Expenditure on tertiary education in Kenya
Kenya: Expenditure on tertiary education was 13.1% in 2015. ▬ Flat
Expenditure on tertiary education in Kenya, 1971–2015
Source: Stat Bulk Data Download Service, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Measured in % of government expenditure on education.
Analysis
Kenya recorded 13.1% for expenditure on tertiary education in 2015.
That represents a change of down 4.6% on the previous year and up 1.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, expenditure on tertiary education in Kenya peaked at 28.6% in 1991 and was at its lowest, 11.2%, in 1976.
Kenya ranks 126th of 160 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
Expenditure on tertiary education in Kenya, year by year
| Year | % of government expenditure on education | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1971 | 15.1% | — |
| 1972 | 13.7% | -9.1% |
| 1973 | 14.9% | +8.3% |
| 1974 | 11.7% | -21.4% |
| 1975 | 14.1% | +21.0% |
| 1976 | 11.2% | -20.8% |
| 1977 | 13.0% | +16.3% |
| 1980 | 17.8% | +37.0% |
| 1981 | 15.7% | -12.1% |
| 1982 | 15.0% | -4.4% |
| 1983 | 15.9% | +6.0% |
| 1984 | 14.5% | -8.8% |
| 1985 | 13.9% | -3.7% |
| 1986 | 14.2% | +2.2% |
| 1988 | 16.1% | +13.0% |
| 1989 | 16.3% | +1.5% |
| 1991 | 28.6% | +74.9% |
| 1992 | 20.0% | -29.9% |
| 1993 | 21.3% | +6.2% |
| 1994 | 17.0% | -19.9% |
| 1999 | 11.5% | -32.7% |
| 2000 | 11.7% | +2.2% |
| 2001 | 13.1% | +11.7% |
| 2003 | 12.1% | -7.2% |
| 2004 | 12.9% | +6.3% |
| 2006 | 15.4% | +19.4% |
| 2011 | 12.8% | -17.1% |
| 2012 | 17.6% | +37.8% |
| 2013 | 14.2% | -19.3% |
| 2014 | 13.7% | -3.6% |
| 2015 | 13.1% | -4.6% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 13.4% | 11.2% | 15.1% | 7 |
| 1980s | 15.5% | 13.9% | 17.8% | 9 |
| 1990s | 19.7% | 11.5% | 28.6% | 5 |
| 2000s | 13.1% | 11.7% | 15.4% | 5 |
| 2010s | 14.3% | 12.8% | 17.6% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Kenya
- 123 Burkina Faso 13.7% compare
- 124 Eswatini 13.3% compare
- 125 Luxembourg 13.1% compare
- 127 Armenia 13.0% compare
- 128 Czechia 12.6% compare
- 129 Philippines 12.0% compare
More education data for Kenya
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 168,396 (2023)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 235,728 (2016)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 1.44 million (2023)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 1.44 million (2023)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 6.74 million (2023)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 8.04 million (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate -0.7181 % change on previous year (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.1453 units per person (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is expenditure on tertiary education in Kenya?
- Expenditure on tertiary education in Kenya was 13.1% in 2015, according to Stat Bulk Data Download Service, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
- What is the highest expenditure on tertiary education recorded in Kenya?
- The highest recorded value was 28.6% in 1991.
- What is the lowest expenditure on tertiary education recorded in Kenya?
- The lowest recorded value was 11.2% in 1976.
- How does Kenya rank for expenditure on tertiary education?
- Kenya ranks 126th out of 160 countries with data for 2015.
- Is expenditure on tertiary education rising or falling in Kenya?
- Over the last ten years it is up 1.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Kenya 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 tertiary education (% of government expenditure on education). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Expenditure on tertiary education is expressed as a percentage of total general government expenditure on education. General government usually refers to local, regional and central governments.