Share of GDP spent on education vs. share of government spending assigned to education in Spain
Spain: Share of GDP spent on education vs. share of government spending assigned to education was 9.9% in 2022. ▬ Flat
Latest (2022)
9.9%
Change on year
up 1.5%
World rank
153rd
of 194 countries
All-time high
10.9%
in 2008
All-time low
8.8%
in 1987
Years of data
35
1987–2022
Share of GDP spent on education vs. share of government spending assigned to education in Spain, 1987–2022
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for share of gdp spent on education vs. share of government spending assigned to education in Spain is 9.9%, measured in 2022.
The figure is up 1.5% on the previous year and up 9.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of gdp spent on education vs. share of government spending assigned to education in Spain peaked at 10.9% in 2008 and was at its lowest, 8.8%, in 1987.
Spain ranks 153rd of 194 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
Share of GDP spent on education vs. share of government spending assigned to education in Spain, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1987 | 8.8% | — |
| 1988 | 9.6% | +9.0% |
| 1989 | 10.3% | +7.3% |
| 1990 | 10.1% | -1.9% |
| 1991 | 10.0% | -1.1% |
| 1992 | 9.7% | -3.0% |
| 1993 | 10.0% | +3.3% |
| 1994 | 10.3% | +2.2% |
| 1995 | 10.7% | +3.8% |
| 1996 | 10.7% | +0.7% |
| 1998 | 10.5% | -2.5% |
| 1999 | 10.7% | +1.9% |
| 2000 | 10.7% | -0.2% |
| 2001 | 10.7% | +0.5% |
| 2002 | 10.7% | -0.0% |
| 2003 | 10.9% | +1.6% |
| 2004 | 10.7% | -1.5% |
| 2005 | 10.8% | +0.5% |
| 2006 | 10.9% | +1.1% |
| 2007 | 10.8% | -0.5% |
| 2008 | 10.9% | +0.8% |
| 2009 | 10.6% | -2.8% |
| 2010 | 10.5% | -0.7% |
| 2011 | 10.3% | -2.6% |
| 2012 | 9.1% | -11.8% |
| 2013 | 9.4% | +3.5% |
| 2014 | 9.5% | +1.2% |
| 2015 | 9.7% | +2.5% |
| 2016 | 10.0% | +2.3% |
| 2017 | 10.2% | +2.3% |
| 2018 | 10.0% | -1.8% |
| 2019 | 10.0% | +0.1% |
| 2020 | 9.4% | -5.7% |
| 2021 | 9.7% | +3.1% |
| 2022 | 9.9% | +1.5% |
Spain compared with similar countries
- Spain's 9.9% is below the median for high income countries, which is 11.8%, 84% of the median. (70 countries reporting)
- Spain's 9.9% is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 11.9%, 83% of the median. (49 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 9.6% | 8.8% | 10.3% | 3 |
| 1990s | 10.3% | 9.7% | 10.7% | 9 |
| 2000s | 10.8% | 10.6% | 10.9% | 10 |
| 2010s | 9.9% | 9.1% | 10.5% | 10 |
| 2020s | 9.7% | 9.4% | 9.9% | 3 |
Countries ranked near Spain
More economy & growth data for Spain
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP 1.77 Percent per annum (2029)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP 1.62 Percent per annum (2029)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), gaps 46.38 billion BoP, current US$ (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.0243 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 939.77 BoP, current US$ per person (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), gaps filled 28.09 billion BoP, current US$ (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), annual -34.34 % change on previous year (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.0147 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 569.12 BoP, current US$ per person (2025)
- Total reserves (includes gold, current US$), annual growth rate 19.32 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of gdp spent on education vs. share of government spending assigned to education in Spain?
- Share of gdp spent on education vs. share of government spending assigned to education in Spain was 9.9% in 2022, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of gdp spent on education vs. share of government spending assigned to education recorded in Spain?
- The highest recorded value was 10.9% in 2008.
- What is the lowest share of gdp spent on education vs. share of government spending assigned to education recorded in Spain?
- The lowest recorded value was 8.8% in 1987.
- How does Spain rank for share of gdp spent on education vs. share of government spending assigned to education?
- Spain ranks 153rd out of 194 countries with data for 2022.
- Is share of gdp spent on education vs. share of government spending assigned to education rising or falling in Spain?
- Over the last ten years it is up 9.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Spain data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of GDP spent on education vs. share of government spending assigned to education. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Percentage of total general government spending (across all sectors) that is allocated to education.