Education Spending: Australia

Analysis# Australia Education Spending Australia allocated 5.059% of its GDP to education in 2022, down significantly from the all-time peak of 6.001% in 1978. The current level remains above the historical low of 4.667% recorded in 1990, reflecting a decline of 15.7% over the 44-year period. Despite recent years hovering near the 5.3-5.4% range, 2022 marked a notable dip in the nation's educational investment relative to economic output. A sharp contraction occurred during the late 1980s and early 1990s, with spending dropping from 4.907% (1988) to just 4.667% (1990). Recovery began in 1993, when Australia increased education spending to 5.506% of GDP. Recent data from 2020 onwards shows renewed pressure downward, declining from 5.386% to 5.059% in just two years, suggesting a potential new downward trajectory in Australian education funding.