Government expenditure on tertiary education, US$ in Iran

Iran: Government expenditure on tertiary education, US$ was 4,974 millions in 2018. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2018)
4,974 millions
Change on year
down 3.8%
World rank
26th
of 158 countries
All-time high
5,170 millions
in 2017
All-time low
49.31 millions
in 1971
Years of data
37
1971–2018

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

02.0k4.0k6.0k1971199420181971: 49.3 millions1972: 58.1 millions1973: 87.5 millions1974: 139.5 millions1975: 314.6 millions1977: 1.6k millions1981: 607.1 millions1982: 466.1 millions1983: 384.9 millions1984: 1.2k millions1985: 719.6 millions1986: 811.7 millions1987: 1.0k millions1988: 583.5 millions1989: 609.4 millions1990: 609.8 millions1991: 738.7 millions1995: 731.2 millions1996: 892.5 millions2001: 864.7 millions2002: 1.1k millions2003: 958.4 millions2004: 1.0k millions2005: 1.2k millions2006: 2.0k millions2007: 2.5k millions2008: 2.8k millions2009: 3.5k millions2010: 3.3k millions2011: 4.6k millions2012: 5.1k millions2013: 4.2k millions2014: 3.6k millions2015: 3.6k millions2016: 3.9k millions2017: 5.2k millions2018: 5.0k millions

Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in millions.

Analysis

In 2018, government expenditure on tertiary education, us$ in Iran stood at 4,974 millions.

That represents a change of down 3.8% on the previous year and up 75.8% over ten years.

Over the whole period, government expenditure on tertiary education, us$ in Iran peaked at 5,170 millions in 2017 and was at its lowest, 49.31 millions, in 1971.

That places Iran 26th out of 158 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, US$ in Iran, year by year

Annual values for Government expenditure on tertiary education, US$ (millions) in Iran, 1971 to 2018.
Year millions Change
1971 49.31 millions —
1972 58.11 millions +17.9%
1973 87.46 millions +50.5%
1974 139.47 millions +59.5%
1975 314.57 millions +125.5%
1977 1,558 millions +395.4%
1981 607.1 millions -61.0%
1982 466.13 millions -23.2%
1983 384.9 millions -17.4%
1984 1,187 millions +208.4%
1985 719.61 millions -39.4%
1986 811.72 millions +12.8%
1987 1,025 millions +26.2%
1988 583.47 millions -43.1%
1989 609.42 millions +4.4%
1990 609.81 millions +0.1%
1991 738.74 millions +21.1%
1995 731.24 millions -1.0%
1996 892.47 millions +22.0%
2001 864.68 millions -3.1%
2002 1,050 millions +21.5%
2003 958.42 millions -8.7%
2004 1,032 millions +7.7%
2005 1,184 millions +14.7%
2006 2,001 millions +69.0%
2007 2,494 millions +24.6%
2008 2,830 millions +13.5%
2009 3,490 millions +23.3%
2010 3,299 millions -5.5%
2011 4,620 millions +40.1%
2012 5,085 millions +10.1%
2013 4,215 millions -17.1%
2014 3,611 millions -14.3%
2015 3,558 millions -1.5%
2016 3,864 millions +8.6%
2017 5,170 millions +33.8%
2018 4,974 millions -3.8%

Iran compared with similar countries

  • Iran's 4,974 millions is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 411.01 millions, 12.1× the median. (42 countries reporting)
  • Iran's 4,974 millions is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 844.39 millions, 5.9× the median. (15 countries reporting)

Biggest year-on-year movements

Years where Government expenditure on tertiary education, 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 +395.4% 314.57 millions 1,558 millions
1984 +208.4% 384.9 millions 1,187 millions

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1970s 367.87 millions 49.31 millions 1,558 millions 6
1980s 710.44 millions 384.9 millions 1,187 millions 9
1990s 743.06 millions 609.81 millions 892.47 millions 4
2000s 1,767 millions 864.68 millions 3,490 millions 9
2010s 4,266 millions 3,299 millions 5,170 millions 9

Countries ranked near Iran

  1. 23 Austria 7,142 millions compare
  2. 24 Poland 5,665 millions compare
  3. 25 Venezuela 5,124 millions compare
  4. 27 China 4,954 millions compare
  5. 28 Indonesia 4,874 millions compare
  6. 29 Turkey 4,847 millions compare

See the full ranking of 158 places →

More reference data data for Iran

All data for Iran →

Frequently asked questions

What is government expenditure on tertiary education, us$ in Iran?
Government expenditure on tertiary education, us$ in Iran was 4,974 millions in 2018, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
What is the highest government expenditure on tertiary education, us$ recorded in Iran?
The highest recorded value was 5,170 millions in 2017.
What is the lowest government expenditure on tertiary education, us$ recorded in Iran?
The lowest recorded value was 49.31 millions in 1971.
How does Iran rank for government expenditure on tertiary education, us$?
Iran ranks 26th out of 158 countries with data for 2018.
Is government expenditure on tertiary education, us$ rising or falling in Iran?
Over the last ten years it is up 75.8%. 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, US$ (millions). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Government expenditure on tertiary education, 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-us-millions/iran-islamic-rep/

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About this data

Indicator
Government expenditure on tertiary education, US$ (millions)
Unit
millions
Source
UNESCO Institute for Statistics
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
158 places, 3,257 data points, 1970–2019
Last refreshed

Total general (local, regional and central) government expenditure on tertiary education (current, capital, and transfers) in millions US$ (nominal value). 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$. 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/