Total expenditure on public education centres in 2001 came to 1,178 million euros, with a 22.8% increase in relation to 1999, a substantial rise with regard to the previous two years, according to EUSTAT data. Expenditure on public education centres represented 2.7% of the GDP in 2001. Expenditure on private education centres for the same year amounted to 680 million euros, which means expenditure on public education centres accounted for 63.4% of total expenditure.

Practically all the expenditure, 91.8%, was allocated to cover current activities and the remaining 8.2% to investment. Total current expenditure was 1,081 million euros, 95% of which was dedicated to teaching (the most relevant item being personnel costs –89.3%-), 0.4% to complementary activities and 4.8% to complementary services (school catering and transport, mainly).

According to the type of centre, expenditure was divided between 74.5% on pre-university levels, 22% on university and 3.5% on art education centres. When compared with private centres, public university received 14% more of the contribution to total expenditure.

The rate of growth of education expenditure increased per pupil and unit by a similar percentage, as between 1999 and 2001 they grew 26% and 25,7%, respectively.

Education expenditure per school unit in infant education and primary centres amounted to 58.717 euros on average in 2001, 56,735 euros corresponding to infant level and 64.795 euros to primary. Expenditure for secondary education centres was 110,249 euros per unit, varying between 99,955 for E.S.O. (Obligatory Secondary Education), 133,328 euros for baccalaureate and between 112,551 and 117,817 euros for intermediate and higher F.P. (technical training).

Expenditure per pupil in infant-primary education was 3,882 euros on average, 3.585 for infant and 4,644 for primary. For the total secondary education centres the figure was 6,032 euros per pupil, varying between 6,093 for E.S.O., 5.133 on Baccalaureate - BUP/COU, 7.427 on intermediate F.P. and 7,394 on higher F.P. Special education (languages, music and arts and crafts) spent 934 euros per pupil and the university figure was 3,662 euros.

Total income in public centres amounted to 1,183 million euros, 92.4% corresponding to current income and 7,6% to capital income. Public funding represented 93% of total income, the main source being the Department of Education with 86%, followed by town councils with 5.3%. Private sources contributed 5.5% of the total, mainly through education quotas, 3.3%, and complementary activities and services, 0.2%.