Netherlands Education Spending
Government expenditure on education as % of GDP SE.XPD.TOTL.GD.ZS
Netherlands's education spending was 5.31% in 2025, ranked 41st globally. This represents a 2.5% increase from 2024. Data from World Bank, covering 1970–2025.
Overview
Netherlands's education spending stood at 5.31% in 2025, a rise of +0.13% from 2022. Based on recent trends, this figure is projected to reach 5.31% by 2025. Netherlands ranked 41st globally.
Netherlands’ education spending as a share of GDP has drifted downward since the mid‑1970s, falling from an all‑time peak of 6.36 percent in 1975 to a trough of 4.49 percent in 1996, before modestly rebounding to 5.31 percent in 2025, which places the country 41st globally. The 51‑year series shows a long‑term decline of roughly 0.85 percentage points, offset by a recent upward swing that narrows the gap with peers such as Estonia (5.33 percent) and France (5.36 percent). The post‑trough recovery coincides with broader European reforms that increased public investment in schools and vocational training, yet the level remains below the 1970 figure of 6.21 percent. Future trajectory will depend on fiscal priorities and demographic pressures; sustained policy emphasis on lifelong learning could accelerate the upward trend, while budgetary constraints might halt or reverse it.
Data & projection
| Year | Education Spending | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025* trend | 5.31% | - | - |
| 2025 | 5.31% | +0.13% | #41 |
| 2022 | 5.18% | −0.20% | #118 |
| 2021 | 5.38% | +0.09% | #125 |
| 2020 | 5.29% | +0.24% | #117 |
| 2019 | 5.06% | −0.21% | #120 |
| 2018 | 5.27% | +0.18% | #130 |
| 2017 | 5.09% | −0.30% | #128 |
| 2016 | 5.39% | +0.11% | #122 |
| 2015 | 5.28% | −0.12% | #120 |
| 2014 | 5.40% | −0.08% | #119 |
| 2013 | 5.48% | +0.12% | #118 |
| 2012 | 5.37% | −0.05% | #107 |
| 2011 | 5.42% | −0.04% | #108 |
| 2010 | 5.46% | +0.07% | #104 |
| 2009 | 5.39% | +0.39% | #82 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Netherlands matched the Export Boom Cycle pattern in 2021. Historically, 71% of countries showing this pattern (546 out of 768) saw education spending improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
Netherlands's education spending was 5.31% in 2025. Ranked 41st globally. This represents a 2.5% increase from the previous year.
Netherlands's education spending peaked at 6.36% in 1975.
The lowest education spending in Netherlands was 4.49% in 1996.
Netherlands ranks 41st globally in education spending as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is SE.XPD.TOTL.GD.ZS. Data sourced from World Bank.
Netherlands's education spending is projected to reach 5.31% by 2025 based on trend extrapolation.
The education spending of Netherlands in 2025 was 5.31%. This ranks 41st in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_netherlands_education-spending-gdp,
title = {Netherlands Education Spending},
url = {https://historysaid.com/netherlands/education-spending-gdp/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}