Government expenditure on education in Trinidad and Tobago
Trinidad and Tobago: Government expenditure on education was 12.57 in 2025. ▼ Falling
Latest (2025)
12.57
Change on year
up 41.9%
World rank
23rd
of 35 countries
All-time high
15.01
in 1994
All-time low
8.86
in 2024
Years of data
28
1989–2025
Government expenditure on education in Trinidad and Tobago, 1989–2025
Source: UNICEF.
Analysis
Trinidad and Tobago recorded 12.57 for government expenditure on education in 2025.
The figure is up 41.9% on the previous year and up 2.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, government expenditure on education in Trinidad and Tobago peaked at 15.01 in 1994 and was at its lowest, 8.86, in 2024.
That places Trinidad and Tobago 23rd out of 35 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 28 years of available data.
Government expenditure on education in Trinidad and Tobago, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1989 | 12.91 | — |
| 1990 | 13.85 | +7.3% |
| 1994 | 15.01 | +8.4% |
| 1995 | 14.9 | -0.8% |
| 1996 | 13.28 | -10.8% |
| 1997 | 12.03 | -9.4% |
| 1998 | 8.93 | -25.8% |
| 1999 | 11.23 | +25.8% |
| 2000 | 11.73 | +4.5% |
| 2001 | 12.17 | +3.7% |
| 2002 | 14.29 | +17.4% |
| 2003 | 13.91 | -2.6% |
| 2010 | 12.9 | -7.2% |
| 2011 | 12.12 | -6.1% |
| 2012 | 11.67 | -3.7% |
| 2013 | 11.73 | +0.5% |
| 2014 | 10.51 | -10.4% |
| 2015 | 12.31 | +17.1% |
| 2016 | 11.73 | -4.7% |
| 2017 | 10.24 | -12.7% |
| 2018 | 10.65 | +4.0% |
| 2019 | 10.46 | -1.8% |
| 2020 | 11.72 | +12.1% |
| 2021 | 10.03 | -14.4% |
| 2022 | 10.19 | +1.6% |
| 2023 | 9.67 | -5.1% |
| 2024 | 8.86 | -8.3% |
| 2025 | 12.57 | +41.9% |
Trinidad and Tobago compared with similar countries
- Trinidad and Tobago's 12.57 is below the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 13.27, 95% of the median. (33 countries reporting)
- Trinidad and Tobago's 12.57 is above the median for high income countries, which is 12.57, 1.0× the median. (11 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 12.91 | 12.91 | 12.91 | 1 |
| 1990s | 12.75 | 8.93 | 15.01 | 7 |
| 2000s | 13.02 | 11.73 | 14.29 | 4 |
| 2010s | 11.43 | 10.24 | 12.9 | 10 |
| 2020s | 10.51 | 8.86 | 12.57 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Trinidad and Tobago
More education data for Trinidad and Tobago
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 7,950 (2024)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 8,036 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 12,546 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 12,926 (2024)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 91,195 (2024)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 126,491 (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate -1.94 % change on previous year (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.0924 units per person (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is government expenditure on education in Trinidad and Tobago?
- Government expenditure on education in Trinidad and Tobago was 12.57 in 2025, according to UNICEF.
- What is the highest government expenditure on education recorded in Trinidad and Tobago?
- The highest recorded value was 15.01 in 1994.
- What is the lowest government expenditure on education recorded in Trinidad and Tobago?
- The lowest recorded value was 8.86 in 2024.
- How does Trinidad and Tobago rank for government expenditure on education?
- Trinidad and Tobago ranks 23rd out of 35 countries with data for 2025.
- Is government expenditure on education rising or falling in Trinidad and Tobago?
- Over the last ten years it is up 2.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Trinidad and Tobago data come from?
- The figures come from UNICEF, published as part of Government expenditure on education (% of total government expenditure). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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