Expenditure on education as a percentage of total government in Gambia
Gambia: Expenditure on education as a percentage of total government was 14.2% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Expenditure on education as a percentage of total government in Gambia, 1985–2025
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in UIS calculation.
Analysis
The most recent figure for expenditure on education as a percentage of total government in Gambia is 14.2%, measured in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 5.9% on the previous year and up 28.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, expenditure on education as a percentage of total government in Gambia peaked at 18.9% in 2008 and was at its lowest, 0.0%, in 1985.
Gambia ranks 70th of 197 countries on this measure, 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 Gambia, year by year
| Year | UIS calculation | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1985 | 0.0% | — |
| 1986 | 0.0% | — |
| 1989 | 0.0% | — |
| 1990 | 0.0% | — |
| 1991 | 0.0% | — |
| 1992 | 0.0% | — |
| 1995 | 0.0% | — |
| 1996 | 0.0% | — |
| 1999 | 0.0% | — |
| 2000 | 11.9% | — |
| 2001 | 8.2% | -31.2% |
| 2002 | 10.9% | +33.4% |
| 2003 | 8.5% | -22.6% |
| 2004 | 5.0% | -40.6% |
| 2005 | 5.3% | +6.3% |
| 2006 | 5.4% | +0.3% |
| 2007 | 7.3% | +36.1% |
| 2008 | 18.9% | +158.7% |
| 2009 | 13.3% | -29.6% |
| 2010 | 17.6% | +32.5% |
| 2011 | 15.1% | -14.2% |
| 2012 | 13.8% | -8.7% |
| 2013 | 10.6% | -23.3% |
| 2014 | 11.8% | +11.0% |
| 2015 | 11.0% | -6.1% |
| 2016 | 10.4% | -5.3% |
| 2017 | 15.4% | +47.8% |
| 2018 | 12.4% | -19.4% |
| 2019 | 16.9% | +35.4% |
| 2020 | 14.3% | -15.3% |
| 2021 | 15.6% | +9.4% |
| 2022 | 17.1% | +9.6% |
| 2023 | 18.7% | +9.2% |
| 2024 | 15.1% | -19.2% |
| 2025 | 14.2% | -5.9% |
Gambia compared with similar countries
- Gambia's 14.2% is below the median for low income countries, which is 14.4%, 99% of the median. (24 countries reporting)
- Gambia's 14.2% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 14.2%, 1.0× the median. (47 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Expenditure on education as a percentage of total government in Gambia changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | +158.7% | 7.3% | 18.9% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 3 |
| 1990s | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 6 |
| 2000s | 9.5% | 5.0% | 18.9% | 10 |
| 2010s | 13.5% | 10.4% | 17.6% | 10 |
| 2020s | 15.8% | 14.2% | 18.7% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Gambia
More education data for Gambia
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 12,452 (2021)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 16,389 (2025)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 71,238 (2025)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 77,061 (2025)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 369,783 (2021)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 442,901 (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 2.4 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0.0002 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.1569 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is expenditure on education as a percentage of total government in Gambia?
- Expenditure on education as a percentage of total government in Gambia was 14.2% in 2025, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest expenditure on education as a percentage of total government recorded in Gambia?
- The highest recorded value was 18.9% in 2008.
- What is the lowest expenditure on education as a percentage of total government recorded in Gambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.0% in 1985.
- How does Gambia rank for expenditure on education as a percentage of total government?
- Gambia ranks 70th out of 197 countries with data for 2025.
- Is expenditure on education as a percentage of total government rising or falling in Gambia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 28.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Gambia 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