Government spending on education as a share of GDP in United States
United States: Government spending on education as a share of GDP was 5.4% in 2021. ▲ Rising
Government spending on education as a share of GDP in United States, 1960–2021
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in % of GDP.
Analysis
United States recorded 5.4% for government spending on education as a share of gdp in 2021.
The figure is up 0.5% on the previous year and up 9.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, government spending on education as a share of gdp in United States peaked at 5.5% in 1993 and was at its lowest, 4.0%, in 1960.
United States ranks 43rd of 199 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
Government spending on education as a share of GDP in United States, year by year
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 4.0% | — |
| 1993 | 5.5% | +37.5% |
| 2015 | 4.9% | -10.4% |
| 2016 | 4.8% | -3.0% |
| 2017 | 5.1% | +6.5% |
| 2018 | 4.9% | -3.9% |
| 2019 | 5.0% | +1.3% |
| 2020 | 5.4% | +8.8% |
| 2021 | 5.4% | +0.5% |
United States compared with similar countries
- United States's 5.4% is above the median for high income countries, which is 4.4%, 1.2× the median. (72 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 4.0% | 4.0% | 4.0% | 1 |
| 1990s | 5.5% | 5.5% | 5.5% | 1 |
| 2010s | 4.9% | 4.8% | 5.1% | 5 |
| 2020s | 5.4% | 5.4% | 5.4% | 2 |
Countries ranked near United States
- 40 Tajikistan 5.4% compare
- 41 Palestine 5.4% compare
- 42 Norway 5.4% compare
- 44 South Korea 5.4% compare
- 45 Dominica 5.4% compare
- 46 Burkina Faso 5.3% compare
More education data for United States
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 1.74 million (2023)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 419,732 (2023)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 4.34 million (2023)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 4.14 million (2023)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 25.35 million (2023)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 23.83 million (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 1.33 % change on previous year (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.0708 units per person (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is government spending on education as a share of gdp in United States?
- Government spending on education as a share of gdp in United States was 5.4% in 2021, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest government spending on education as a share of gdp recorded in United States?
- The highest recorded value was 5.5% in 1993.
- What is the lowest government spending on education as a share of gdp recorded in United States?
- The lowest recorded value was 4.0% in 1960.
- How does United States rank for government spending on education as a share of gdp?
- United States ranks 43rd out of 199 countries with data for 2021.
- Is government spending on education as a share of gdp rising or falling in United States?
- Over the last ten years it is up 9.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- 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 Government spending on education as a share of GDP. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Total annual general government spending on all levels of education, expressed as a percentage of GDP.