Expenditure on primary education in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka: Expenditure on primary education was 29.9% in 2018. ▼ Falling
Expenditure on primary education in Sri Lanka, 1973–2018
Source: Stat Bulk Data Download Service, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Measured in % of government expenditure on education.
Analysis
In 2018, expenditure on primary education in Sri Lanka stood at 29.9%.
That represents a change of down 10.6% on the previous year and up 5.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, expenditure on primary education in Sri Lanka peaked at 34.9% in 2016 and was at its lowest, 23.0%, in 2013.
That places Sri Lanka 91st out of 149 countries with data for 2018, 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 Sri Lanka, year by year
| Year | % of government expenditure on education | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1973 | 34.3% | — |
| 2009 | 28.3% | -17.4% |
| 2010 | 25.0% | -11.5% |
| 2011 | 24.2% | -3.3% |
| 2012 | 23.9% | -1.3% |
| 2013 | 23.0% | -3.8% |
| 2014 | 28.7% | +24.7% |
| 2015 | 28.3% | -1.3% |
| 2016 | 34.9% | +23.3% |
| 2017 | 33.4% | -4.4% |
| 2018 | 29.9% | -10.6% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 34.3% | 34.3% | 34.3% | 1 |
| 2000s | 28.3% | 28.3% | 28.3% | 1 |
| 2010s | 27.9% | 23.0% | 34.9% | 9 |
Countries ranked near Sri Lanka
More education data for Sri Lanka
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 155,543 (2023)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 0 (2023)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 224,799 (2023)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 214,300 (2023)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 2.54 million (2023)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 1.58 million (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate -2.89 % change on previous year (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.0715 units per person (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is expenditure on primary education in Sri Lanka?
- Expenditure on primary education in Sri Lanka was 29.9% in 2018, according to Stat Bulk Data Download Service, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
- What is the highest expenditure on primary education recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The highest recorded value was 34.9% in 2016.
- What is the lowest expenditure on primary education recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The lowest recorded value was 23.0% in 2013.
- How does Sri Lanka rank for expenditure on primary education?
- Sri Lanka ranks 91st out of 149 countries with data for 2018.
- Is expenditure on primary education rising or falling in Sri Lanka?
- Over the last ten years it is up 5.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Sri Lanka 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.