Expenditure on primary education in Thailand
Thailand: Expenditure on primary education was 41.1% in 2013. ▼ Falling
Expenditure on primary education in Thailand, 1971–2013
Source: Stat Bulk Data Download Service, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Measured in % of government expenditure on education.
Analysis
Thailand recorded 41.1% for expenditure on primary education in 2013.
That represents a change of down 8.2% on the previous year and up 32.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, expenditure on primary education in Thailand peaked at 58.6% in 1987 and was at its lowest, 26.5%, in 1998.
That places Thailand 41st out of 149 countries with data for 2013, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 33 years of available data.
Expenditure on primary education in Thailand, year by year
| Year | % of government expenditure on education | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1971 | 49.8% | — |
| 1972 | 53.4% | +7.2% |
| 1973 | 54.4% | +1.9% |
| 1974 | 53.1% | -2.5% |
| 1975 | 54.1% | +1.9% |
| 1976 | 57.2% | +5.8% |
| 1977 | 57.9% | +1.2% |
| 1979 | 55.3% | -4.4% |
| 1980 | 55.8% | +0.9% |
| 1981 | 55.7% | -0.2% |
| 1982 | 53.6% | -3.8% |
| 1983 | 57.0% | +6.4% |
| 1984 | 58.5% | +2.6% |
| 1986 | 58.4% | -0.2% |
| 1987 | 58.6% | +0.3% |
| 1988 | 58.2% | -0.7% |
| 1989 | 57.0% | -1.9% |
| 1991 | 51.5% | -9.7% |
| 1992 | 49.5% | -3.8% |
| 1994 | 47.4% | -4.4% |
| 1995 | 45.5% | -4.0% |
| 1996 | 44.5% | -2.1% |
| 1997 | 30.4% | -31.6% |
| 1998 | 26.5% | -12.9% |
| 2000 | 32.2% | +21.6% |
| 2001 | 32.1% | -0.5% |
| 2004 | 31.0% | -3.4% |
| 2008 | 45.1% | +45.8% |
| 2009 | 46.1% | +2.2% |
| 2010 | 40.1% | -13.1% |
| 2011 | 50.4% | +25.9% |
| 2012 | 44.8% | -11.2% |
| 2013 | 41.1% | -8.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 54.4% | 49.8% | 57.9% | 8 |
| 1980s | 57.0% | 53.6% | 58.6% | 9 |
| 1990s | 42.2% | 26.5% | 51.5% | 7 |
| 2000s | 37.3% | 31.0% | 46.1% | 5 |
| 2010s | 44.1% | 40.1% | 50.4% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Thailand
More education data for Thailand
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 243,991 (2025)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 13,596 (2025)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 758,147 (2025)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 716,498 (2025)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 4.26 million (2025)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 4.45 million (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate -1.23 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.0621 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is expenditure on primary education in Thailand?
- Expenditure on primary education in Thailand was 41.1% 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 Thailand?
- The highest recorded value was 58.6% in 1987.
- What is the lowest expenditure on primary education recorded in Thailand?
- The lowest recorded value was 26.5% in 1998.
- How does Thailand rank for expenditure on primary education?
- Thailand ranks 41st out of 149 countries with data for 2013.
- Is expenditure on primary education rising or falling in Thailand?
- Over the last ten years it is up 32.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Thailand 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.