Expenditure on education as a percentage of total government in Iran, Islamic Republic of
Iran, Islamic Republic of: Expenditure on education as a percentage of total government was 18.8% in 2022. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2022)
18.8%
Change on year
down 17.0%
World rank
28th
of 197 countries
All-time high
26.5%
in 2002
All-time low
0.0%
in 1981
Years of data
38
1981–2022
Expenditure on education as a percentage of total government in Iran, Islamic Republic of, 1981–2022
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in UIS calculation.
Analysis
Iran, Islamic Republic of recorded 18.8% for expenditure on education as a percentage of total government in 2022.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 17.0% on the previous year and up 8.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, expenditure on education as a percentage of total government in Iran, Islamic Republic of peaked at 26.5% in 2002 and was at its lowest, 0.0%, in 1981.
That places Iran, Islamic Republic of 28th out of 197 countries with data for 2022, putting it in the top quarter.
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 Iran, Islamic Republic of, year by year
| Year | UIS calculation | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1981 | 0.0% | — |
| 1982 | 0.0% | — |
| 1983 | 0.0% | — |
| 1984 | 0.0% | — |
| 1985 | 0.0% | — |
| 1986 | 0.0% | — |
| 1987 | 0.0% | — |
| 1988 | 0.0% | — |
| 1989 | 0.0% | — |
| 1990 | 0.0% | — |
| 1991 | 18.3% | — |
| 1992 | 20.6% | +12.5% |
| 1993 | 23.7% | +14.9% |
| 1995 | 14.5% | -38.7% |
| 1996 | 13.6% | -6.7% |
| 1999 | 20.1% | +48.2% |
| 2000 | 20.6% | +2.6% |
| 2001 | 24.4% | +18.4% |
| 2002 | 26.5% | +8.5% |
| 2003 | 22.1% | -16.5% |
| 2004 | 21.5% | -2.8% |
| 2005 | 21.9% | +1.8% |
| 2006 | 19.5% | -11.2% |
| 2007 | 20.0% | +3.0% |
| 2008 | 22.4% | +11.7% |
| 2009 | 18.6% | -17.1% |
| 2010 | 19.3% | +3.7% |
| 2011 | 20.2% | +4.6% |
| 2012 | 17.4% | -13.7% |
| 2013 | 21.7% | +24.6% |
| 2014 | 19.7% | -9.3% |
| 2015 | 18.6% | -5.6% |
| 2016 | 19.4% | +4.7% |
| 2017 | 20.3% | +4.4% |
| 2018 | 21.1% | +4.1% |
| 2019 | 21.2% | +0.5% |
| 2020 | 22.7% | +6.7% |
| 2022 | 18.8% | -17.0% |
Iran, Islamic Republic of compared with similar countries
- Iran, Islamic Republic of's 18.8% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 13.2%, 1.4× the median. (53 countries reporting)
- Iran, Islamic Republic of's 18.8% is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 14.3%, 1.3× the median. (18 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 9 |
| 1990s | 15.8% | 0.0% | 23.7% | 7 |
| 2000s | 21.8% | 18.6% | 26.5% | 10 |
| 2010s | 19.9% | 17.4% | 21.7% | 10 |
| 2020s | 20.7% | 18.8% | 22.7% | 2 |
Countries ranked near Iran, Islamic Republic of
- 25 Syrian Arab Republic 19.2% compare
- 26 South Africa 19.1% compare
- 27 Belize 18.9% compare
- 29 Micronesia, Federated States of 18.6% compare
- 30 Chile 18.4% compare
- 31 Sao Tome and Principe 18.1% compare
More education data for Iran, Islamic Republic of
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 406,399 (2023)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 108,066 (2023)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 519,698 (2020)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 505,053 (2020)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 6.62 million (2023)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 9.09 million (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 3.31 % change on previous year (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.1003 units per person (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is expenditure on education as a percentage of total government in Iran, Islamic Republic of?
- Expenditure on education as a percentage of total government in Iran, Islamic Republic of was 18.8% in 2022, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest expenditure on education as a percentage of total government recorded in Iran, Islamic Republic of?
- The highest recorded value was 26.5% in 2002.
- What is the lowest expenditure on education as a percentage of total government recorded in Iran, Islamic Republic of?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.0% in 1981.
- How does Iran, Islamic Republic of rank for expenditure on education as a percentage of total government?
- Iran, Islamic Republic of ranks 28th out of 197 countries with data for 2022.
- Is expenditure on education as a percentage of total government rising or falling in Iran, Islamic Republic of?
- Over the last ten years it is up 8.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Iran, Islamic Republic of 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