Expenditure on education as a percentage of total government in Liberia
Liberia: Expenditure on education as a percentage of total government was 7.4% in 2021. ▲ Rising
Expenditure on education as a percentage of total government in Liberia, 1980–2021
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in UIS calculation.
Analysis
Liberia recorded 7.4% for expenditure on education as a percentage of total government in 2021.
That represents a change of down 7.5% on the previous year and up 42.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, expenditure on education as a percentage of total government in Liberia peaked at 8.0% in 2018 and was at its lowest, 0.0%, in 1980.
That places Liberia 183rd out of 197 countries with data for 2021, putting it in the bottom quarter.
Expenditure on education as a percentage of total government in Liberia, year by year
| Year | UIS calculation | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 0.0% | — |
| 2008 | 6.5% | — |
| 2012 | 5.2% | -19.7% |
| 2013 | 5.7% | +9.0% |
| 2014 | 6.8% | +19.6% |
| 2017 | 7.8% | +14.9% |
| 2018 | 8.0% | +2.5% |
| 2021 | 7.4% | -7.5% |
Liberia compared with similar countries
- Liberia's 7.4% is below the median for low income countries, which is 14.4%, 51% of the median. (24 countries reporting)
- Liberia's 7.4% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 14.2%, 52% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 1 |
| 2000s | 6.5% | 6.5% | 6.5% | 1 |
| 2010s | 6.7% | 5.2% | 8.0% | 5 |
| 2020s | 7.4% | 7.4% | 7.4% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Liberia
More education data for Liberia
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 17,857 (2020)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 14,815 (2022)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 123,519 (2022)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 123,876 (2022)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 274,573 (2020)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 569,741 (2022)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate -0.417 % change on previous year (2022)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2022)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.106 units per person (2022)
Frequently asked questions
- What is expenditure on education as a percentage of total government in Liberia?
- Expenditure on education as a percentage of total government in Liberia was 7.4% in 2021, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest expenditure on education as a percentage of total government recorded in Liberia?
- The highest recorded value was 8.0% in 2018.
- What is the lowest expenditure on education as a percentage of total government recorded in Liberia?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.0% in 1980.
- How does Liberia rank for expenditure on education as a percentage of total government?
- Liberia ranks 183rd out of 197 countries with data for 2021.
- Is expenditure on education as a percentage of total government rising or falling in Liberia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 42.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Liberia 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