Government spending on education overall vs. primary education in Italy
Italy: Government spending on education overall vs. primary education was 4.1% in 2022. ▲ Rising
Government spending on education overall vs. primary education in Italy, 1970–2022
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 Italy is 4.1%, measured in 2022.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 2.5% on the previous year and up 0.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, government spending on education overall vs. primary education in Italy peaked at 4.8% in 1984 and was at its lowest, 2.9%, in 1971.
Italy ranks 106th of 199 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 41 years of available data.
Government spending on education overall vs. primary education in Italy, year by year
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 3.4% | — |
| 1971 | 2.9% | -13.9% |
| 1974 | 3.8% | +32.3% |
| 1975 | 3.7% | -3.2% |
| 1976 | 3.9% | +5.6% |
| 1978 | 3.8% | -3.6% |
| 1979 | 4.2% | +10.1% |
| 1983 | 4.5% | +7.8% |
| 1984 | 4.8% | +6.4% |
| 1985 | 4.7% | -1.8% |
| 1986 | 4.6% | -0.7% |
| 1988 | 4.6% | -1.3% |
| 1993 | 4.7% | +3.1% |
| 1994 | 4.4% | -6.3% |
| 1995 | 4.3% | -2.6% |
| 1996 | 4.4% | +3.0% |
| 1998 | 4.4% | +0.0% |
| 1999 | 4.5% | +1.4% |
| 2000 | 4.3% | -4.9% |
| 2001 | 4.6% | +8.3% |
| 2002 | 4.4% | -4.7% |
| 2003 | 4.5% | +2.5% |
| 2004 | 4.4% | -3.5% |
| 2005 | 4.2% | -3.4% |
| 2006 | 4.5% | +6.7% |
| 2007 | 4.1% | -9.3% |
| 2008 | 4.4% | +7.0% |
| 2009 | 4.5% | +3.0% |
| 2010 | 4.3% | -4.2% |
| 2011 | 4.1% | -5.1% |
| 2012 | 4.0% | -1.5% |
| 2013 | 4.1% | +2.2% |
| 2014 | 4.0% | -2.0% |
| 2015 | 4.1% | +0.3% |
| 2016 | 3.8% | -6.4% |
| 2017 | 4.0% | +6.1% |
| 2018 | 4.2% | +5.3% |
| 2019 | 4.1% | -3.8% |
| 2020 | 4.4% | +8.3% |
| 2021 | 4.2% | -5.6% |
| 2022 | 4.1% | -2.5% |
Italy compared with similar countries
- Italy's 4.1% is below the median for high income countries, which is 4.4%, 92% of the median. (72 countries reporting)
- Italy's 4.1% is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 4.5%, 90% of the median. (51 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 3.7% | 2.9% | 4.2% | 7 |
| 1980s | 4.6% | 4.5% | 4.8% | 5 |
| 1990s | 4.5% | 4.3% | 4.7% | 6 |
| 2000s | 4.4% | 4.1% | 4.6% | 10 |
| 2010s | 4.1% | 3.8% | 4.3% | 10 |
| 2020s | 4.2% | 4.1% | 4.4% | 3 |
Countries ranked near Italy
More reference data data for Italy
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 2.5 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 1.48 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 8.94 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.927 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 8.94 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 8.37 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 5.21 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 6.51 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 41.74 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 5.05 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is government spending on education overall vs. primary education in Italy?
- Government spending on education overall vs. primary education in Italy was 4.1% 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 Italy?
- The highest recorded value was 4.8% in 1984.
- What is the lowest government spending on education overall vs. primary education recorded in Italy?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.9% in 1971.
- How does Italy rank for government spending on education overall vs. primary education?
- Italy ranks 106th out of 199 countries with data for 2022.
- Is government spending on education overall vs. primary education rising or falling in Italy?
- Over the last ten years it is up 0.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Italy 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.