Expenditure on education as a percentage of total government in Afghanistan
Afghanistan: Expenditure on education as a percentage of total government was 8.2% in 2017. ▼ Falling
Expenditure on education as a percentage of total government in Afghanistan, 2003–2017
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in IMF calculation.
Analysis
Afghanistan recorded 8.2% for expenditure on education as a percentage of total government in 2017.
The figure is down 0.7% on the previous year and down 24.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, expenditure on education as a percentage of total government in Afghanistan peaked at 15.1% in 2005 and was at its lowest, 4.9%, in 2008.
That places Afghanistan 107th out of 123 countries with data for 2017, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 15 years of available data.
Expenditure on education as a percentage of total government in Afghanistan, year by year
| Year | IMF calculation | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2003 | 12.8% | — |
| 2004 | 12.9% | +1.1% |
| 2005 | 15.1% | +16.5% |
| 2006 | 14.6% | -3.5% |
| 2007 | 10.8% | -25.7% |
| 2008 | 4.9% | -55.1% |
| 2009 | 6.5% | +33.6% |
| 2010 | 6.4% | -1.5% |
| 2011 | 5.1% | -19.5% |
| 2012 | 6.5% | +26.1% |
| 2013 | 7.1% | +9.9% |
| 2014 | 8.0% | +11.7% |
| 2015 | 7.3% | -8.5% |
| 2016 | 8.3% | +13.4% |
| 2017 | 8.2% | -0.7% |
Afghanistan compared with similar countries
- Afghanistan's 8.2% is below the median for low income countries, which is 13.3%, 61% of the median. (8 countries reporting)
- Afghanistan's 8.2% is below the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 12.0%, 68% of the median. (15 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 11.1% | 4.9% | 15.1% | 7 |
| 2010s | 7.1% | 5.1% | 8.3% | 8 |
Countries ranked near Afghanistan
- 104 Cook Islands 8.5%
- 105 Bahrain 8.4% compare
- 106 Nigeria 8.2% compare
- 108 Andorra 8.2%
- 109 Romania 8.1% compare
- 110 San Marino 8.0% compare
More education data for Afghanistan
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 88,020 (2023)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 343,942 (2023)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 13,837 (2003)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 10,383 (2003)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 3.43 million (2023)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 7.51 million (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 3.56 % change on previous year (2019)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0.0004 units per US$ of GDP (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.1811 units per person (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is expenditure on education as a percentage of total government in Afghanistan?
- Expenditure on education as a percentage of total government in Afghanistan was 8.2% in 2017, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest expenditure on education as a percentage of total government recorded in Afghanistan?
- The highest recorded value was 15.1% in 2005.
- What is the lowest expenditure on education as a percentage of total government recorded in Afghanistan?
- The lowest recorded value was 4.9% in 2008.
- How does Afghanistan rank for expenditure on education as a percentage of total government?
- Afghanistan ranks 107th out of 123 countries with data for 2017.
- Is expenditure on education as a percentage of total government rising or falling in Afghanistan?
- Over the last ten years it is down 24.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Afghanistan data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Expenditure on education as a percentage of total government expenditure (%) (IMF calculation). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release