Expenditure on education as a percentage of total government in Estonia
Estonia: Expenditure on education as a percentage of total government was 14.6% in 2022. ▼ Falling
Expenditure on education as a percentage of total government in Estonia, 2000–2022
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in IMF calculation.
Analysis
In 2022, expenditure on education as a percentage of total government in Estonia stood at 14.6%.
That represents a change of up 3.2% on the previous year and down 6.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, expenditure on education as a percentage of total government in Estonia peaked at 18.2% in 2002 and was at its lowest, 14.2%, in 2021.
Estonia ranks 36th of 123 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 23 years of available data.
Expenditure on education as a percentage of total government in Estonia, year by year
| Year | IMF calculation | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 17.6% | — |
| 2001 | 18.2% | +3.1% |
| 2002 | 18.2% | +0.2% |
| 2003 | 17.9% | -1.5% |
| 2004 | 18.1% | +1.0% |
| 2005 | 17.5% | -3.2% |
| 2006 | 17.5% | +0.1% |
| 2007 | 17.0% | -3.0% |
| 2008 | 16.4% | -3.5% |
| 2009 | 15.3% | -6.9% |
| 2010 | 16.2% | +5.8% |
| 2011 | 16.3% | +0.5% |
| 2012 | 15.6% | -3.9% |
| 2013 | 15.4% | -1.5% |
| 2014 | 14.6% | -5.0% |
| 2015 | 15.0% | +2.5% |
| 2016 | 14.4% | -4.1% |
| 2017 | 14.5% | +0.9% |
| 2018 | 15.8% | +9.0% |
| 2019 | 15.5% | -1.7% |
| 2020 | 14.3% | -7.9% |
| 2021 | 14.2% | -1.0% |
| 2022 | 14.6% | +3.2% |
Estonia compared with similar countries
- Estonia's 14.6% is above the median for high income countries, which is 11.2%, 1.3× the median. (56 countries reporting)
- Estonia's 14.6% is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 10.6%, 1.4× the median. (45 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 17.4% | 15.3% | 18.2% | 10 |
| 2010s | 15.3% | 14.4% | 16.3% | 10 |
| 2020s | 14.4% | 14.2% | 14.6% | 3 |
Countries ranked near Estonia
More education data for Estonia
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 9,391 (2021)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 706 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 27,252 (2012)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 25,046 (2012)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 103,245 (2024)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 89,246 (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate -1.17 % change on previous year (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.065 units per person (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is expenditure on education as a percentage of total government in Estonia?
- Expenditure on education as a percentage of total government in Estonia was 14.6% in 2022, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest expenditure on education as a percentage of total government recorded in Estonia?
- The highest recorded value was 18.2% in 2002.
- What is the lowest expenditure on education as a percentage of total government recorded in Estonia?
- The lowest recorded value was 14.2% in 2021.
- How does Estonia rank for expenditure on education as a percentage of total government?
- Estonia ranks 36th out of 123 countries with data for 2022.
- Is expenditure on education as a percentage of total government rising or falling in Estonia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 6.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Estonia 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