Government expenditure on education, total in Bhutan

Bhutan: Government expenditure on education, total was 5.8% in 2023. ▲ Rising

Latest (2023)
5.8%
Change on year
down 21.7%
World rank
32nd
of 196 countries
All-time high
7.5%
in 2022
All-time low
1.7%
in 1972
Years of data
24
1971–2023

Government expenditure on education, total in Bhutan, 1971–2023

24681971199720231971: 1.9 % of GDP1972: 1.7 % of GDP1975: 3.1 % of GDP1978: 2.5 % of GDP1979: 3.5 % of GDP2000: 5.8 % of GDP2001: 5.4 % of GDP2004: 6.1 % of GDP2005: 6.8 % of GDP2008: 4.6 % of GDP2009: 4.4 % of GDP2010: 3.8 % of GDP2011: 4.3 % of GDP2013: 5.2 % of GDP2014: 5.5 % of GDP2015: 6.9 % of GDP2016: 6.4 % of GDP2017: 6.6 % of GDP2018: 6.5 % of GDP2019: 4.5 % of GDP2020: 5.5 % of GDP2021: 6.6 % of GDP2022: 7.5 % of GDP2023: 5.8 % 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 Bhutan is 5.8%, measured in 2023.

Compared with earlier readings it is down 21.7% on the previous year and up 13.2% over ten years.

Over the whole period, government expenditure on education, total in Bhutan peaked at 7.5% in 2022 and was at its lowest, 1.7%, in 1972.

That places Bhutan 32nd out of 196 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the top quarter.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 24 years of available data.

Government expenditure on education, total in Bhutan, year by year

Annual values for Government expenditure on education, total (% of GDP) in Bhutan, 1971 to 2023.
Year % of GDP Change
1971 1.9%
1972 1.7% -12.0%
1975 3.1% +87.4%
1978 2.5% -18.8%
1979 3.5% +38.5%
2000 5.8% +66.5%
2001 5.4% -5.8%
2004 6.1% +12.4%
2005 6.8% +10.5%
2008 4.6% -32.4%
2009 4.4% -3.3%
2010 3.8% -13.5%
2011 4.3% +12.9%
2013 5.2% +19.7%
2014 5.5% +5.7%
2015 6.9% +26.9%
2016 6.4% -7.6%
2017 6.6% +3.3%
2018 6.5% -2.1%
2019 4.5% -30.4%
2020 5.5% +21.3%
2021 6.6% +20.6%
2022 7.5% +13.2%
2023 5.8% -21.7%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1970s 2.5% 1.7% 3.5% 5
2000s 5.5% 4.4% 6.8% 6
2010s 5.5% 3.8% 6.9% 9
2020s 6.3% 5.5% 7.5% 4

Countries ranked near Bhutan

  1. 29 Mozambique 6.0% compare
  2. 30 Israel 5.9% compare
  3. 31 United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 5.9% compare
  4. 33 Naoero 5.8% compare
  5. 34 Brazil 5.6% compare
  6. 35 Jamaica 5.5% compare

See the full ranking of 242 places →

More education data for Bhutan

All data for Bhutan →

Frequently asked questions

What is government expenditure on education, total in Bhutan?
Government expenditure on education, total in Bhutan was 5.8% in 2023, according to Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
What is the highest government expenditure on education, total recorded in Bhutan?
The highest recorded value was 7.5% in 2022.
What is the lowest government expenditure on education, total recorded in Bhutan?
The lowest recorded value was 1.7% in 1972.
How does Bhutan rank for government expenditure on education, total?
Bhutan ranks 32nd out of 196 countries with data for 2023.
Is government expenditure on education, total rising or falling in Bhutan?
Over the last ten years it is up 13.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this Bhutan 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 Bhutan. 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/bhutan/

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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.