Expenditure on primary education in Ghana
Ghana: Expenditure on primary education was 21.7% in 2014. ▲ Rising
Expenditure on primary education in Ghana, 1971–2014
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 Ghana is 21.7%, measured in 2014.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 11.0% on the previous year and down 45.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, expenditure on primary education in Ghana peaked at 45.5% in 2011 and was at its lowest, 19.4%, in 1976.
That places Ghana 128th out of 149 countries with data for 2014, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 25 years of available data.
Expenditure on primary education in Ghana, year by year
| Year | % of government expenditure on education | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1971 | 34.7% | — |
| 1972 | 33.2% | -4.4% |
| 1974 | 38.9% | +17.4% |
| 1975 | 36.9% | -5.3% |
| 1976 | 19.4% | -47.4% |
| 1977 | 19.6% | +0.9% |
| 1979 | 27.1% | +38.6% |
| 1980 | 28.0% | +3.2% |
| 1981 | 27.8% | -0.8% |
| 1982 | 32.5% | +16.9% |
| 1986 | 33.1% | +1.9% |
| 1987 | 27.3% | -17.4% |
| 1988 | 25.7% | -5.8% |
| 2001 | 41.5% | +61.4% |
| 2004 | 39.7% | -4.4% |
| 2005 | 39.5% | -0.6% |
| 2006 | 36.9% | -6.5% |
| 2007 | 34.2% | -7.2% |
| 2008 | 34.6% | +1.0% |
| 2009 | 33.1% | -4.2% |
| 2010 | 30.9% | -6.8% |
| 2011 | 45.5% | +47.4% |
| 2012 | 32.3% | -29.0% |
| 2013 | 24.4% | -24.5% |
| 2014 | 21.7% | -11.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 30.0% | 19.4% | 38.9% | 7 |
| 1980s | 29.1% | 25.7% | 33.1% | 6 |
| 2000s | 37.1% | 33.1% | 41.5% | 7 |
| 2010s | 30.9% | 21.7% | 45.5% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Ghana
- 125 Hong Kong, China 22.1% compare
- 126 Puerto Rico 22.0% compare
- 127 Singapore 22.0% compare
- 129 Ukraine 21.7% compare
- 130 Andorra 21.4% compare
- 131 Saint Kitts and Nevis 21.4% compare
More education data for Ghana
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 174,414 (2024)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 39,902 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 949,095 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 913,117 (2024)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 3.33 million (2024)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 4.98 million (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 0.6567 % change on previous year (2022)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.1448 units per person (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is expenditure on primary education in Ghana?
- Expenditure on primary education in Ghana was 21.7% in 2014, according to Stat Bulk Data Download Service, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
- What is the highest expenditure on primary education recorded in Ghana?
- The highest recorded value was 45.5% in 2011.
- What is the lowest expenditure on primary education recorded in Ghana?
- The lowest recorded value was 19.4% in 1976.
- How does Ghana rank for expenditure on primary education?
- Ghana ranks 128th out of 149 countries with data for 2014.
- Is expenditure on primary education rising or falling in Ghana?
- Over the last ten years it is down 45.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Ghana 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.