Share of economy's resources dedicated to public education is waning: Per-pupil spending as a share of potential GDP per capita, 1970–2021
| Year | Per-pupil spending, share |
|---|---|
| 1970 | 0.1421 |
| 1971 | 0.1486 |
| 1972 | 0.1503 |
| 1973 | 0.1525 |
| 1974 | 0.1512 |
| 1975 | 0.1546 |
| 1976 | 0.1582 |
| 1977 | 0.1588 |
| 1978 | 0.1612 |
| 1979 | 0.1607 |
| 1980 | 0.1635 |
| 1981 | 0.1633 |
| 1982 | 0.1651 |
| 1983 | 0.1685 |
| 1984 | 0.1704 |
| 1985 | 0.1763 |
| 1986 | 0.1820 |
| 1987 | 0.1837 |
| 1988 | 0.1851 |
| 1989 | 0.1912 |
| 1990 | 0.1951 |
| 1991 | 0.1967 |
| 1992 | 0.1948 |
| 1993 | 0.1930 |
| 1994 | 0.1923 |
| 1995 | 0.1924 |
| 1996 | 0.1909 |
| 1997 | 0.1907 |
| 1998 | 0.1914 |
| 1999 | 0.1924 |
| 2000 | 0.1937 |
| 2001 | 0.1973 |
| 2002 | 0.1998 |
| 2003 | 0.2009 |
| 2004 | 0.1989 |
| 2005 | 0.1991 |
| 2006 | 0.2004 |
| 2007 | 0.2045 |
| 2008 | 0.2113 |
| 2009 | 0.2133 |
| 2010 | 0.2114 |
| 2011 | 0.2060 |
| 2012 | 0.2001 |
| 2013 | 0.1970 |
| 2014 | 0.1968 |
| 2015 | 0.1993 |
| 2016 | 0.2018 |
| 2017 | 0.2027 |
| 2018 | 0.2015 |
| 2019 | 0.2035 |
| 2020 | 0.2022 |
| 2021 | 0.2012 |
Source: EPI analysis of Bureau of Economic Analysis, National Income and Product Accounts and National Center for Education Statistics (2025b) data.