Expenditure on education as a percentage of total government in Pakistan
Pakistan: Expenditure on education as a percentage of total government was 9.8% in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
9.8%
Change on year
up 3.7%
World rank
157th
of 197 countries
All-time high
15.4%
in 2007
All-time low
0.0%
in 1980
Years of data
39
1980–2023
Expenditure on education as a percentage of total government in Pakistan, 1980–2023
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in UIS calculation.
Analysis
Pakistan recorded 9.8% for expenditure on education as a percentage of total government in 2023.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 3.7% on the previous year and down 15.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, expenditure on education as a percentage of total government in Pakistan peaked at 15.4% in 2007 and was at its lowest, 0.0%, in 1980.
Pakistan ranks 157th of 197 countries on this measure, in the bottom 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 Pakistan, year by year
| Year | UIS calculation | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 0.0% | — |
| 1981 | 0.0% | — |
| 1982 | 0.0% | — |
| 1983 | 0.0% | — |
| 1984 | 0.0% | — |
| 1985 | 0.0% | — |
| 1986 | 0.0% | — |
| 1987 | 0.0% | — |
| 1989 | 0.0% | — |
| 1990 | 0.0% | — |
| 1991 | 0.0% | — |
| 1992 | 0.0% | — |
| 1993 | 7.8% | — |
| 1994 | 9.4% | +20.2% |
| 1995 | 10.3% | +10.0% |
| 1996 | 10.1% | -2.4% |
| 1997 | 11.8% | +16.7% |
| 1999 | 11.3% | -3.8% |
| 2000 | 8.5% | -24.9% |
| 2004 | 11.2% | +32.3% |
| 2005 | 13.8% | +22.7% |
| 2006 | 15.3% | +11.0% |
| 2007 | 15.4% | +1.0% |
| 2008 | 14.1% | -8.7% |
| 2009 | 12.1% | -14.3% |
| 2010 | 11.9% | -1.8% |
| 2011 | 10.9% | -7.9% |
| 2012 | 11.0% | +1.1% |
| 2013 | 11.5% | +4.3% |
| 2014 | 11.3% | -1.9% |
| 2015 | 13.2% | +16.7% |
| 2016 | 15.1% | +14.2% |
| 2017 | 14.5% | -3.4% |
| 2018 | 12.2% | -16.2% |
| 2019 | 11.6% | -4.9% |
| 2020 | 10.8% | -6.9% |
| 2021 | 7.8% | -27.6% |
| 2022 | 9.4% | +20.3% |
| 2023 | 9.8% | +3.7% |
Pakistan compared with similar countries
- Pakistan's 9.8% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 14.3%, 68% of the median. (46 countries reporting)
- Pakistan's 9.8% is below the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 14.3%, 68% of the median. (18 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 9 |
| 1990s | 6.7% | 0.0% | 11.8% | 9 |
| 2000s | 12.9% | 8.5% | 15.4% | 7 |
| 2010s | 12.3% | 10.9% | 15.1% | 10 |
| 2020s | 9.4% | 7.8% | 10.8% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Pakistan
More education data for Pakistan
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 2.04 million (2024)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 440,233 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 5.05 million (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 4.90 million (2024)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 19.70 million (2024)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 25.38 million (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 3.1 % change on previous year (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.101 units per person (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is expenditure on education as a percentage of total government in Pakistan?
- Expenditure on education as a percentage of total government in Pakistan was 9.8% in 2023, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest expenditure on education as a percentage of total government recorded in Pakistan?
- The highest recorded value was 15.4% in 2007.
- What is the lowest expenditure on education as a percentage of total government recorded in Pakistan?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.0% in 1980.
- How does Pakistan rank for expenditure on education as a percentage of total government?
- Pakistan ranks 157th out of 197 countries with data for 2023.
- Is expenditure on education as a percentage of total government rising or falling in Pakistan?
- Over the last ten years it is down 15.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Pakistan 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