Government expenditure on tertiary education, constant US$ in Japan

Japan: Government expenditure on tertiary education, constant US$ was 31,329 millions in 2017. ▲ Rising

Latest (2017)
31,329 millions
Change on year
up 1.4%
World rank
7th
of 153 countries
All-time high
44,773 millions
in 1989
All-time low
7,593 millions
in 1971
Years of data
37
1971–2017

Government expenditure on tertiary education, constant US$ in Japan, 1971–2017

10.0k20.0k30.0k40.0k1971199420171971: 7.6k millions1972: 8.2k millions1973: 8.7k millions1974: 7.9k millions1975: 8.8k millions1976: 9.4k millions1977: 10.4k millions1978: 11.2k millions1979: 12.0k millions1980: 12.8k millions1981: 13.2k millions1982: 13.8k millions1983: 12.8k millions1987: 40.3k millions1988: 43.2k millions1989: 44.8k millions1993: 14.0k millions1994: 19.6k millions1995: 16.9k millions1998: 17.4k millions1999: 19.2k millions2000: 22.7k millions2001: 22.8k millions2002: 22.7k millions2003: 26.0k millions2004: 27.9k millions2005: 26.5k millions2006: 27.1k millions2007: 28.8k millions2008: 29.9k millions2010: 32.7k millions2011: 33.1k millions2012: 34.6k millions2013: 34.6k millions2014: 35.9k millions2016: 30.9k millions2017: 31.3k millions

Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in millions.

Analysis

The most recent figure for government expenditure on tertiary education, constant us$ in Japan is 31,329 millions, measured in 2017.

That represents a change of up 1.4% on the previous year and up 8.8% over ten years.

Over the whole period, government expenditure on tertiary education, constant us$ in Japan peaked at 44,773 millions in 1989 and was at its lowest, 7,593 millions, in 1971.

Japan ranks 7th of 153 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 37 years of available data.

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

Annual values for Government expenditure on tertiary education, constant US$ (millions) in Japan, 1971 to 2017.
Year millions Change
1971 7,593 millions —
1972 8,164 millions +7.5%
1973 8,691 millions +6.5%
1974 7,936 millions -8.7%
1975 8,802 millions +10.9%
1976 9,427 millions +7.1%
1977 10,418 millions +10.5%
1978 11,209 millions +7.6%
1979 12,011 millions +7.2%
1980 12,777 millions +6.4%
1981 13,183 millions +3.2%
1982 13,776 millions +4.5%
1983 12,763 millions -7.4%
1987 40,274 millions +215.6%
1988 43,206 millions +7.3%
1989 44,773 millions +3.6%
1993 14,043 millions -68.6%
1994 19,635 millions +39.8%
1995 16,869 millions -14.1%
1998 17,438 millions +3.4%
1999 19,237 millions +10.3%
2000 22,683 millions +17.9%
2001 22,777 millions +0.4%
2002 22,652 millions -0.6%
2003 26,021 millions +14.9%
2004 27,889 millions +7.2%
2005 26,515 millions -4.9%
2006 27,062 millions +2.1%
2007 28,789 millions +6.4%
2008 29,942 millions +4.0%
2010 32,702 millions +9.2%
2011 33,054 millions +1.1%
2012 34,612 millions +4.7%
2013 34,636 millions +0.1%
2014 35,932 millions +3.7%
2016 30,890 millions -14.0%
2017 31,329 millions +1.4%

Japan compared with similar countries

  • Japan's 31,329 millions is above the median for high income countries, which is 1,521 millions, 20.6× the median. (59 countries reporting)
  • Japan's 31,329 millions is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 2,045 millions, 15.3× the median. (20 countries reporting)

Biggest year-on-year movements

Years where Government expenditure on tertiary education, constant US$ in Japan 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
1987 +215.6% 12,763 millions 40,274 millions
1993 -68.6% 44,773 millions 14,043 millions
1994 +39.8% 14,043 millions 19,635 millions

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1970s 9,361 millions 7,593 millions 12,011 millions 9
1980s 25,822 millions 12,763 millions 44,773 millions 7
1990s 17,444 millions 14,043 millions 19,635 millions 5
2000s 26,036 millions 22,652 millions 29,942 millions 9
2010s 33,308 millions 30,890 millions 35,932 millions 7

Countries ranked near Japan

  1. 4 United Kingdom 39,056 millions compare
  2. 5 France 31,828 millions compare
  3. 6 Brazil 31,366 millions compare
  4. 8 Canada 25,279 millions compare
  5. 9 India 18,839 millions compare
  6. 10 Australia 17,118 millions compare

See the full ranking of 153 places →

More reference data data for Japan

All data for Japan →

Frequently asked questions

What is government expenditure on tertiary education, constant us$ in Japan?
Government expenditure on tertiary education, constant us$ in Japan was 31,329 millions in 2017, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
What is the highest government expenditure on tertiary education, constant us$ recorded in Japan?
The highest recorded value was 44,773 millions in 1989.
What is the lowest government expenditure on tertiary education, constant us$ recorded in Japan?
The lowest recorded value was 7,593 millions in 1971.
How does Japan rank for government expenditure on tertiary education, constant us$?
Japan ranks 7th out of 153 countries with data for 2017.
Is government expenditure on tertiary education, constant us$ rising or falling in Japan?
Over the last ten years it is up 8.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this Japan 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 Japan. 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/japan/

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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/