Expenditure on education as a percentage of total government in United States of America
United States of America: Expenditure on education as a percentage of total government was 14.0% in 2022. ▼ Falling
Expenditure on education as a percentage of total government in United States of America, 2000–2022
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 United States of America is 14.0%, measured in 2022.
That represents a change of up 12.0% on the previous year and down 10.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, expenditure on education as a percentage of total government in United States of America peaked at 18.0% in 2000 and was at its lowest, 12.5%, in 2021.
United States of America ranks 41st 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 United States of America, year by year
| Year | IMF calculation | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 18.0% | — |
| 2001 | 17.7% | -1.7% |
| 2002 | 17.3% | -2.1% |
| 2003 | 17.0% | -1.9% |
| 2004 | 17.0% | -0.1% |
| 2005 | 16.7% | -1.6% |
| 2006 | 16.8% | +0.7% |
| 2007 | 16.7% | -0.6% |
| 2008 | 16.2% | -2.9% |
| 2009 | 15.6% | -3.8% |
| 2010 | 15.6% | -0.3% |
| 2011 | 15.5% | -0.3% |
| 2012 | 15.6% | +0.6% |
| 2013 | 16.0% | +2.6% |
| 2014 | 16.0% | -0.2% |
| 2015 | 16.0% | +0.3% |
| 2016 | 15.9% | -0.5% |
| 2017 | 15.9% | -0.5% |
| 2018 | 15.7% | -1.3% |
| 2019 | 15.3% | -2.3% |
| 2020 | 12.7% | -17.0% |
| 2021 | 12.5% | -1.9% |
| 2022 | 14.0% | +12.0% |
United States of America compared with similar countries
- United States of America's 14.0% is above the median for high income countries, which is 11.2%, 1.3× the median. (56 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 16.9% | 15.6% | 18.0% | 10 |
| 2010s | 15.7% | 15.3% | 16.0% | 10 |
| 2020s | 13.0% | 12.5% | 14.0% | 3 |
Countries ranked near United States of America
More education data for United States of America
- 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 expenditure on education as a percentage of total government in United States of America?
- Expenditure on education as a percentage of total government in United States of America was 14.0% in 2022, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest expenditure on education as a percentage of total government recorded in United States of America?
- The highest recorded value was 18.0% in 2000.
- What is the lowest expenditure on education as a percentage of total government recorded in United States of America?
- The lowest recorded value was 12.5% in 2021.
- How does United States of America rank for expenditure on education as a percentage of total government?
- United States of America ranks 41st out of 123 countries with data for 2022.
- Is expenditure on education as a percentage of total government rising or falling in United States of America?
- Over the last ten years it is down 10.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this United States of America 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