Africa Western and Central vs United States: Government expenditure on education, total

Africa Western and Central
3.2%
in 2023
United States
5.4%
in 2021
Africa Western and Central rank
39th
United States rank
42nd

Government expenditure on education, total over time

  • Africa Western and Central
  • United States
0246199920112023

How they compare

United States currently reports 5.4% against 3.2% in Africa Western and Central, a difference of 2.2%.

That makes United States's figure about 1.7 times Africa Western and Central's.

Across all 7 years both countries report, United States has been ahead every year.

Africa Western and Central ranks 39th and United States ranks 42nd of 46 groups.

United States has averaged higher in every one of the 2 decades both report.

Head to head by decade

Decade Africa Western and Central United States Difference Ahead
2010s 3.0% 4.9% 2.0% United States
2020s 3.2% 5.4% 2.2% United States

Averages of every year both report within each decade.

Frequently asked questions

Which has higher government expenditure on education, total, Africa Western and Central or United States?
United States, at 5.4% against 3.2% in Africa Western and Central as of 2021.
What is the difference in government expenditure on education, total between Africa Western and Central and United States?
2.2%, with United States ahead.
How many years of comparable data are there for Africa Western and Central and United States?
7 years are reported by both, from 2015 to 2021.
How do Africa Western and Central and United States rank globally for government expenditure on education, total?
Africa Western and Central ranks 39th and United States ranks 42nd of 46 groups.
Where does this data come from?
Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), published as Government expenditure on education, total (% of GDP). Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.

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Africa Western and Central vs United States: Government expenditure on education, total. Statizoid, drawing on Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Retrieved 17 September 2026, from https://education.statizoid.com/compare/government-expenditure-on-education-total-percent-of-gdp/africa-western-and-central/united-states/

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About this data

Indicator
Government expenditure on education, total (% of GDP)
Unit
% of GDP
Source
Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
242 places, 5,437 data points, 1970–2025
Last refreshed

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.