Government expenditure on tertiary education, US$ in Japan

Japan: Government expenditure on tertiary education, US$ was 31,329 millions in 2017. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2017)
31,329 millions
Change on year
up 13.1%
World rank
7th
of 158 countries
All-time high
45,778 millions
in 2012
All-time low
1,012 millions
in 1971
Years of data
37
1971–2017

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

010.0k20.0k30.0k40.0k50.0k1971199420171971: 1.0k millions1972: 1.2k millions1973: 1.5k millions1974: 1.8k millions1975: 2.2k millions1976: 2.5k millions1977: 2.9k millions1978: 3.7k millions1979: 5.3k millions1980: 5.6k millions1981: 5.9k millions1982: 6.5k millions1983: 5.4k millions1987: 26.8k millions1988: 33.4k millions1989: 39.3k millions1993: 13.7k millions1994: 21.9k millions1995: 20.5k millions1998: 17.8k millions1999: 18.2k millions2000: 24.3k millions2001: 25.5k millions2002: 22.2k millions2003: 24.4k millions2004: 27.8k millions2005: 28.0k millions2006: 27.7k millions2007: 27.7k millions2008: 28.3k millions2010: 38.2k millions2011: 40.4k millions2012: 45.8k millions2013: 45.5k millions2014: 38.4k millions2016: 27.7k millions2017: 31.3k millions

Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in millions.

Analysis

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

That represents a change of up 13.1% on the previous year and up 13.0% over ten years.

Over the whole period, government expenditure on tertiary education, us$ in Japan peaked at 45,778 millions in 2012 and was at its lowest, 1,012 millions, in 1971.

That places Japan 7th out of 158 countries with data for 2017, putting it in the top 10%.

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

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

Annual values for Government expenditure on tertiary education, US$ (millions) in Japan, 1971 to 2017.
Year millions Change
1971 1,012 millions —
1972 1,174 millions +16.0%
1973 1,526 millions +30.0%
1974 1,753 millions +14.8%
1975 2,184 millions +24.6%
1976 2,468 millions +13.0%
1977 2,948 millions +19.5%
1978 3,739 millions +26.8%
1979 5,348 millions +43.0%
1980 5,613 millions +5.0%
1981 5,902 millions +5.1%
1982 6,527 millions +10.6%
1983 5,447 millions -16.5%
1987 26,778 millions +391.6%
1988 33,418 millions +24.8%
1989 39,329 millions +17.7%
1993 13,684 millions -65.2%
1994 21,916 millions +60.2%
1995 20,539 millions -6.3%
1998 17,841 millions -13.1%
1999 18,183 millions +1.9%
2000 24,316 millions +33.7%
2001 25,452 millions +4.7%
2002 22,197 millions -12.8%
2003 24,354 millions +9.7%
2004 27,774 millions +14.0%
2005 27,984 millions +0.8%
2006 27,745 millions -0.9%
2007 27,726 millions -0.1%
2008 28,272 millions +2.0%
2010 38,243 millions +35.3%
2011 40,423 millions +5.7%
2012 45,778 millions +13.2%
2013 45,469 millions -0.7%
2014 38,436 millions -15.5%
2016 27,688 millions -28.0%
2017 31,329 millions +13.1%

Japan compared with similar countries

  • Japan's 31,329 millions is above the median for high income countries, which is 1,389 millions, 22.6× the median. (62 countries reporting)
  • Japan's 31,329 millions is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 2,074 millions, 15.1× the median. (20 countries reporting)

Biggest year-on-year movements

Years where Government expenditure on tertiary education, 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 +391.6% 5,447 millions 26,778 millions

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1970s 2,461 millions 1,012 millions 5,348 millions 9
1980s 17,574 millions 5,447 millions 39,329 millions 7
1990s 18,432 millions 13,684 millions 21,916 millions 5
2000s 26,202 millions 22,197 millions 28,272 millions 9
2010s 38,195 millions 27,688 millions 45,778 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 20,045 millions compare
  6. 10 Australia 17,118 millions compare

See the full ranking of 158 places →

More reference data data for Japan

All data for Japan →

Frequently asked questions

What is government expenditure on tertiary education, us$ in Japan?
Government expenditure on tertiary education, us$ in Japan was 31,329 millions in 2017, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
What is the highest government expenditure on tertiary education, us$ recorded in Japan?
The highest recorded value was 45,778 millions in 2012.
What is the lowest government expenditure on tertiary education, us$ recorded in Japan?
The lowest recorded value was 1,012 millions in 1971.
How does Japan rank for government expenditure on tertiary education, us$?
Japan ranks 7th out of 158 countries with data for 2017.
Is government expenditure on tertiary education, us$ rising or falling in Japan?
Over the last ten years it is up 13.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this Japan 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 Japan. Statizoid, drawing on UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Retrieved 29 September 2026, from https://reference.statizoid.com/stat/government-expenditure-on-tertiary-education-us-millions/japan/

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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/