This is based on a European Commission report on investment in education, which analyses the evolution of spending in the sector in the Member States and presents the most recent data available, relating to 2024, in which it is stated that, in that year, public investment in education in Portugal amounted to 12.6 billion euros.

Thus, in 2024, Portugal dedicated 10.3% of public spending to education, down from 10.5% in 2019.

Evolution of spending

Over the period under analysis, this spending fell from 10.5% in 2019 to 9.6% in 2020, then rose to 9.9% in 2021, 10.1% in 2022, 10.2% in 2023, and 10.3% in 2024, according to the same document.

As a share of Gross Domestic Product (GDP), investment in education rose from 4.5% in 2019 to 4.7% in 2020, remained at 4.7% in 2021, then fell to 4.4% in 2022 and 4.3% in 2023, a level that remained the same in 2024.

Other Member States

At the European Union level, Member States dedicated 9.7% of public spending to education in 2024, above the 9.6% recorded in 2023, but below the 10% of 2019.

Public spending on education was 10% in 2019, falling to 9.3% in 2020 and 2021. The indicator then recovered to 9.4% in 2022, 9.6% in 2023 and 9.7% in 2024.

In terms of weight in GDP, the European Union average was 4.8% in 2024.

Importance of investment

The European Commission points out in the report the importance of continuing to invest in education systems and, in particular, in teachers, at a time when several Member States are struggling to attract and retain professionals.