Expenditure on primary education in India
India: Expenditure on primary education was 28.4% in 2013. ▼ Falling
Expenditure on primary education in India, 1999–2013
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 India is 28.4%, measured in 2013.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 4.4% on the previous year and down 21.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, expenditure on primary education in India peaked at 37.6% in 2000 and was at its lowest, 25.2%, in 2010.
That places India 102nd out of 149 countries with data for 2013, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 11 years of available data.
Expenditure on primary education in India, year by year
| Year | % of government expenditure on education | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1999 | 30.0% | — |
| 2000 | 37.6% | +25.0% |
| 2003 | 36.1% | -3.9% |
| 2004 | 36.4% | +0.8% |
| 2005 | 35.6% | -2.2% |
| 2006 | 35.4% | -0.6% |
| 2009 | 26.7% | -24.6% |
| 2010 | 25.2% | -5.5% |
| 2011 | 26.5% | +5.3% |
| 2012 | 27.2% | +2.5% |
| 2013 | 28.4% | +4.4% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 30.0% | 30.0% | 30.0% | 1 |
| 2000s | 34.6% | 26.7% | 37.6% | 6 |
| 2010s | 26.8% | 25.2% | 28.4% | 4 |
Countries ranked near India
More education data for India
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 7.31 million (2025)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 3.10 million (2025)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 19.37 million (2025)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 18.52 million (2025)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 133.16 million (2025)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 126.12 million (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate -8.85 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.0862 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is expenditure on primary education in India?
- Expenditure on primary education in India was 28.4% in 2013, according to Stat Bulk Data Download Service, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
- What is the highest expenditure on primary education recorded in India?
- The highest recorded value was 37.6% in 2000.
- What is the lowest expenditure on primary education recorded in India?
- The lowest recorded value was 25.2% in 2010.
- How does India rank for expenditure on primary education?
- India ranks 102nd out of 149 countries with data for 2013.
- Is expenditure on primary education rising or falling in India?
- Over the last ten years it is down 21.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this India 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.