Government spending on education overall vs. primary education in Romania
Romania: Government spending on education overall vs. primary education was 3.3% in 2022. ▼ Falling
Government spending on education overall vs. primary education in Romania, 1996–2022
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in % of GDP.
Analysis
Romania recorded 3.3% for government spending on education overall vs. primary education in 2022.
The figure is down 1.1% on the previous year and up 16.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, government spending on education overall vs. primary education in Romania peaked at 4.3% in 2006 and was at its lowest, 2.8%, in 2012.
Romania ranks 136th of 199 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 24 years of available data.
Government spending on education overall vs. primary education in Romania, year by year
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1996 | 3.2% | — |
| 2000 | 2.9% | -11.5% |
| 2001 | 3.3% | +13.9% |
| 2002 | 3.5% | +7.3% |
| 2003 | 3.5% | +1.1% |
| 2004 | 3.3% | -6.5% |
| 2005 | 3.5% | +5.7% |
| 2006 | 4.3% | +23.0% |
| 2007 | 4.1% | -3.6% |
| 2008 | 4.1% | -1.3% |
| 2009 | 4.0% | -2.3% |
| 2010 | 3.4% | -14.6% |
| 2011 | 2.9% | -14.7% |
| 2012 | 2.8% | -3.1% |
| 2013 | 3.1% | +8.7% |
| 2014 | 3.1% | +1.9% |
| 2015 | 3.1% | -0.6% |
| 2016 | 3.0% | -2.6% |
| 2017 | 3.1% | +3.1% |
| 2018 | 3.3% | +6.4% |
| 2019 | 3.6% | +7.3% |
| 2020 | 3.6% | +0.6% |
| 2021 | 3.3% | -7.4% |
| 2022 | 3.3% | -1.1% |
Romania compared with similar countries
- Romania's 3.3% is below the median for high income countries, which is 4.4%, 74% of the median. (72 countries reporting)
- Romania's 3.3% is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 4.5%, 73% of the median. (51 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 3.2% | 3.2% | 3.2% | 1 |
| 2000s | 3.7% | 2.9% | 4.3% | 10 |
| 2010s | 3.1% | 2.8% | 3.6% | 10 |
| 2020s | 3.4% | 3.3% | 3.6% | 3 |
Countries ranked near Romania
- 133 Japan 3.3% compare
- 134 El Salvador 3.3% compare
- 135 North Macedonia 3.3% compare
- 137 Bosnia and Herzegovina 3.2% compare
- 138 Qatar 3.2% compare
- 139 Trinidad and Tobago 3.2% compare
More reference data data for Romania
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 1.5 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 1.03 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 4.59 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.689 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 4.59 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 5.04 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 3.02 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 3.93 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 21.54 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 3.75 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is government spending on education overall vs. primary education in Romania?
- Government spending on education overall vs. primary education in Romania was 3.3% 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 Romania?
- The highest recorded value was 4.3% in 2006.
- What is the lowest government spending on education overall vs. primary education recorded in Romania?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.8% in 2012.
- How does Romania rank for government spending on education overall vs. primary education?
- Romania ranks 136th out of 199 countries with data for 2022.
- Is government spending on education overall vs. primary education rising or falling in Romania?
- Over the last ten years it is up 16.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Romania 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.