Government expenditure on education, total (% of GDP) by country
General government expenditure on education (current, capital, and transfers) is expressed as a percentage of GDP. It includes expenditure funded by transfers from international sources to government. General government usually refers to local, regional and central governments.
Countries reporting
196
Highest
16.4%
Kiribati
Lowest
0.0%
Somalia
Median
4.2%
Years covered
56
1970–2025
Data points
6,340
What the numbers show
Government expenditure on education, total (% of GDP) is currently reported for 196 countries. The highest value is 16.4% in Kiribati; the lowest is 0.0% in Somalia.
The median across all reporting countries is 4.2%, and the mean is 4.3%.
Over the past decade 94 countries rose and 97 fell. The largest increase was in Mauritania (up 197.5%), and the largest decrease in Zimbabwe (down 93.6%).
Government expenditure on education, total: full country ranking
| # | Country | Latest | Year | 10-year change | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kiribati | 16.4% | 2023 | up 35.6% | rising |
| 2 | Tuvalu | 12.8% | 2023 | — | rising |
| 3 | Micronesia (country) | 11.6% | 2020 | down 1.4% | volatile |
| 4 | Namibia | 9.1% | 2024 | up 147.7% | rising |
| 5 | Algeria | 9.0% | 2024 | up 37.1% | falling |
| 6 | Cuba | 8.4% | 2022 | down 26.9% | rising |
| 7 | Solomon Islands | 8.3% | 2023 | up 10.9% | rising |
| 8 | Botswana | 8.1% | 2020 | down 18.0% | rising |
| 9 | Marshall Islands | 7.7% | 2022 | — | flat |
| 10 | Vanuatu | 7.6% | 2024 | up 47.6% | flat |
| 11 | Mauritania | 7.6% | 2024 | up 197.5% | volatile |
| 12 | Bolivia | 7.5% | 2024 | up 0.8% | rising |
| 13 | Sweden | 7.3% | 2022 | down 3.4% | rising |
| 14 | Iceland | 7.3% | 2022 | down 3.6% | rising |
| 15 | Venezuela | 6.9% | 2009 | up 37.3% | flat |
| 16 | Kyrgyzstan | 6.8% | 2023 | up 0.7% | rising |
| 17 | Tunisia | 6.7% | 2023 | up 13.2% | rising |
| 18 | Lesotho | 6.6% | 2024 | down 13.3% | rising |
| 19 | Moldova | 6.6% | 2023 | up 11.0% | falling |
| 20 | Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | 6.5% | 2023 | up 30.3% | rising |
| 21 | Kuwait | 6.4% | 2024 | up 8.1% | rising |
| 22 | Finland | 6.4% | 2022 | down 11.1% | rising |
| 23 | Denmark | 6.4% | 2022 | down 12.3% | rising |
| 24 | Belgium | 6.3% | 2022 | down 4.4% | rising |
| 25 | Senegal | 6.2% | 2023 | up 8.4% | rising |
| 26 | Eswatini | 6.0% | 2024 | down 17.2% | rising |
| 27 | South Africa | 6.0% | 2024 | up 9.7% | rising |
| 28 | Morocco | 6.0% | 2023 | up 8.4% | flat |
| 29 | Mozambique | 6.0% | 2022 | up 7.5% | rising |
| 30 | Israel | 5.9% | 2022 | up 6.7% | flat |
| 31 | United Kingdom | 5.9% | 2021 | up 6.0% | flat |
| 32 | Bhutan | 5.8% | 2023 | up 13.2% | rising |
| 33 | Nauru | 5.8% | 2023 | up 29.2% | falling |
| 34 | Brazil | 5.6% | 2022 | down 4.0% | rising |
| 35 | Jamaica | 5.5% | 2024 | down 8.3% | rising |
| 36 | Uzbekistan | 5.5% | 2023 | down 4.7% | falling |
| 37 | Samoa | 5.5% | 2024 | up 0.8% | rising |
| 38 | Curacao | 5.4% | 2024 | down 8.6% | rising |
| 39 | Tajikistan | 5.4% | 2023 | up 2.7% | rising |
| 40 | Palestine | 5.4% | 2021 | up 1.9% | falling |
| 41 | Norway | 5.4% | 2022 | down 25.9% | rising |
| 42 | United States | 5.4% | 2021 | up 9.9% | rising |
| 43 | South Korea | 5.4% | 2022 | up 27.5% | rising |
| 44 | Dominica | 5.4% | 2024 | up 24.3% | rising |
| 45 | Burkina Faso | 5.3% | 2023 | up 30.5% | rising |
| 46 | France | 5.3% | 2022 | down 2.6% | rising |
| 47 | Costa Rica | 5.3% | 2023 | down 20.6% | rising |
| 48 | Tonga | 5.3% | 2022 | up 14.5% | falling |
| 49 | Slovenia | 5.3% | 2022 | down 6.9% | rising |
| 50 | Austria | 5.3% | 2022 | down 4.3% | rising |
| 51 | Colombia | 5.3% | 2020 | up 8.9% | rising |
| 52 | East Timor | 5.2% | 2023 | down 7.5% | falling |
| 53 | Germany | 5.2% | 2022 | up 8.4% | rising |
| 54 | New Zealand | 5.2% | 2023 | down 11.4% | rising |
| 55 | Mongolia | 5.2% | 2024 | up 10.6% | falling |
| 56 | Estonia | 5.2% | 2022 | up 11.4% | falling |
| 57 | Netherlands | 5.2% | 2022 | down 3.5% | falling |
| 58 | Maldives | 5.2% | 2023 | up 52.5% | falling |
| 59 | Ukraine | 5.1% | 2021 | down 13.4% | rising |
| 60 | Syria | 5.1% | 2009 | up 12.8% | rising |
| 61 | Grenada | 5.1% | 2023 | up 1.0% | falling |
| 62 | Australia | 5.1% | 2022 | — | falling |
| 63 | Belarus | 5.0% | 2024 | up 4.7% | falling |
| 64 | Sao Tome and Principe | 5.0% | 2023 | down 24.8% | rising |
| 65 | Argentina | 5.0% | 2023 | down 8.0% | rising |
| 66 | Chile | 4.9% | 2022 | up 20.9% | rising |
| 67 | Kazakhstan | 4.9% | 2023 | up 41.2% | rising |
| 68 | Switzerland | 4.9% | 2022 | down 0.7% | rising |
| 69 | Canada | 4.8% | 2022 | down 7.9% | falling |
| 70 | Uruguay | 4.8% | 2023 | up 12.4% | rising |
| 71 | Cyprus | 4.7% | 2022 | down 27.3% | rising |
| 72 | Malta | 4.7% | 2022 | down 24.6% | rising |
| 73 | Slovakia | 4.7% | 2022 | up 20.8% | flat |
| 74 | Belize | 4.6% | 2024 | down 10.1% | rising |
| 75 | Rwanda | 4.6% | 2024 | up 10.0% | rising |
| 76 | Spain | 4.6% | 2022 | up 2.8% | rising |
| 77 | Portugal | 4.6% | 2022 | down 7.9% | rising |
| 78 | Honduras | 4.5% | 2023 | down 22.6% | rising |
| 79 | Burundi | 4.5% | 2025 | down 29.3% | rising |
| 80 | Bulgaria | 4.5% | 2022 | up 29.5% | rising |
| 81 | Saudi Arabia | 4.5% | 2023 | down 12.8% | rising |
| 82 | Seychelles | 4.5% | 2023 | up 23.1% | falling |
| 83 | Guyana | 4.5% | 2018 | up 86.1% | falling |
| 84 | Brunei | 4.4% | 2016 | up 140.0% | volatile |
| 85 | Oman | 4.4% | 2022 | up 0.7% | rising |
| 86 | Peru | 4.4% | 2024 | up 17.9% | rising |
| 87 | Cape Verde | 4.3% | 2023 | down 4.7% | falling |
| 88 | Afghanistan | 4.3% | 2017 | up 24.8% | rising |
| 89 | Latvia | 4.3% | 2022 | down 36.8% | flat |
| 90 | Poland | 4.3% | 2022 | down 10.7% | flat |
| 91 | Czechia | 4.3% | 2022 | up 2.7% | rising |
| 92 | Turkmenistan | 4.3% | 2024 | up 40.7% | rising |
| 93 | Puerto Rico | 4.3% | 2024 | down 29.7% | falling |
| 94 | Lithuania | 4.3% | 2022 | down 11.1% | falling |
| 95 | Mauritius | 4.2% | 2024 | down 11.8% | rising |
| 96 | Fiji | 4.2% | 2023 | up 9.4% | falling |
| 97 | Mali | 4.2% | 2023 | up 51.7% | rising |
| 98 | Russia | 4.2% | 2023 | up 10.6% | rising |
| 99 | Togo | 4.1% | 2023 | up 30.5% | rising |
| 100 | India | 4.1% | 2022 | up 6.0% | rising |
| 101 | Croatia | 4.1% | 2021 | down 0.3% | flat |
| 102 | Niger | 4.1% | 2023 | up 10.4% | rising |
| 103 | Zambia | 4.1% | 2023 | up 9.6% | falling |
| 104 | Italy | 4.1% | 2022 | up 0.8% | rising |
| 105 | Mexico | 4.1% | 2022 | down 16.9% | rising |
| 106 | Kenya | 4.0% | 2024 | down 14.7% | falling |
| 107 | Georgia | 4.0% | 2024 | up 35.3% | rising |
| 108 | Philippines | 4.0% | 2025 | up 40.2% | rising |
| 109 | China | 3.9% | 2023 | — | rising |
| 110 | Saint Lucia | 3.8% | 2024 | down 1.1% | falling |
| 111 | Hong Kong | 3.8% | 2024 | up 6.5% | rising |
| 112 | Hungary | 3.8% | 2022 | down 8.5% | rising |
| 113 | Egypt | 3.8% | 2008 | down 19.5% | falling |
| 114 | Dominican Republic | 3.8% | 2023 | up 3.7% | rising |
| 115 | Djibouti | 3.8% | 2018 | down 55.4% | falling |
| 116 | Luxembourg | 3.7% | 2022 | down 3.4% | rising |
| 117 | Ecuador | 3.7% | 2024 | down 29.2% | rising |
| 118 | Nepal | 3.7% | 2024 | up 6.2% | rising |
| 119 | Azerbaijan | 3.7% | 2023 | up 49.9% | falling |
| 120 | Aruba | 3.6% | 2021 | down 38.8% | rising |
| 121 | Cote d'Ivoire | 3.6% | 2024 | up 9.0% | falling |
| 122 | Barbados | 3.6% | 2024 | down 33.7% | falling |
| 123 | Paraguay | 3.5% | 2024 | up 36.1% | rising |
| 124 | Malaysia | 3.5% | 2023 | down 35.9% | falling |
| 125 | Macao | 3.5% | 2023 | up 70.8% | rising |
| 126 | Saint Kitts and Nevis | 3.5% | 2023 | up 7.2% | flat |
| 127 | Palau | 3.4% | 2023 | — | falling |
| 128 | Serbia | 3.4% | 2023 | down 16.4% | falling |
| 129 | Greece | 3.4% | 2022 | down 8.3% | rising |
| 130 | Congo | 3.3% | 2023 | down 33.4% | falling |
| 131 | Japan | 3.3% | 2021 | down 7.5% | falling |
| 132 | El Salvador | 3.3% | 2024 | down 13.3% | rising |
| 133 | North Macedonia | 3.3% | 2002 | down 30.3% | falling |
| 134 | Romania | 3.3% | 2022 | up 16.1% | falling |
| 135 | Bosnia and Herzegovina | 3.2% | 2023 | down 2.1% | flat |
| 136 | Qatar | 3.2% | 2020 | down 28.8% | rising |
| 137 | Trinidad and Tobago | 3.2% | 2023 | down 13.8% | falling |
| 138 | Jordan | 3.2% | 2024 | down 14.2% | falling |
| 139 | Benin | 3.2% | 2023 | down 2.9% | rising |
| 140 | Chad | 3.2% | 2023 | up 54.9% | rising |
| 141 | British Virgin Islands | 3.2% | 2023 | down 28.8% | falling |
| 142 | Tanzania | 3.2% | 2024 | down 6.8% | rising |
| 143 | Antigua and Barbuda | 3.1% | 2023 | up 31.6% | rising |
| 144 | Turkey | 3.1% | 2022 | down 29.4% | rising |
| 145 | Albania | 3.1% | 2023 | down 12.5% | flat |
| 146 | Guatemala | 3.1% | 2024 | up 3.0% | rising |
| 147 | Madagascar | 3.0% | 2023 | up 71.5% | falling |
| 148 | Turks and Caicos Islands | 2.9% | 2024 | up 7.4% | falling |
| 149 | Ghana | 2.9% | 2022 | down 63.3% | rising |
| 150 | Ireland | 2.9% | 2021 | down 49.7% | falling |
| 151 | San Marino | 2.9% | 2022 | up 7.2% | rising |
| 152 | Vietnam | 2.9% | 2022 | down 34.5% | falling |
| 153 | Nicaragua | 2.9% | 2023 | down 29.7% | rising |
| 154 | Suriname | 2.9% | 2023 | down 48.2% | falling |
| 155 | Democratic Republic of Congo | 2.8% | 2022 | up 37.9% | rising |
| 156 | Cameroon | 2.8% | 2023 | up 6.9% | falling |
| 157 | Iran | 2.8% | 2023 | down 1.0% | falling |
| 158 | Gambia | 2.8% | 2023 | up 54.4% | falling |
| 159 | Malawi | 2.7% | 2022 | up 8.7% | rising |
| 160 | Bahamas | 2.7% | 2023 | up 13.1% | rising |
| 161 | Sierra Leone | 2.6% | 2023 | up 68.2% | volatile |
| 162 | Uganda | 2.6% | 2022 | up 42.5% | falling |
| 163 | Liechtenstein | 2.6% | 2011 | up 3.9% | flat |
| 164 | Thailand | 2.5% | 2023 | down 38.9% | rising |
| 165 | Angola | 2.5% | 2023 | down 43.4% | falling |
| 166 | Panama | 2.5% | 2023 | down 19.8% | falling |
| 167 | Armenia | 2.4% | 2023 | down 8.0% | rising |
| 168 | Comoros | 2.3% | 2023 | down 1.7% | falling |
| 169 | Gabon | 2.3% | 2023 | down 23.6% | falling |
| 170 | Ethiopia | 2.3% | 2024 | down 50.1% | rising |
| 171 | Liberia | 2.3% | 2023 | up 34.1% | volatile |
| 172 | Singapore | 2.2% | 2024 | down 27.3% | flat |
| 173 | Cambodia | 2.2% | 2023 | up 38.3% | rising |
| 174 | Eritrea | 2.1% | 2006 | up 29.8% | falling |
| 175 | Bangladesh | 2.0% | 2024 | down 3.1% | rising |
| 176 | Sudan | 2.0% | 2009 | up 99.8% | rising |
| 177 | Guinea-Bissau | 2.0% | 2013 | down 1.1% | falling |
| 178 | Myanmar | 2.0% | 2019 | up 154.0% | falling |
| 179 | Pakistan | 1.9% | 2023 | down 13.0% | flat |
| 180 | Andorra | 1.9% | 2023 | down 24.2% | rising |
| 181 | Bahrain | 1.9% | 2023 | down 20.8% | flat |
| 182 | Bermuda | 1.9% | 2023 | down 18.2% | falling |
| 183 | Central African Republic | 1.8% | 2023 | down 30.6% | falling |
| 184 | Sri Lanka | 1.8% | 2023 | up 16.8% | falling |
| 185 | Monaco | 1.7% | 2023 | up 29.8% | rising |
| 186 | Guinea | 1.7% | 2023 | down 34.5% | rising |
| 187 | Cayman Islands | 1.6% | 2023 | down 27.4% | falling |
| 188 | South Sudan | 1.6% | 2016 | up 49.8% | rising |
| 189 | Indonesia | 1.3% | 2023 | down 62.0% | falling |
| 190 | Laos | 1.2% | 2023 | down 61.8% | falling |
| 191 | Lebanon | 1.2% | 2024 | down 49.7% | falling |
| 192 | Haiti | 1.0% | 2023 | down 44.9% | rising |
| 193 | Papua New Guinea | 0.8% | 2023 | down 51.9% | volatile |
| 194 | Zimbabwe | 0.4% | 2023 | down 93.6% | volatile |
| 195 | Nigeria | 0.3% | 2023 | down 40.3% | volatile |
| 196 | Somalia | 0.0% | 2023 | up 103.1% | volatile |
Regions and income groups
Aggregates are excluded from the country ranking above so that a region can never outrank a country.
- OECD members 5.1%
- Other small states 5.0%
- Post-demographic dividend 5.0%
- North America 4.8%
- Small states 4.8%
- Euro area 4.7%
- High income 4.7%
- European Union 4.7%
- Europe & Central Asia 4.6%
- Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan 4.4%
- Central Europe and the Baltics 4.3%
- Late-demographic dividend 4.0%
About this data
General government expenditure on education (current, capital, and transfers) is expressed as a percentage of GDP. It includes expenditure funded by transfers from international sources to government. General government usually refers to local, regional and central governments.