Expenditure on education as a percentage of total government in Nicaragua
Nicaragua: Expenditure on education as a percentage of total government was 19.2% in 2023. ▼ Falling
Latest (2023)
19.2%
Change on year
up 3.3%
World rank
15th
of 123 countries
All-time high
24.0%
in 2019
All-time low
18.6%
in 2022
Years of data
10
2014–2023
Expenditure on education as a percentage of total government in Nicaragua, 2014–2023
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in IMF calculation.
Analysis
The most recent figure for expenditure on education as a percentage of total government in Nicaragua is 19.2%, measured in 2023.
The figure is up 3.3% on the previous year and down 16.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, expenditure on education as a percentage of total government in Nicaragua peaked at 24.0% in 2019 and was at its lowest, 18.6%, in 2022.
Nicaragua ranks 15th of 123 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
Expenditure on education as a percentage of total government in Nicaragua, year by year
| Year | IMF calculation | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 23.1% | — |
| 2015 | 22.4% | -3.0% |
| 2016 | 23.0% | +2.9% |
| 2017 | 22.7% | -1.4% |
| 2018 | 22.9% | +0.8% |
| 2019 | 24.0% | +4.8% |
| 2020 | 22.8% | -4.7% |
| 2021 | 18.7% | -17.9% |
| 2022 | 18.6% | -0.6% |
| 2023 | 19.2% | +3.3% |
Nicaragua compared with similar countries
- Nicaragua's 19.2% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 14.4%, 1.3× the median. (24 countries reporting)
- Nicaragua's 19.2% is above the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 16.6%, 1.2× the median. (15 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 23.0% | 22.4% | 24.0% | 6 |
| 2020s | 19.9% | 18.6% | 22.8% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Nicaragua
- 12 Tajikistan 19.7% compare
- 13 Chile 19.5% compare
- 14 Guatemala 19.3% compare
- 16 Mozambique 19.0% compare
- 17 Malaysia 18.9% compare
- 18 Cape Verde 18.8% compare
More education data for Nicaragua
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 12,739 (2023)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 85,306 (2022)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 132,281 (2023)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 131,337 (2023)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 463,660 (2023)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 880,080 (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 0.9095 % change on previous year (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.129 units per person (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is expenditure on education as a percentage of total government in Nicaragua?
- Expenditure on education as a percentage of total government in Nicaragua was 19.2% in 2023, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest expenditure on education as a percentage of total government recorded in Nicaragua?
- The highest recorded value was 24.0% in 2019.
- What is the lowest expenditure on education as a percentage of total government recorded in Nicaragua?
- The lowest recorded value was 18.6% in 2022.
- How does Nicaragua rank for expenditure on education as a percentage of total government?
- Nicaragua ranks 15th out of 123 countries with data for 2023.
- Is expenditure on education as a percentage of total government rising or falling in Nicaragua?
- Over the last ten years it is down 16.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Nicaragua 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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CSV · JSON — 10 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
About this data
February 2026 Data Release