Public education expenditure

In 2021, the Confederation, cantons and communes spent CHF 41.3 billion on education. This amount corresponds to 17.7% of the total public expenditure and to 5.6% of the gross domestic product.

Key figures

In Switzerland 92% of expenditure on education is incurred as current expenses, the remaining 8% as investments. With CHF 27.8 billion, 67% of total education expenditure is spent on staff salaries. In the distribution of public expenditure on education according to the degree of education compulsory schooling represents the most important part.

Public education expenditure by the administrative level making the expenditure and the educational level, 2021

in CHF millions	Switzerland		Confederation	Cantons	Communes
Total	41'335	100%	4'142	25'963	11'231
of which salaries	27'831	67%	2'346	18'990	6'495
Compulsory education and special schools	21'035	51%	19	9'984	11'032
Upper secondary level	6'006	15%	183	5'682	142
Tertiary level	9'457	23%	1'300	8'141	15
Research	4'135	10%	2'623	1'509	2
Non-attributable expenditure	703	2%	17	646	41

Extraordinary expenditure is excluded. Transfer receipts from other public units are included (expenditure perspective).
Sources: FSO - Public education expenditure (ÖBA); FFA - Financial Statistics

Financial flows

Education is not always funded directly, but also in the form of contributions to the expenditure of other administrative levels. In 2021, for example, the Confederation invested a total of CHF 7.1 billion for education, of which CHF 4.1 billion have been spent directly and CHF 3.0 billion via the cantons.

Further information

Graphs

Publications