Government expenditure on education, total in Gambia
Gambia: Government expenditure on education, total was 2.8% in 2023. ▼ Falling
Government expenditure on education, total in Gambia, 1985–2023
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 Gambia is 2.8%, measured in 2023.
That represents a change of down 2.9% on the previous year and up 54.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, government expenditure on education, total in Gambia peaked at 4.3% in 1985 and was at its lowest, 0.6%, in 2004.
That places Gambia 158th out of 196 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 33 years of available data.
Government expenditure on education, total in Gambia, year by year
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1985 | 4.3% | — |
| 1986 | 3.5% | -18.9% |
| 1989 | 3.0% | -14.7% |
| 1990 | 2.8% | -5.0% |
| 1991 | 3.8% | +33.8% |
| 1992 | 1.2% | -69.1% |
| 1995 | 2.6% | +118.3% |
| 1996 | 2.6% | +0.5% |
| 1999 | 1.6% | -39.0% |
| 2000 | 1.5% | -6.3% |
| 2001 | 1.2% | -21.0% |
| 2002 | 1.4% | +24.6% |
| 2003 | 1.4% | -5.5% |
| 2004 | 0.6% | -54.3% |
| 2005 | 0.7% | +11.2% |
| 2006 | 0.8% | +8.6% |
| 2007 | 0.8% | +8.7% |
| 2008 | 2.2% | +167.0% |
| 2009 | 1.9% | -12.5% |
| 2010 | 2.6% | +34.3% |
| 2011 | 2.5% | -2.4% |
| 2012 | 2.6% | +5.5% |
| 2013 | 1.8% | -31.1% |
| 2014 | 2.2% | +22.7% |
| 2015 | 2.2% | -3.2% |
| 2016 | 2.0% | -6.3% |
| 2017 | 2.5% | +21.5% |
| 2018 | 2.4% | -3.8% |
| 2019 | 2.8% | +18.7% |
| 2020 | 2.9% | +2.8% |
| 2021 | 3.0% | +5.5% |
| 2022 | 2.9% | -5.0% |
| 2023 | 2.8% | -2.9% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 3.6% | 3.0% | 4.3% | 3 |
| 1990s | 2.4% | 1.2% | 3.8% | 6 |
| 2000s | 1.2% | 0.6% | 2.2% | 10 |
| 2010s | 2.4% | 1.8% | 2.8% | 10 |
| 2020s | 2.9% | 2.8% | 3.0% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Gambia
- 155 Congo, Democratic Republic of the 2.8% compare
- 156 Cameroon 2.8% compare
- 157 Iran, Islamic Republic of 2.8% compare
- 159 Malawi 2.7% compare
- 160 Bahamas 2.7% compare
- 161 Sierra Leone 2.6% compare
More education data for Gambia
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 12,452 (2021)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 16,389 (2025)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 71,238 (2025)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 77,061 (2025)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 369,783 (2021)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 442,901 (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 2.4 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0.0002 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.1569 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is government expenditure on education, total in Gambia?
- Government expenditure on education, total in Gambia was 2.8% in 2023, according to Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
- What is the highest government expenditure on education, total recorded in Gambia?
- The highest recorded value was 4.3% in 1985.
- What is the lowest government expenditure on education, total recorded in Gambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.6% in 2004.
- How does Gambia rank for government expenditure on education, total?
- Gambia ranks 158th out of 196 countries with data for 2023.
- Is government expenditure on education, total rising or falling in Gambia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 54.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Gambia 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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About this data
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.