Private tutoring spending in Spain reached a record high during the 2023–2024 school year, highlighting the growing role of supplementary education outside the formal school system. According to EsadeEcPol, Spanish households spent €2.782 billion on private tutoring and related educational support during the period.
The figure marks a significant increase from the 2019–2020 school year, when private tutoring spending stood at approximately €1.691 billion. In nominal terms, spending increased by 65%. After adjusting for inflation, the real increase was 38%.
The data shows that private tutoring has become a mainstream part of household education spending in Spain. Around 47% of households with students used some form of private tutoring, academic support, or supplementary learning service during the 2023–2024 school year. This trend points to the expansion of what education researchers often call shadow education — paid learning support that operates alongside the official school system.
The increase is especially notable at the primary education level. Private tutoring is no longer concentrated only among students preparing for major exams or university admission. More families are using supplementary education earlier, including for reinforcement in core subjects, language learning, and academic confidence.
The rise in private tutoring spending also raises questions about educational inequality. Families with higher incomes can access more frequent and higher-quality supplementary education, while lower-income households may face greater difficulty keeping up with the same level of support. As a result, private tutoring can reinforce differences that already exist within the formal education system.
Spain’s education debate is therefore moving beyond school performance alone. The growing scale of private tutoring shows that many families see additional academic support as necessary, not optional. For policymakers, the key issue is whether public education can provide enough support within schools so that learning opportunities do not depend heavily on household income.
The 2023–2024 figures confirm that private tutoring has become an important part of Spain’s education landscape. The sector now represents billions of euros in annual household spending and plays a direct role in how families manage academic pressure, school performance, and future educational opportunities.