How much does France spend on education compared with the rest of Europe?

What the report says

Al Jazeera reported on Oct. 8, 2026, that France is facing a wave of student protests over school conditions, while the outlet also compared the country’s education spending with that of other European nations. The demonstrations, which began on Sept. 21 in the Paris suburb of Creteil and then spread nationwide, have focused on overcrowded classrooms, staff shortages and other problems. Al Jazeera said the unrest has also coincided with strikes by teachers and other public-sector workers, and that more than 6,100 people have been arrested since the protests began.

Using Eurostat and French ministry figures, Al Jazeera said France’s public spending on education equals 5.1% of GDP, while broader domestic education expenditure reached 199.2 billion euros in 2025, or 6.7% of GDP. The report said secondary education takes the largest share of that spending, followed by primary, higher education and adult training. It also noted that education spending has grown over time in absolute terms, but its share of GDP is lower than in the mid-1990s.

Across Europe, France sits above the EU average but below several countries that devote a larger share of national income to education. Al Jazeera said Sweden, Iceland, Belgium, Estonia and Finland are among the higher spenders, while Ireland, Greece, Romania, Italy, Spain and the United Kingdom are lower. France was placed joint 13th in the comparison.

The report also linked the debate to wider pressures on public finances and staffing. It said teacher shortages are a broader OECD issue, and that France’s secondary schools are especially affected. Al Jazeera additionally compared education with other priorities, noting that healthcare takes a larger share of GDP than education or defence in many European countries.