Expenditure on primary education in Gambia
Gambia: Expenditure on primary education was 55.8% in 2015. ▲ Rising
Expenditure on primary education in Gambia, 1985–2015
Source: Stat Bulk Data Download Service, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Measured in % of government expenditure on education.
Analysis
The most recent figure for expenditure on primary education in Gambia is 55.8%, measured in 2015.
That represents a change of up 1.2% on the previous year and down 9.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, expenditure on primary education in Gambia peaked at 65.3% in 2010 and was at its lowest, 39.2%, in 1990.
That places Gambia 10th out of 149 countries with data for 2015, putting it in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 23 years of available data.
Expenditure on primary education in Gambia, year by year
| Year | % of government expenditure on education | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1985 | 50.8% | — |
| 1986 | 49.0% | -3.6% |
| 1989 | 46.7% | -4.8% |
| 1990 | 39.2% | -16.0% |
| 1991 | 44.8% | +14.4% |
| 1992 | 46.9% | +4.7% |
| 1995 | 39.6% | -15.7% |
| 1996 | 43.0% | +8.8% |
| 2001 | 57.8% | +34.4% |
| 2002 | 56.5% | -2.3% |
| 2003 | 54.5% | -3.7% |
| 2004 | 61.2% | +12.3% |
| 2005 | 61.4% | +0.5% |
| 2006 | 63.4% | +3.2% |
| 2007 | 62.6% | -1.2% |
| 2008 | 61.1% | -2.4% |
| 2009 | 60.4% | -1.2% |
| 2010 | 65.3% | +8.2% |
| 2011 | 63.8% | -2.3% |
| 2012 | 60.0% | -6.1% |
| 2013 | 51.8% | -13.6% |
| 2014 | 55.2% | +6.5% |
| 2015 | 55.8% | +1.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 48.8% | 46.7% | 50.8% | 3 |
| 1990s | 42.7% | 39.2% | 46.9% | 5 |
| 2000s | 59.9% | 54.5% | 63.4% | 9 |
| 2010s | 58.7% | 51.8% | 65.3% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Gambia
- 7 Burkina Faso 57.9% compare
- 8 Lesotho 56.0% compare
- 9 Mauritania 55.9% compare
- 11 Guatemala 55.6% compare
- 12 Philippines 55.0% compare
- 13 Comoros 54.6% compare
More education data for Gambia
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 12,452 (2021)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 16,389 (2025)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 71,238 (2025)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 77,061 (2025)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 369,783 (2021)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 442,901 (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 2.4 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0.0002 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.1569 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is expenditure on primary education in Gambia?
- Expenditure on primary education in Gambia was 55.8% in 2015, according to Stat Bulk Data Download Service, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
- What is the highest expenditure on primary education recorded in Gambia?
- The highest recorded value was 65.3% in 2010.
- What is the lowest expenditure on primary education recorded in Gambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 39.2% in 1990.
- How does Gambia rank for expenditure on primary education?
- Gambia ranks 10th out of 149 countries with data for 2015.
- Is expenditure on primary education rising or falling in Gambia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 9.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Gambia data come from?
- The figures come from Stat Bulk Data Download Service, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), published as part of Expenditure on primary education (% of government expenditure on education). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Expenditure on primary education is expressed as a percentage of total general government expenditure on education. General government usually refers to local, regional and central governments.