Expenditure on primary education in Kenya
Kenya: Expenditure on primary education was 36.3% in 2015. ▼ Falling
Expenditure on primary education in Kenya, 1971–2015
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 Kenya is 36.3%, measured in 2015.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.7% on the previous year and down 41.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, expenditure on primary education in Kenya peaked at 68.1% in 2000 and was at its lowest, 34.2%, in 2012.
Kenya ranks 57th of 149 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 29 years of available data.
Expenditure on primary education in Kenya, year by year
| Year | % of government expenditure on education | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1971 | 45.8% | — |
| 1972 | 44.5% | -2.8% |
| 1973 | 45.8% | +3.0% |
| 1974 | 55.8% | +21.7% |
| 1975 | 57.1% | +2.3% |
| 1976 | 63.4% | +11.1% |
| 1977 | 60.2% | -5.1% |
| 1980 | 59.8% | -0.7% |
| 1981 | 61.2% | +2.3% |
| 1982 | 62.1% | +1.5% |
| 1983 | 60.2% | -3.1% |
| 1984 | 62.2% | +3.4% |
| 1985 | 56.7% | -8.8% |
| 1986 | 57.5% | +1.3% |
| 1988 | 59.4% | +3.3% |
| 1989 | 57.1% | -3.9% |
| 1992 | 51.5% | -9.7% |
| 1993 | 49.7% | -3.4% |
| 1994 | 55.9% | +12.4% |
| 2000 | 68.1% | +21.8% |
| 2001 | 66.1% | -2.9% |
| 2003 | 63.0% | -4.7% |
| 2004 | 62.1% | -1.3% |
| 2006 | 54.1% | -12.9% |
| 2011 | 38.6% | -28.7% |
| 2012 | 34.2% | -11.4% |
| 2013 | 36.1% | +5.7% |
| 2014 | 36.1% | -0.2% |
| 2015 | 36.3% | +0.7% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 53.2% | 44.5% | 63.4% | 7 |
| 1980s | 59.6% | 56.7% | 62.2% | 9 |
| 1990s | 52.4% | 49.7% | 55.9% | 3 |
| 2000s | 62.7% | 54.1% | 68.1% | 5 |
| 2010s | 36.3% | 34.2% | 38.6% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Kenya
- 54 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 36.9% compare
- 55 Paraguay 36.4% compare
- 56 Maldives 36.4% compare
- 58 Myanmar 36.3% compare
- 59 Saint Lucia 35.1% compare
- 60 San Marino 34.4% compare
More education data for Kenya
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 168,396 (2023)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 235,728 (2016)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 1.44 million (2023)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 1.44 million (2023)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 6.74 million (2023)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 8.04 million (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate -0.7181 % change on previous year (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.1453 units per person (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is expenditure on primary education in Kenya?
- Expenditure on primary education in Kenya was 36.3% 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 Kenya?
- The highest recorded value was 68.1% in 2000.
- What is the lowest expenditure on primary education recorded in Kenya?
- The lowest recorded value was 34.2% in 2012.
- How does Kenya rank for expenditure on primary education?
- Kenya ranks 57th out of 149 countries with data for 2015.
- Is expenditure on primary education rising or falling in Kenya?
- Over the last ten years it is down 41.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Kenya 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.