Expenditure on primary education in OECD members
OECD members: Expenditure on primary education was 26.9% in 2016. ▼ Falling
Expenditure on primary education in OECD members, 1979–2016
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 OECD members is 26.9%, measured in 2016.
The figure is up 6.5% on the previous year and up 5.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, expenditure on primary education in OECD members peaked at 38.0% in 1979 and was at its lowest, 24.9%, in 1996.
OECD members ranks 18th of 24 groups on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 25 years of available data.
Expenditure on primary education in OECD members, year by year
| Year | % of government expenditure on education | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1979 | 38.0% | — |
| 1988 | 30.8% | -19.0% |
| 1993 | 27.3% | -11.4% |
| 1994 | 27.9% | +2.3% |
| 1995 | 25.2% | -9.6% |
| 1996 | 24.9% | -1.2% |
| 1998 | 25.5% | +2.3% |
| 1999 | 26.5% | +4.0% |
| 2000 | 26.9% | +1.3% |
| 2001 | 25.5% | -4.9% |
| 2002 | 25.8% | +1.1% |
| 2003 | 25.7% | -0.5% |
| 2004 | 26.0% | +1.2% |
| 2005 | 26.0% | +0.1% |
| 2006 | 25.6% | -1.4% |
| 2007 | 25.1% | -2.2% |
| 2008 | 25.4% | +1.2% |
| 2009 | 26.1% | +2.6% |
| 2010 | 26.8% | +2.9% |
| 2011 | 26.8% | -0.1% |
| 2012 | 27.4% | +2.3% |
| 2013 | 28.6% | +4.3% |
| 2014 | 26.8% | -6.3% |
| 2015 | 25.3% | -5.5% |
| 2016 | 26.9% | +6.5% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 38.0% | 38.0% | 38.0% | 1 |
| 1980s | 30.8% | 30.8% | 30.8% | 1 |
| 1990s | 26.2% | 24.9% | 27.9% | 6 |
| 2000s | 25.8% | 25.1% | 26.9% | 10 |
| 2010s | 26.9% | 25.3% | 28.6% | 7 |
Countries ranked near OECD members
- 15 Nepal 53.8% compare
- 16 Central African Republic 53.3% compare
- 17 Eswatini 50.8% compare
- 18 Benin 49.8% compare
- 19 Tanzania, United Republic of 49.2% compare
- 20 Honduras 48.9% compare
- 21 South Sudan 48.6% compare
More education data for OECD members
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 116.41 million (2024)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 91.38 million (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate -0.2049 % change on previous year (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.0654 units per person (2024)
- Primary education, teachers, gaps filled 6.28 million (2024)
- Population ages 15-64 64.5% (2025)
- Population ages 0-14 16.4% (2025)
- Secondary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is expenditure on primary education in OECD members?
- Expenditure on primary education in OECD members was 26.9% in 2016, according to Stat Bulk Data Download Service, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
- What is the highest expenditure on primary education recorded in OECD members?
- The highest recorded value was 38.0% in 1979.
- What is the lowest expenditure on primary education recorded in OECD members?
- The lowest recorded value was 24.9% in 1996.
- How does OECD members rank for expenditure on primary education?
- OECD members ranks 18th out of 24 groups with data for 2016.
- Is expenditure on primary education rising or falling in OECD members?
- Over the last ten years it is up 5.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this OECD members 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.