Government expenditure on education, total in Arab World

Arab World: Government expenditure on education, total was 3.8% in 2020. ▼ Falling

Latest (2020)
3.8%
Change on year
up 10.1%
Rank
18th
of 46 groups
All-time high
4.7%
in 2004
All-time low
3.4%
in 2019
Years of data
5
2004–2020

Government expenditure on education, total in Arab World, 2004–2020

0123452004201220202004: 4.7 % of GDP2006: 3.8 % of GDP2008: 4.2 % of GDP2019: 3.4 % of GDP2020: 3.8 % of GDP

Source: Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Measured in % of GDP.

Analysis

The most recent figure for government expenditure on education, total in Arab World is 3.8%, measured in 2020.

That represents a change of up 10.1% on the previous year and down 10.9% over ten years.

Over the whole period, government expenditure on education, total in Arab World peaked at 4.7% in 2004 and was at its lowest, 3.4%, in 2019.

Arab World ranks 18th of 46 groups on this measure, in the middle of the range.

Government expenditure on education, total in Arab World, year by year

Annual values for Government expenditure on education, total (% of GDP) in Arab World, 2004 to 2020.
Year % of GDP Change
2004 4.7%
2006 3.8% -19.5%
2008 4.2% +12.4%
2019 3.4% -19.0%
2020 3.8% +10.1%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 4.2% 3.8% 4.7% 3
2010s 3.4% 3.4% 3.4% 1
2020s 3.8% 3.8% 3.8% 1

Countries ranked near Arab World

  1. 15 Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of 6.9% compare
  2. 16 Kyrgyzstan 6.8% compare
  3. 17 Tunisia 6.7% compare
  4. 18 Lesotho 6.6% compare
  5. 19 Republic of Moldova 6.6% compare
  6. 20 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 6.5% compare
  7. 21 Kuwait 6.4% compare

See the full ranking of 242 places →

More education data for Arab World

All data for Arab World →

Frequently asked questions

What is government expenditure on education, total in Arab World?
Government expenditure on education, total in Arab World was 3.8% in 2020, according to Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
What is the highest government expenditure on education, total recorded in Arab World?
The highest recorded value was 4.7% in 2004.
What is the lowest government expenditure on education, total recorded in Arab World?
The lowest recorded value was 3.4% in 2019.
How does Arab World rank for government expenditure on education, total?
Arab World ranks 18th out of 46 groups with data for 2020.
Is government expenditure on education, total rising or falling in Arab World?
Over the last ten years it is down 10.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
Where does this Arab World data come from?
The figures come from Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), published as part of Government expenditure on education, total (% of GDP). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Government expenditure on education, total in Arab World. Statizoid, drawing on Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Retrieved 06 September 2026, from https://education.statizoid.com/stat/government-expenditure-on-education-total-percent-of-gdp/arab-world/

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About this data

Indicator
Government expenditure on education, total (% of GDP)
Unit
% of GDP
Source
Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
242 places, 6,340 data points, 1970–2025
Last refreshed

General government expenditure on education (current, capital, and transfers) is expressed as a percentage of GDP. It includes expenditure funded by transfers from international sources to government. General government usually refers to local, regional and central governments.