Government spending on education overall vs. primary education in Germany
Germany: Government spending on education overall vs. primary education was 5.2% in 2022. ▲ Rising
Government spending on education overall vs. primary education in Germany, 1993–2022
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 Germany is 5.2%, measured in 2022.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 2.4% on the previous year and up 8.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, government spending on education overall vs. primary education in Germany peaked at 5.5% in 2020 and was at its lowest, 4.3%, in 1994.
Germany ranks 54th of 199 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 19 years of available data.
Government spending on education overall vs. primary education in Germany, year by year
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1993 | 4.4% | — |
| 1994 | 4.3% | -1.7% |
| 1995 | 4.4% | +2.4% |
| 1996 | 4.5% | +1.3% |
| 1998 | 4.4% | -0.7% |
| 2008 | 4.5% | +0.7% |
| 2010 | 5.0% | +11.7% |
| 2011 | 4.9% | -2.2% |
| 2012 | 4.8% | -1.1% |
| 2013 | 4.8% | +0.2% |
| 2014 | 4.8% | -0.3% |
| 2015 | 4.8% | -1.3% |
| 2016 | 4.8% | +0.0% |
| 2017 | 4.8% | +0.3% |
| 2018 | 4.9% | +2.2% |
| 2019 | 5.0% | +2.9% |
| 2020 | 5.5% | +9.7% |
| 2021 | 5.4% | -2.7% |
| 2022 | 5.2% | -2.4% |
Germany compared with similar countries
- Germany's 5.2% is above the median for high income countries, which is 4.4%, 1.2× the median. (72 countries reporting)
- Germany's 5.2% is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 4.5%, 1.2× the median. (51 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 4.4% | 4.3% | 4.5% | 5 |
| 2000s | 4.5% | 4.5% | 4.5% | 1 |
| 2010s | 4.9% | 4.8% | 5.0% | 10 |
| 2020s | 5.4% | 5.2% | 5.5% | 3 |
Countries ranked near Germany
More reference data data for Germany
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 4.6 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 1.7 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 16.93 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 1.94 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 16.93 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 15.41 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 9.96 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 8.87 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 80.38 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 10.56 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is government spending on education overall vs. primary education in Germany?
- Government spending on education overall vs. primary education in Germany was 5.2% in 2022, 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 Germany?
- The highest recorded value was 5.5% in 2020.
- What is the lowest government spending on education overall vs. primary education recorded in Germany?
- The lowest recorded value was 4.3% in 1994.
- How does Germany rank for government spending on education overall vs. primary education?
- Germany ranks 54th out of 199 countries with data for 2022.
- Is government spending on education overall vs. primary education rising or falling in Germany?
- Over the last ten years it is up 8.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Germany 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.