Share of GDP spent on education vs. share of government spending assigned to education in United States
United States: Share of GDP spent on education vs. share of government spending assigned to education was 11.3% in 2021. ▼ Falling
Share of GDP spent on education vs. share of government spending assigned to education in United States, 2015–2021
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2021, share of gdp spent on education vs. share of government spending assigned to education in United States stood at 11.3%. That is the lowest value across all 7 years on record.
The figure is down 7.1% on the previous year and down 16.6% over ten years.
That places United States 128th out of 194 countries with data for 2021, putting it in the middle of the range.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 13.4% | 13.1% | 13.9% | 5 |
| 2020s | 11.7% | 11.3% | 12.2% | 2 |
Countries ranked near United States
More economy & growth data for United States
- Manufacturing, value added 2.50 trillion current LCU (2021)
- Manufacturing, value added 10.5% (2021)
- Households and NPISHs final consumption expenditure 67.9% (2024)
- Final consumption expenditure 23.89 trillion current US$ (2024)
- Final consumption expenditure 23.89 trillion current LCU (2024)
- Final consumption expenditure 18.68 trillion constant 2015 US$ (2024)
- Final consumption expenditure 3.0% (2024)
- Gross national expenditure 23.80 trillion constant 2015 US$ (2024)
- Gross national expenditure 30.20 trillion current LCU (2024)
- Gross national expenditure 30.20 trillion current US$ (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of gdp spent on education vs. share of government spending assigned to education in United States?
- Share of gdp spent on education vs. share of government spending assigned to education in United States was 11.3% in 2021, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of gdp spent on education vs. share of government spending assigned to education recorded in United States?
- The highest recorded value was 13.9% in 2017.
- What is the lowest share of gdp spent on education vs. share of government spending assigned to education recorded in United States?
- The lowest recorded value was 11.3% in 2021.
- How does United States rank for share of gdp spent on education vs. share of government spending assigned to education?
- United States ranks 128th out of 194 countries with data for 2021.
- Is share of gdp spent on education vs. share of government spending assigned to education rising or falling in United States?
- Over the last ten years it is down 16.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this United States data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of GDP spent on education vs. share of government spending assigned to education. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Percentage of total general government spending (across all sectors) that is allocated to education.