Expenditure on education as a percentage of total government in Afghanistan
Afghanistan: Expenditure on education as a percentage of total government was 15.7% in 2017. ◆ Volatile
Expenditure on education as a percentage of total government in Afghanistan, 1981–2017
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in UIS calculation.
Analysis
In 2017, expenditure on education as a percentage of total government in Afghanistan stood at 15.7%.
That represents a change of down 3.4% on the previous year and down 8.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, expenditure on education as a percentage of total government in Afghanistan peaked at 17.1% in 2010 and was at its lowest, 0.0%, in 1981.
That places Afghanistan 53rd out of 197 countries with data for 2017, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Expenditure on education as a percentage of total government in Afghanistan, year by year
| Year | UIS calculation | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1981 | 0.0% | — |
| 1982 | 0.0% | — |
| 1983 | 0.0% | — |
| 1999 | 0.0% | — |
| 2000 | 0.0% | — |
| 2001 | 0.0% | — |
| 2010 | 17.1% | — |
| 2011 | 16.0% | -6.0% |
| 2012 | 10.4% | -35.5% |
| 2013 | 14.1% | +36.2% |
| 2014 | 14.5% | +2.6% |
| 2015 | 12.5% | -13.5% |
| 2016 | 16.2% | +29.6% |
| 2017 | 15.7% | -3.4% |
Afghanistan compared with similar countries
- Afghanistan's 15.7% is above the median for low income countries, which is 14.4%, 1.1× the median. (24 countries reporting)
- Afghanistan's 15.7% is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 14.3%, 1.1× the median. (18 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 3 |
| 1990s | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 1 |
| 2000s | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 2 |
| 2010s | 14.6% | 10.4% | 17.1% | 8 |
Countries ranked near Afghanistan
- 50 Puerto Rico 16.0% compare
- 51 El Salvador 15.9% compare
- 52 Hong Kong, China 15.7% compare
- 54 Iceland 15.7% compare
- 55 Saudi Arabia 15.6% compare
- 56 Uruguay 15.6% 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 15.7% 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 17.1% in 2010.
- What is the lowest expenditure on education as a percentage of total government recorded in Afghanistan?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.0% in 1981.
- How does Afghanistan rank for expenditure on education as a percentage of total government?
- Afghanistan ranks 53rd out of 197 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 8.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- 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 (%) (UIS calculation). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release