) government expenditure on tertiary education (current, capital, and transfers) in millions US$ in constant value (taking into account inflation). It includes expenditure funded by transfers from international sources to government. Total government expenditure for a given level of education (e.g. primary, secondary, or all levels combined) in national currency is converted to US$, and where it is expressed in constant value, uses a GDP deflator to account for inflation. The constant prices base year is normally three years before the year of the data release. For example, in the July 2017 data release, constant US$ values are expressed in 2014 prices. 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. For more information, consult the UNESCO Institute of Statistics website: http://www.uis.unesco.org/Education/