Government expenditure on tertiary education, constant US$ in Malaysia

Malaysia: Government expenditure on tertiary education, constant US$ was 3,299 millions in 2019. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2019)
3,299 millions
Change on year
up 3.2%
World rank
35th
of 153 countries
All-time high
5,001 millions
in 2011
All-time low
102.53 millions
in 1971
Years of data
31
1971–2019

Government expenditure on tertiary education, constant US$ in Malaysia, 1971–2019

01.0k2.0k3.0k4.0k5.0k1971199520191971: 102.5 millions1979: 263.9 millions1980: 338.6 millions1981: 445.9 millions1982: 509 millions1984: 488 millions1985: 564.2 millions1986: 680.6 millions1987: 601.2 millions1992: 934.6 millions1993: 784.5 millions1994: 873.1 millions1995: 977 millions1996: 1.4k millions1997: 1.8k millions2000: 2.7k millions2001: 3.7k millions2002: 3.8k millions2003: 4.2k millions2004: 3.4k millions2006: 3.1k millions2007: 2.9k millions2009: 4.5k millions2010: 3.8k millions2011: 5.0k millions2012: 4.0k millions2013: 4.3k millions2016: 3.4k millions2017: 3.1k millions2018: 3.2k millions2019: 3.3k millions

Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in millions.

Analysis

Malaysia recorded 3,299 millions for government expenditure on tertiary education, constant us$ in 2019.

That represents a change of up 3.2% on the previous year and down 26.0% over ten years.

Over the whole period, government expenditure on tertiary education, constant us$ in Malaysia peaked at 5,001 millions in 2011 and was at its lowest, 102.53 millions, in 1971.

Malaysia ranks 35th of 153 countries on this measure, 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 Malaysia, year by year

Annual values for Government expenditure on tertiary education, constant US$ (millions) in Malaysia, 1971 to 2019.
Year millions Change
1971 102.53 millions —
1979 263.91 millions +157.4%
1980 338.58 millions +28.3%
1981 445.94 millions +31.7%
1982 509.03 millions +14.1%
1984 488.05 millions -4.1%
1985 564.19 millions +15.6%
1986 680.62 millions +20.6%
1987 601.16 millions -11.7%
1992 934.65 millions +55.5%
1993 784.49 millions -16.1%
1994 873.15 millions +11.3%
1995 976.97 millions +11.9%
1996 1,447 millions +48.1%
1997 1,781 millions +23.0%
2000 2,720 millions +52.8%
2001 3,661 millions +34.6%
2002 3,838 millions +4.8%
2003 4,180 millions +8.9%
2004 3,369 millions -19.4%
2006 3,065 millions -9.0%
2007 2,903 millions -5.3%
2009 4,457 millions +53.5%
2010 3,815 millions -14.4%
2011 5,001 millions +31.1%
2012 4,045 millions -19.1%
2013 4,335 millions +7.2%
2016 3,353 millions -22.7%
2017 3,132 millions -6.6%
2018 3,196 millions +2.0%
2019 3,299 millions +3.2%

Malaysia compared with similar countries

  • Malaysia's 3,299 millions is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 412.05 millions, 8.0× the median. (42 countries reporting)
  • Malaysia's 3,299 millions is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 2,045 millions, 1.6× the median. (20 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1970s 183.22 millions 102.53 millions 263.91 millions 2
1980s 518.22 millions 338.58 millions 680.62 millions 7
1990s 1,133 millions 784.49 millions 1,781 millions 6
2000s 3,524 millions 2,720 millions 4,457 millions 8
2010s 3,772 millions 3,132 millions 5,001 millions 8

Countries ranked near Malaysia

  1. 32 Chile 3,791 millions compare
  2. 33 South Africa 3,435 millions compare
  3. 34 Colombia 3,323 millions compare
  4. 36 Ireland 3,266 millions compare
  5. 37 Israel 3,191 millions compare
  6. 38 Singapore 2,903 millions compare

See the full ranking of 153 places →

More reference data data for Malaysia

All data for Malaysia →

Frequently asked questions

What is government expenditure on tertiary education, constant us$ in Malaysia?
Government expenditure on tertiary education, constant us$ in Malaysia was 3,299 millions in 2019, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
What is the highest government expenditure on tertiary education, constant us$ recorded in Malaysia?
The highest recorded value was 5,001 millions in 2011.
What is the lowest government expenditure on tertiary education, constant us$ recorded in Malaysia?
The lowest recorded value was 102.53 millions in 1971.
How does Malaysia rank for government expenditure on tertiary education, constant us$?
Malaysia ranks 35th out of 153 countries with data for 2019.
Is government expenditure on tertiary education, constant us$ rising or falling in Malaysia?
Over the last ten years it is down 26.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this Malaysia 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 Malaysia. 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/malaysia/

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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/