Expenditure on education as a percentage of total government in Serbia
Serbia: Expenditure on education as a percentage of total government was 8.4% in 2023. ▼ Falling
Expenditure on education as a percentage of total government in Serbia, 2007–2023
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 Serbia is 8.4%, measured in 2023.
The figure is up 12.5% on the previous year and down 17.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, expenditure on education as a percentage of total government in Serbia peaked at 10.5% in 2009 and was at its lowest, 7.1%, in 2021.
That places Serbia 175th out of 197 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 10 years of available data.
Expenditure on education as a percentage of total government in Serbia, year by year
| Year | UIS calculation | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2007 | 10.0% | — |
| 2009 | 10.5% | +5.1% |
| 2011 | 10.2% | -2.9% |
| 2016 | 8.7% | -14.6% |
| 2017 | 9.3% | +6.5% |
| 2018 | 8.8% | -4.9% |
| 2019 | 8.6% | -2.3% |
| 2021 | 7.1% | -17.6% |
| 2022 | 7.4% | +5.1% |
| 2023 | 8.4% | +12.5% |
Serbia compared with similar countries
- Serbia's 8.4% is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 13.2%, 63% of the median. (53 countries reporting)
- Serbia's 8.4% is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 11.9%, 71% of the median. (50 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 10.2% | 10.0% | 10.5% | 2 |
| 2010s | 9.1% | 8.6% | 10.2% | 5 |
| 2020s | 7.6% | 7.1% | 8.4% | 3 |
Countries ranked near Serbia
More education data for Serbia
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 67,944 (2024)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 530 (2022)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 89,461 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 84,207 (2024)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 478,731 (2024)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 251,941 (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate -0.2155 % change on previous year (2022)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.0383 units per person (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is expenditure on education as a percentage of total government in Serbia?
- Expenditure on education as a percentage of total government in Serbia was 8.4% in 2023, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest expenditure on education as a percentage of total government recorded in Serbia?
- The highest recorded value was 10.5% in 2009.
- What is the lowest expenditure on education as a percentage of total government recorded in Serbia?
- The lowest recorded value was 7.1% in 2021.
- How does Serbia rank for expenditure on education as a percentage of total government?
- Serbia ranks 175th out of 197 countries with data for 2023.
- Is expenditure on education as a percentage of total government rising or falling in Serbia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 17.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Serbia 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