Sweden Education Spending
Government expenditure on education as % of GDP SE.XPD.TOTL.GD.ZS
Sweden's education spending was 7.24% in 2025, ranked 13th globally. This represents a 1.1% decrease from 2024. Data from World Bank, covering 1979–2025.
Overview
Sweden's education spending stood at 7.24% in 2025, a decline of +0.08% from 2022. Based on recent trends, this figure is projected to reach 7.24% by 2025. Sweden ranked 13th globally.
Sweden’s public expenditure on education has risen steadily over the 35‑year series, moving from 6.38 % of GDP in 1979 to 7.24 % in 2025, which ranks the country thirteenth worldwide according to the World Bank. The upward trajectory accelerated after the all‑time trough of 5.22 % recorded in 1990, reaching a peak of 7.95 % in 2020 before easing slightly in the subsequent years. This pattern mirrors the broader Nordic commitment to high‑quality schooling and aligns Sweden with peers such as Bhutan, which posted 7.85 % in the same period, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines at 7.25 %. The modest post‑2020 decline suggests fiscal tightening, yet the long‑run level remains well above the early‑1990s low. Continued investment will likely depend on demographic pressures and labour‑market demands, implying that future policy choices could either sustain the current upward bias or reverse it if fiscal constraints intensify.
Data & projection
| Year | Education Spending | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025* trend | 7.24% | - | - |
| 2025 | 7.24% | −0.08% | #13 |
| 2022 | 7.32% | −0.28% | #154 |
| 2021 | 7.60% | −0.35% | #158 |
| 2020 | 7.95% | +0.29% | #159 |
| 2019 | 7.66% | −0.04% | #159 |
| 2018 | 7.70% | +0.06% | #160 |
| 2017 | 7.64% | −0.00% | #165 |
| 2016 | 7.64% | +0.15% | #152 |
| 2015 | 7.49% | −0.13% | #154 |
| 2014 | 7.63% | −0.02% | #153 |
| 2013 | 7.65% | +0.07% | #148 |
| 2012 | 7.57% | +1.17% | #142 |
| 2011 | 6.41% | −0.16% | #126 |
| 2010 | 6.56% | −0.22% | #123 |
| 2009 | 6.78% | +0.40% | #104 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Sweden matched the Export Boom Cycle pattern in 2007. Historically, 71% of countries showing this pattern (546 out of 768) saw education spending improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
Sweden's education spending was 7.24% in 2025. Ranked 13th globally. This represents a 1.1% decrease from the previous year.
Sweden's education spending peaked at 7.95% in 2020.
The lowest education spending in Sweden was 5.22% in 1990.
Sweden ranks 13th globally in education spending as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is SE.XPD.TOTL.GD.ZS. Data sourced from World Bank.
Sweden's education spending is projected to reach 7.24% by 2025 based on trend extrapolation.
The education spending of Sweden in 2025 was 7.24%. This ranks 13th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_sweden_education-spending-gdp,
title = {Sweden Education Spending},
url = {https://historysaid.com/sweden/education-spending-gdp/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}