Government expenditure on education as a percentage of GDP in Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone: Government expenditure on education as a percentage of GDP was 2.6% in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Government expenditure on education as a percentage of GDP in Sierra Leone, 2000–2023
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for government expenditure on education as a percentage of gdp in Sierra Leone is 2.6%, measured in 2023.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 46.5% on the previous year and up 68.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, government expenditure on education as a percentage of gdp in Sierra Leone peaked at 5.6% in 2021 and was at its lowest, 1.5%, in 2008.
That places Sierra Leone 163rd out of 199 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Government expenditure on education as a percentage of GDP in Sierra Leone, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 4.9% | — |
| 2001 | 2.2% | -55.0% |
| 2002 | 2.3% | +3.2% |
| 2003 | 2.1% | -8.2% |
| 2004 | 2.0% | -4.6% |
| 2005 | 1.8% | -9.8% |
| 2007 | 1.5% | -16.2% |
| 2008 | 1.5% | -4.3% |
| 2009 | 1.7% | +18.6% |
| 2010 | 1.6% | -9.2% |
| 2011 | 1.6% | +3.2% |
| 2012 | 1.8% | +10.1% |
| 2013 | 1.6% | -12.2% |
| 2014 | 1.7% | +11.3% |
| 2015 | 3.2% | +85.2% |
| 2016 | 1.8% | -42.6% |
| 2017 | 3.0% | +63.1% |
| 2018 | 4.5% | +48.2% |
| 2019 | 4.7% | +4.1% |
| 2020 | 5.3% | +14.9% |
| 2021 | 5.6% | +4.6% |
| 2022 | 4.9% | -12.3% |
| 2023 | 2.6% | -46.5% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 2.2% | 1.5% | 4.9% | 9 |
| 2010s | 2.5% | 1.6% | 4.7% | 10 |
| 2020s | 4.6% | 2.6% | 5.6% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Sierra Leone
More education data for Sierra Leone
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 38,043 (2024)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 73,295 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 85,708 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 92,723 (2024)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 1.16 million (2023)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 2.07 million (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 2.52 % change on previous year (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0.0003 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.2393 units per person (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is government expenditure on education as a percentage of gdp in Sierra Leone?
- Government expenditure on education as a percentage of gdp in Sierra Leone was 2.6% in 2023, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest government expenditure on education as a percentage of gdp recorded in Sierra Leone?
- The highest recorded value was 5.6% in 2021.
- What is the lowest government expenditure on education as a percentage of gdp recorded in Sierra Leone?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.5% in 2008.
- How does Sierra Leone rank for government expenditure on education as a percentage of gdp?
- Sierra Leone ranks 163rd out of 199 countries with data for 2023.
- Is government expenditure on education as a percentage of gdp rising or falling in Sierra Leone?
- Over the last ten years it is up 68.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Sierra Leone data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Government expenditure on education as a percentage of GDP (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release