Government expenditure on education, total in IBRD only

IBRD only: Government expenditure on education, total was 3.7% in 2023. ▬ Flat

Latest (2023)
3.7%
Change on year
up 1.3%
Rank
21st
of 46 groups
All-time high
4.6%
in 2009
All-time low
3.5%
in 1996
Years of data
26
1996–2023

Government expenditure on education, total in IBRD only, 1996–2023

0123451996200920231996: 3.5 % of GDP1999: 4.2 % of GDP2000: 3.8 % of GDP2001: 3.8 % of GDP2002: 3.8 % of GDP2003: 3.9 % of GDP2004: 3.9 % of GDP2005: 3.9 % of GDP2006: 3.9 % of GDP2007: 4 % of GDP2008: 4.1 % of GDP2009: 4.6 % of GDP2010: 4.1 % of GDP2011: 4.1 % of GDP2012: 4.2 % of GDP2013: 4.3 % of GDP2014: 4 % of GDP2015: 4.2 % of GDP2016: 4.2 % of GDP2017: 4 % of GDP2018: 4 % of GDP2019: 3.9 % of GDP2020: 4.3 % of GDP2021: 4 % of GDP2022: 3.6 % of GDP2023: 3.7 % of GDP

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

Analysis

In 2023, government expenditure on education, total in IBRD only stood at 3.7%.

The figure is up 1.3% on the previous year and down 14.7% over ten years.

Over the whole period, government expenditure on education, total in IBRD only peaked at 4.6% in 2009 and was at its lowest, 3.5%, in 1996.

IBRD only ranks 21st of 46 groups on this measure, in the middle of the range.

Government expenditure on education, total in IBRD only, year by year

Annual values for Government expenditure on education, total (% of GDP) in IBRD only, 1996 to 2023.
Year % of GDP Change
1996 3.5%
1999 4.2% +20.4%
2000 3.8% -9.0%
2001 3.8% -1.8%
2002 3.8% +0.4%
2003 3.9% +2.2%
2004 3.9% -0.1%
2005 3.9% -0.2%
2006 3.9% +1.3%
2007 4.0% +1.5%
2008 4.1% +3.3%
2009 4.6% +11.9%
2010 4.1% -11.3%
2011 4.1% -0.2%
2012 4.2% +4.2%
2013 4.3% +1.4%
2014 4.0% -6.5%
2015 4.2% +4.8%
2016 4.2% +0.7%
2017 4.0% -6.4%
2018 4.0% +0.7%
2019 3.9% -1.1%
2020 4.3% +9.1%
2021 4.0% -6.1%
2022 3.6% -10.7%
2023 3.7% +1.3%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 3.9% 3.5% 4.2% 2
2000s 4.0% 3.8% 4.6% 10
2010s 4.1% 3.9% 4.3% 10
2020s 3.9% 3.6% 4.3% 4

Countries ranked near IBRD only

  1. 18 Lesotho 6.6% compare
  2. 19 Republic of Moldova 6.6% compare
  3. 20 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 6.5% compare
  4. 21 Kuwait 6.4% compare
  5. 22 Finland 6.4% compare
  6. 23 Denmark 6.4% compare
  7. 24 Belgium 6.3% compare

See the full ranking of 242 places →

More education data for IBRD only

All data for IBRD only →

Frequently asked questions

What is government expenditure on education, total in IBRD only?
Government expenditure on education, total in IBRD only was 3.7% in 2023, according to Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
What is the highest government expenditure on education, total recorded in IBRD only?
The highest recorded value was 4.6% in 2009.
What is the lowest government expenditure on education, total recorded in IBRD only?
The lowest recorded value was 3.5% in 1996.
How does IBRD only rank for government expenditure on education, total?
IBRD only ranks 21st out of 46 groups with data for 2023.
Is government expenditure on education, total rising or falling in IBRD only?
Over the last ten years it is down 14.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
Where does this IBRD only 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 IBRD only. Statizoid, drawing on Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Retrieved 04 September 2026, from https://education.statizoid.com/stat/government-expenditure-on-education-total-percent-of-gdp/ibrd-only/

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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.