Expenditure on primary education in South Asia
South Asia: Expenditure on primary education was 41.0% in 2015. ▼ Falling
Expenditure on primary education in South Asia, 1999–2015
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 South Asia is 41.0%, measured in 2015.
The figure is down 0.1% on the previous year and up 7.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, expenditure on primary education in South Asia peaked at 53.8% in 2008 and was at its lowest, 25.2%, in 2010.
That places South Asia 8th out of 24 groups with data for 2015, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 14 years of available data.
Expenditure on primary education in South Asia, year by year
| Year | % of government expenditure on education | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1999 | 44.5% | — |
| 2000 | 46.5% | +4.6% |
| 2002 | 52.2% | +12.2% |
| 2003 | 45.4% | -12.9% |
| 2004 | 38.2% | -16.0% |
| 2006 | 38.7% | +1.3% |
| 2008 | 53.8% | +39.2% |
| 2009 | 36.5% | -32.2% |
| 2010 | 25.2% | -31.0% |
| 2011 | 36.8% | +46.2% |
| 2012 | 35.9% | -2.5% |
| 2013 | 28.4% | -20.9% |
| 2014 | 41.1% | +44.6% |
| 2015 | 41.0% | -0.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 44.5% | 44.5% | 44.5% | 1 |
| 2000s | 44.5% | 36.5% | 53.8% | 7 |
| 2010s | 34.7% | 25.2% | 41.1% | 6 |
Countries ranked near South Asia
- 5 Haiti 58.9%
- 6 Dominican Republic 58.7% compare
- 7 Burkina Faso 57.9% compare
- 8 Lesotho 56.0% compare
- 9 Mauritania 55.9% compare
- 10 Gambia 55.8% compare
- 11 Guatemala 55.6% compare
More education data for South Asia
- Population ages 0-14 24.6% (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 4.5 % change on previous year (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.0959 units per person (2024)
- Secondary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 152.88 million (2024)
- Population ages 15-64 68.1% (2025)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 160.82 million (2024)
- Primary education, teachers, gaps filled 5.84 million (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is expenditure on primary education in South Asia?
- Expenditure on primary education in South Asia was 41.0% 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 South Asia?
- The highest recorded value was 53.8% in 2008.
- What is the lowest expenditure on primary education recorded in South Asia?
- The lowest recorded value was 25.2% in 2010.
- How does South Asia rank for expenditure on primary education?
- South Asia ranks 8th out of 24 groups with data for 2015.
- Is expenditure on primary education rising or falling in South Asia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 7.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this South Asia 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.
Download this data
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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.