Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries) vs United Kingdom: Government expenditure on education, total

Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries)
3.3%
in 2023
United Kingdom
5.9%
in 2021
Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries) rank
32nd
United Kingdom rank
31st

Government expenditure on education, total over time

  • Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries)
  • United Kingdom
0246197119972023

How they compare

United Kingdom currently reports 5.9% against 3.3% in Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries), a difference of 2.6%.

That makes United Kingdom's figure about 1.8 times Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries)'s.

Across all 20 years both countries report, United Kingdom has been ahead every year.

Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries) ranks 32nd and United Kingdom ranks 31st of 46 groups.

United Kingdom has averaged higher in every one of the 4 decades both report.

Head to head by decade

Decade Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries) United Kingdom Difference Ahead
1990s 3.0% 4.0% 1.0% United Kingdom
2000s 2.9% 4.7% 1.8% United Kingdom
2010s 3.3% 5.5% 2.1% United Kingdom
2020s 3.4% 5.7% 2.3% United Kingdom

Averages of every year both report within each decade.

Frequently asked questions

Which has higher government expenditure on education, total, Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries) or United Kingdom?
United Kingdom, at 5.9% against 3.3% in Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries) as of 2021.
What is the difference in government expenditure on education, total between Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries) and United Kingdom?
2.6%, with United Kingdom ahead.
How many years of comparable data are there for Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries) and United Kingdom?
20 years are reported by both, from 1999 to 2021.
How do Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries) and United Kingdom rank globally for government expenditure on education, total?
Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries) ranks 32nd and United Kingdom ranks 31st 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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Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries) vs United Kingdom: 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/sub-saharan-africa-ida-and-ibrd-countries/united-kingdom/

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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.