Expenditure on education as a percentage of total government in Pakistan
Pakistan: Expenditure on education as a percentage of total government was 1.5% in 2015. ▲ Rising
Expenditure on education as a percentage of total government in Pakistan, 2000–2015
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 Pakistan is 1.5%, measured in 2015.
The figure is down 10.1% on the previous year and down 0.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, expenditure on education as a percentage of total government in Pakistan peaked at 1.9% in 2010 and was at its lowest, 0.9%, in 2000.
That places Pakistan 123rd out of 123 countries with data for 2015, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 16 years of available data.
Expenditure on education as a percentage of total government in Pakistan, year by year
| Year | IMF calculation | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 0.9% | — |
| 2001 | 1.0% | +3.6% |
| 2002 | 1.3% | +35.1% |
| 2003 | 1.5% | +14.8% |
| 2004 | 1.9% | +24.2% |
| 2005 | 1.5% | -20.6% |
| 2006 | 1.6% | +6.6% |
| 2007 | 1.6% | +3.1% |
| 2008 | 1.8% | +12.7% |
| 2009 | 1.9% | +2.0% |
| 2010 | 1.9% | +1.1% |
| 2011 | 1.6% | -15.8% |
| 2012 | 1.5% | -8.7% |
| 2013 | 1.4% | -1.4% |
| 2014 | 1.7% | +14.7% |
| 2015 | 1.5% | -10.1% |
Pakistan compared with similar countries
- Pakistan's 1.5% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 14.4%, 10% of the median. (24 countries reporting)
- Pakistan's 1.5% is below the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 12.0%, 12% of the median. (15 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 1.5% | 0.9% | 1.9% | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.6% | 1.4% | 1.9% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Pakistan
- 120 Argentina 5.6% compare
- 121 Burkina Faso 5.2%
- 122 India 2.7% compare
More education data for Pakistan
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 2.04 million (2024)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 440,233 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 5.05 million (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 4.90 million (2024)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 19.70 million (2024)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 25.38 million (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 3.1 % change on previous year (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.101 units per person (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is expenditure on education as a percentage of total government in Pakistan?
- Expenditure on education as a percentage of total government in Pakistan was 1.5% in 2015, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest expenditure on education as a percentage of total government recorded in Pakistan?
- The highest recorded value was 1.9% in 2010.
- What is the lowest expenditure on education as a percentage of total government recorded in Pakistan?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.9% in 2000.
- How does Pakistan rank for expenditure on education as a percentage of total government?
- Pakistan ranks 123rd out of 123 countries with data for 2015.
- Is expenditure on education as a percentage of total government rising or falling in Pakistan?
- Over the last ten years it is down 0.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Pakistan 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