Government spending on education overall vs. primary education in China
China: Government spending on education overall vs. primary education was 3.9% in 2023. ▲ Rising
Government spending on education overall vs. primary education in China, 1971–2023
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in % of GDP.
Analysis
The most recent figure for government spending on education overall vs. primary education in China is 3.9%, measured in 2023. That is the highest value across all 26 years on record.
Over the whole period, government spending on education overall vs. primary education in China peaked at 3.9% in 2023 and was at its lowest, 1.4%, in 1971.
China ranks 111th of 199 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 26 years of available data.
Government spending on education overall vs. primary education in China, year by year
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1971 | 1.4% | — |
| 1972 | 1.6% | +15.6% |
| 1973 | 1.6% | +2.9% |
| 1974 | 1.8% | +6.7% |
| 1975 | 1.7% | -3.0% |
| 1976 | 1.8% | +6.3% |
| 1977 | 1.7% | -3.7% |
| 1978 | 2.0% | +12.0% |
| 1979 | 2.1% | +9.7% |
| 1980 | 1.9% | -11.0% |
| 1981 | 1.9% | +1.9% |
| 1982 | 2.0% | +4.4% |
| 1983 | 2.1% | +2.1% |
| 1984 | 2.0% | -3.8% |
| 1985 | 2.0% | +0.5% |
| 1986 | 2.1% | +2.7% |
| 1987 | 1.8% | -12.5% |
| 1988 | 1.8% | -2.2% |
| 1992 | 1.6% | -6.4% |
| 1993 | 1.7% | +0.2% |
| 1994 | 2.0% | +19.7% |
| 1995 | 1.8% | -7.3% |
| 1996 | 1.8% | +0.6% |
| 1998 | 1.8% | -0.7% |
| 1999 | 1.9% | +2.3% |
| 2023 | 3.9% | +108.3% |
China compared with similar countries
- China's 3.9% is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 4.2%, 92% of the median. (54 countries reporting)
- China's 3.9% is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 4.2%, 92% of the median. (31 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Government spending on education overall vs. primary education in China 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.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | +108.3% | 1.9% | 3.9% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 1.8% | 1.4% | 2.1% | 9 |
| 1980s | 2.0% | 1.8% | 2.1% | 9 |
| 1990s | 1.8% | 1.6% | 2.0% | 7 |
| 2020s | 3.9% | 3.9% | 3.9% | 1 |
Countries ranked near China
More reference data data for China
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 49.4 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 75.5 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 303.29 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 18.8 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 303.29 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 165.62 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 206.2 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 350.74 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 1,480 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 102.37 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is government spending on education overall vs. primary education in China?
- Government spending on education overall vs. primary education in China was 3.9% in 2023, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest government spending on education overall vs. primary education recorded in China?
- The highest recorded value was 3.9% in 2023.
- What is the lowest government spending on education overall vs. primary education recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.4% in 1971.
- How does China rank for government spending on education overall vs. primary education?
- China ranks 111th out of 199 countries with data for 2023.
- Where does this China data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Government spending on education overall vs. primary education. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Total annual general government spending on all levels of education, expressed as a percentage of GDP.