Expenditure on education as a percentage of total government in Thailand
Thailand: Expenditure on education as a percentage of total government was 12.6% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Expenditure on education as a percentage of total government in Thailand, 1980–2025
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in UIS calculation.
Analysis
Thailand recorded 12.6% for expenditure on education as a percentage of total government in 2025.
That represents a change of down 3.6% on the previous year and down 38.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, expenditure on education as a percentage of total government in Thailand peaked at 28.4% in 2000 and was at its lowest, 0.0%, in 1980.
Thailand ranks 100th 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 Thailand, year by year
| Year | UIS calculation | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 0.0% | — |
| 1981 | 0.0% | — |
| 1982 | 0.0% | — |
| 1983 | 0.0% | — |
| 1984 | 0.0% | — |
| 1986 | 0.0% | — |
| 1987 | 0.0% | — |
| 1988 | 0.0% | — |
| 1989 | 0.0% | — |
| 1991 | 0.0% | — |
| 1992 | 0.0% | — |
| 1994 | 0.0% | — |
| 1995 | 18.9% | — |
| 1996 | 20.0% | +6.0% |
| 1997 | 21.2% | +5.8% |
| 1998 | 19.5% | -8.1% |
| 1999 | 19.0% | -2.6% |
| 2000 | 28.4% | +49.6% |
| 2001 | 24.2% | -14.6% |
| 2002 | 16.2% | -33.1% |
| 2003 | 20.9% | +28.6% |
| 2004 | 21.5% | +2.8% |
| 2005 | 20.5% | -4.2% |
| 2006 | 22.0% | +7.1% |
| 2007 | 18.5% | -16.0% |
| 2008 | 18.2% | -1.7% |
| 2009 | 18.2% | +0.1% |
| 2010 | 16.2% | -10.8% |
| 2011 | 22.6% | +39.5% |
| 2012 | 21.4% | -5.5% |
| 2013 | 19.1% | -10.6% |
| 2014 | 20.5% | +7.4% |
| 2015 | 20.6% | +0.4% |
| 2016 | 19.8% | -4.0% |
| 2017 | 18.4% | -7.3% |
| 2018 | 17.2% | -6.5% |
| 2019 | 17.0% | -0.9% |
| 2020 | 15.4% | -9.3% |
| 2021 | 14.7% | -4.8% |
| 2022 | 14.6% | -0.3% |
| 2023 | 14.2% | -3.1% |
| 2024 | 13.1% | -7.7% |
| 2025 | 12.6% | -3.6% |
Thailand compared with similar countries
- Thailand's 12.6% is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 13.2%, 95% of the median. (53 countries reporting)
- Thailand's 12.6% is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 12.3%, 1.0× the median. (31 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Expenditure on education as a percentage of total government in Thailand 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | +49.6% | 19.0% | 28.4% |
| 2011 | +39.5% | 16.2% | 22.6% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 9 |
| 1990s | 12.3% | 0.0% | 21.2% | 8 |
| 2000s | 20.9% | 16.2% | 28.4% | 10 |
| 2010s | 19.3% | 16.2% | 22.6% | 10 |
| 2020s | 14.1% | 12.6% | 15.4% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Thailand
More education data for Thailand
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 243,991 (2025)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 13,596 (2025)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 758,147 (2025)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 716,498 (2025)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 4.26 million (2025)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 4.45 million (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate -1.23 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.0621 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is expenditure on education as a percentage of total government in Thailand?
- Expenditure on education as a percentage of total government in Thailand was 12.6% in 2025, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest expenditure on education as a percentage of total government recorded in Thailand?
- The highest recorded value was 28.4% in 2000.
- What is the lowest expenditure on education as a percentage of total government recorded in Thailand?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.0% in 1980.
- How does Thailand rank for expenditure on education as a percentage of total government?
- Thailand ranks 100th out of 197 countries with data for 2025.
- Is expenditure on education as a percentage of total government rising or falling in Thailand?
- Over the last ten years it is down 38.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Thailand 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