In 2018, the Confederation, cantons and communes spent CHF 38.9 billion on education. This amount corresponds to 17.6% of the total public expenditure and 5.4% of the gross domestic product.
In Switzerland 91% of expenditure on education is incurred as current expenses, the remaining 9% as investments.
With CHF 26 billion, 66% 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.
in CHF millions | Switzerland | Confederation | Cantons | Communes | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Total | 38 902 | 100% | 4 194 | 24 209 | 10 499 |
of which salaries | 25 775 | 66% | 2 244 | 17 552 | 5 979 |
Compulsory education and special schools | 19 142 | 49% | 19 | 8 847 | 10 276 |
Upper secondary level | 5 882 | 15% | 71 | 5 635 | 176 |
Tertiary level | 8 892 | 23% | 1 162 | 7 726 | 4 |
Research | 4 331 | 11% | 2 931 | 1 399 | 2 |
Non-attributable expenditure | 654 | 2% | 12 | 601 | 41 |
Education is not always funded directly, but also in the form of contributions towards the expenditure undertaken by other administrative levels. In 2018, for example, the Confederation invested a total of CHF 7.1 billion for education, of which CHF 4.2 billion have been spent directly and CHF 2.9 billion via the cantons.
At national level the public education expenditure of the financial statistics of the Federal Finance Administration is the only data source that enables a uniform analysis of education finance from primary to university. It is completed with the higher education funding statistics (Finances and costs of higher education) that covers both public and private funding.
Contact
Federal Statistical Office Section Educational ProcessesEspace de l'Europe 10
CH-2010 Neuchâtel
Switzerland
- Tel.
- +41 58 483 93 61
Monday to Friday
09.00-12.00 and 13.30-16.30