Expenditure on primary education in Singapore
Singapore: Expenditure on primary education was 22.0% in 2013. ▼ Falling
Expenditure on primary education in Singapore, 1971–2013
Source: Stat Bulk Data Download Service, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Measured in % of government expenditure on education.
Analysis
Singapore recorded 22.0% for expenditure on primary education in 2013.
That represents a change of up 6.9% on the previous year and down 2.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, expenditure on primary education in Singapore peaked at 42.3% in 1971 and was at its lowest, 20.2%, in 2011.
That places Singapore 127th out of 149 countries with data for 2013, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 20 years of available data.
Expenditure on primary education in Singapore, year by year
| Year | % of government expenditure on education | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1971 | 42.3% | — |
| 1972 | 40.6% | -4.0% |
| 1973 | 38.3% | -5.5% |
| 1974 | 37.5% | -2.1% |
| 1975 | 40.0% | +6.5% |
| 1976 | 37.8% | -5.3% |
| 1977 | 40.2% | +6.2% |
| 1978 | 40.1% | -0.1% |
| 1979 | 40.3% | +0.4% |
| 1980 | 37.7% | -6.5% |
| 1981 | 36.8% | -2.4% |
| 1982 | 32.8% | -10.6% |
| 1983 | 32.9% | +0.2% |
| 1988 | 27.6% | -16.0% |
| 2008 | 22.5% | -18.7% |
| 2009 | 21.6% | -3.8% |
| 2010 | 20.8% | -3.7% |
| 2011 | 20.2% | -2.8% |
| 2012 | 20.6% | +1.6% |
| 2013 | 22.0% | +6.9% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 39.7% | 37.5% | 42.3% | 9 |
| 1980s | 33.6% | 27.6% | 37.7% | 5 |
| 2000s | 22.0% | 21.6% | 22.5% | 2 |
| 2010s | 20.9% | 20.2% | 22.0% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Singapore
More education data for Singapore
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 13,601 (2023)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 336 (2023)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 9,429 (1989)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 8,429 (1989)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 163,746 (2023)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 238,816 (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 1.4 % change on previous year (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.0404 units per person (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is expenditure on primary education in Singapore?
- Expenditure on primary education in Singapore was 22.0% 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 Singapore?
- The highest recorded value was 42.3% in 1971.
- What is the lowest expenditure on primary education recorded in Singapore?
- The lowest recorded value was 20.2% in 2011.
- How does Singapore rank for expenditure on primary education?
- Singapore ranks 127th out of 149 countries with data for 2013.
- Is expenditure on primary education rising or falling in Singapore?
- Over the last ten years it is down 2.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Singapore 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.