Families across Europe are feeling the strain as education costs climb while public investment in schools continues to decline. According to Eurostat data from 2022, EU nations now spend an average of just 4.66% of GDP on education, the lowest share recorded in a decade. Most resources go to primary and lower secondary levels, while tertiary education, such as universities, takes about a quarter of overall funding. Pre-primary schooling, however, consistently receives the least support. Meanwhile, school aid varies widely, from grants to loans, depending on national policies.
Click on to explore how school aid differs across the Europe.