Mexican families pay 16.2% of public education spending; the OECD average is 9.9%
Mexican families cover 16.2% of education spending in basic and upper secondary education, through parent contributions, school supplies and building upkeep. The OECD average is 9.9%. Meanwhile, 2026 education spending equals 3.19% of GDP, the lowest level since 2018.
“Free” school is not free. Mexican families already pay for public education; what they do not get in return is the service. When that same family compares what it pays with what it gets, private school tuition stops being a luxury and becomes simple math.
If you are already paying, who do you want to pay?
The table behind the chart
Share of basic and upper secondary education spending covered by families
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Mexican families | 16.2% |
| OECD average | 9.9% |
| Figure | What it is |
|---|---|
| 3.19% | of GDP will go to education in 2026, the lowest level since 2018 |
| −10.5% | drop in spending per student between 2015 and 2022 |
Where it comes from
Source: OECD, Education at a Glance 2025 (share of private household spending); CIEP, analysis of the 2026 Economic Package (Paquete Económico).
Document. P1-01 · The Reality of Public Education in Mexico (July 2026), by SuperLeads. Every figure keeps its official or international source; when the source gives a range, the range is shown here. Methodology.
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This data point airs as a YouTube Short (in Spanish) on November 29 at 7:30 p.m. Mexico City time. See the series playlist
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