Countries in Europe Ranked by Education expenditure share of GDP (2023)
Education expenditure share of GDP: each country's latest value (2018–2023), ranked from highest to lowest. Source: The World Bank (CC BY 4.0).
Summary
Sweden ranks #1 with 7.32% of GDP (2022). Iceland is second with 7.31% of GDP, 0.15% behind. The top five are Sweden, Iceland, Moldova, Finland and Denmark. The median across all 41 is 4.59% of GDP; Monaco is last at 1.73% of GDP. Sweden's figure has risen 7% since 1999 (6.84% of GDP to 7.32% of GDP in 2022).
- #1
- Sweden · 7.32% of GDP
- Median
- 4.59% of GDP
- Coverage
- 41 countries in Europe
- Data year
- 2023
- Last updated
- 2026-11-14
Full ranking
| Rank | Country | Education expenditure share of GDP (% of GDP) | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sweden | 7.32 | 2022 |
| 2 | Iceland | 7.31 | 2022 |
| 3 | Moldova | 6.56 | 2023 |
| 4 | Finland | 6.38 | 2022 |
| 5 | Denmark | 6.36 | 2022 |
| 6 | Belgium | 6.28 | 2022 |
| 7 | United Kingdom | 5.91 | 2021 |
| 8 | Norway | 5.43 | 2022 |
| 9 | France | 5.32 | 2022 |
| 10 | Slovenia | 5.28 | 2022 |
| 11 | Austria | 5.28 | 2022 |
| 12 | Germany | 5.24 | 2022 |
| 13 | Estonia | 5.21 | 2022 |
| 14 | Netherlands | 5.18 | 2022 |
| 15 | Ukraine | 5.14 | 2021 |
| 16 | Belarus | 5.05 | 2024 |
| 17 | Switzerland | 4.86 | 2022 |
| 18 | Cyprus | 4.74 | 2022 |
| 19 | Malta | 4.71 | 2022 |
| 20 | Slovak Republic | 4.66 | 2022 |
| 21 | Spain | 4.59 | 2022 |
| 22 | Portugal | 4.55 | 2022 |
| 23 | Bulgaria | 4.5 | 2022 |
| 24 | Latvia | 4.32 | 2022 |
| 25 | Poland | 4.31 | 2022 |
| 26 | Czechia | 4.3 | 2022 |
| 27 | Lithuania | 4.25 | 2022 |
| 28 | Russian Federation | 4.16 | 2023 |
| 29 | Croatia | 4.09 | 2021 |
| 30 | Italy | 4.07 | 2022 |
| 31 | Hungary | 3.8 | 2022 |
| 32 | Luxembourg | 3.74 | 2022 |
| 33 | Serbia | 3.4 | 2023 |
| 34 | Greece | 3.38 | 2022 |
| 35 | Romania | 3.28 | 2022 |
| 36 | Bosnia and Herzegovina | 3.25 | 2023 |
| 37 | Albania | 3.09 | 2023 |
| 38 | Ireland | 2.9 | 2021 |
| 39 | San Marino | 2.9 | 2022 |
| 40 | Andorra | 1.9 | 2023 |
| 41 | Monaco | 1.73 | 2023 |
About the top 10
#1 Sweden
Sweden ranks #1 on this list with 7.32% of GDP (2022).
- Capital
- Stockholm
- Continent
- Europe
- Income group
- High income
- Population
- 10.6 million people (2025)
- GDP
- US$669 billion (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$63,133 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 84.1 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 89.1% of population (2025)
Largest cities: Stockholm, Gothenburg, Malmö.
Also ranks #3 in researchers in r&d per million · #4 in r&d expenditure share of gdp · #6 in male life expectancy.
#2 Iceland
Iceland ranks #2 on this list with 7.31% of GDP (2022).
- Capital
- Reykjavík
- Continent
- Europe
- Income group
- High income
- Population
- 392,400 people (2025)
- GDP
- US$38.58 billion (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$98,323 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 82.8 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 94.2% of population (2025)
Also ranks #1 in energy use per capita · #1 in bank accounts share (adults) · #1 in water resources per capita.
#3 Moldova
Moldova ranks #3 on this list with 6.56% of GDP.
- Capital
- Chișinău
- Continent
- Europe
- Income group
- Upper middle income
- Population
- 2.36 million people (2025)
- GDP
- US$20.35 billion (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$8,622 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 71.3 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 43.7% of population (2025)
Also ranks #1 in real effective exchange rate index · #2 in female population share · #5 in arable land share.
#4 Finland
Finland ranks #4 on this list with 6.38% of GDP (2022).
- Capital
- Helsinki
- Continent
- Europe
- Income group
- High income
- Population
- 5.65 million people (2025)
- GDP
- US$317.04 billion (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$56,149 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 82.3 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 74.5% of population (2025)
Also ranks #1 in rule of law score · #2 in bank accounts share (adults) · #2 in control of corruption score.
#5 Denmark
Denmark ranks #5 on this list with 6.36% of GDP (2022).
- Capital
- Copenhagen
- Continent
- Europe
- Income group
- High income
- Population
- 6.01 million people (2025)
- GDP
- US$462.53 billion (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$76,970 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 82.3 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 88.8% of population (2025)
Largest cities: Copenhagen, Aarhus, Odense.
Also ranks #1 in control of corruption score · #2 in arable land share · #2 in rule of law score.
#6 Belgium
Belgium ranks #6 on this list with 6.28% of GDP (2022).
- Capital
- Brussels
- Continent
- Europe
- Income group
- High income
- Population
- 11.94 million people (2025)
- GDP
- US$725.47 billion (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$60,750 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 82.3 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 87.7% of population (2025)
Also ranks #2 in school enrolment (secondary) · #4 in access to clean cooking fuels · #6 in gender parity index (school enrolment).
#7 United Kingdom
United Kingdom ranks #7 on this list with 5.91% of GDP (2021).
- Capital
- London
- Continent
- Europe
- Income group
- High income
- Population
- 69.49 million people (2025)
- GDP
- US$4 trillion (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$57,602 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 81.4 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 83.3% of population (2025)
Largest cities: London, Birmingham, Glasgow.
Also ranks #2 in government debt share of gdp · #2 in new businesses registered · #4 in exports of goods and services.
#8 Norway
Norway ranks #8 on this list with 5.43% of GDP (2022).
- Capital
- Oslo
- Continent
- Europe
- Income group
- High income
- Population
- 5.61 million people (2025)
- GDP
- US$530.76 billion (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$94,594 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 83.2 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 83.6% of population (2025)
Largest cities: Oslo, Bergen, Trondheim.
Also ranks #2 in nurses and midwives per 1,000 · #2 in voice and accountability score · #3 in gni per capita.
#9 France
France ranks #9 on this list with 5.32% of GDP (2022).
- Capital
- Paris
- Continent
- Europe
- Income group
- High income
- Population
- 68.72 million people (2025)
- GDP
- US$3.37 trillion (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$48,986 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 83 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 78.8% of population (2025)
Largest cities: Paris, Metropolis of Lyon, Bordeaux Métropole.
Also ranks #1 in tourism arrivals · #1 in account ownership (female) share · #3 in remittances received.
#10 Slovenia
Slovenia ranks #10 on this list with 5.28% of GDP (2022).
- Capital
- Ljubljana
- Continent
- Europe
- Income group
- High income
- Population
- 2.13 million people (2025)
- GDP
- US$79.65 billion (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$37,376 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 82.3 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 56% of population (2025)
Also ranks #8 in government revenue share of gdp · #9 in income share of poorest 10% · #9 in bank accounts share (adults).
Profile facts: World Bank (CC BY 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0); weather links go to Purr Weather, another ChowChow Labs site.
Source and method
Education expenditure share of GDP: each country's latest value (2018–2023), ranked from highest to lowest.
Source: The World Bank, indicator SE.XPD.TOTL.GD.ZS. Licence: CC BY 4.0. Retrieved: 2026-11-14.
The World Bank: Government expenditure on education, total (% of GDP): Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) (via World Development Indicators)
Original data provider, as recorded by the World Bank: Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
Values are shown as published. Provider terms: The World Bank. All licences: Sources & licences.