Government expenditure on education, total in Least developed countries
Least developed countries: Government expenditure on education, total was 3.2% in 2023. ▲ Rising
Government expenditure on education, total in Least developed countries, 1999–2023
Source: Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Measured in % of GDP.
Analysis
In 2023, government expenditure on education, total in Least developed countries stood at 3.2%.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 10.7% on the previous year and up 3.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, government expenditure on education, total in Least developed countries peaked at 3.3% in 2015 and was at its lowest, 2.3%, in 2002.
Least developed countries ranks 41st of 46 groups on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 23 years of available data.
Government expenditure on education, total in Least developed countries, year by year
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1999 | 2.5% | — |
| 2000 | 2.6% | +4.3% |
| 2001 | 2.6% | -0.0% |
| 2002 | 2.3% | -8.4% |
| 2004 | 2.5% | +4.8% |
| 2005 | 2.5% | +2.9% |
| 2006 | 2.6% | +1.1% |
| 2008 | 2.7% | +6.2% |
| 2009 | 2.8% | +2.7% |
| 2010 | 2.7% | -3.1% |
| 2011 | 2.9% | +5.4% |
| 2012 | 2.6% | -7.6% |
| 2013 | 3.1% | +17.4% |
| 2014 | 3.1% | +1.0% |
| 2015 | 3.3% | +4.1% |
| 2016 | 2.8% | -12.9% |
| 2017 | 3.1% | +8.2% |
| 2018 | 3.0% | -1.4% |
| 2019 | 2.9% | -4.1% |
| 2020 | 3.1% | +5.5% |
| 2021 | 3.1% | +0.2% |
| 2022 | 2.9% | -5.8% |
| 2023 | 3.2% | +10.7% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 2.5% | 2.5% | 2.5% | 1 |
| 2000s | 2.6% | 2.3% | 2.8% | 8 |
| 2010s | 3.0% | 2.6% | 3.3% | 10 |
| 2020s | 3.1% | 2.9% | 3.2% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Least developed countries
- 38 Curaçao 5.4% compare
- 39 Tajikistan 5.4% compare
- 40 Palestine, State of 5.4% compare
- 41 Norway 5.4% compare
- 42 United States of America 5.4% compare
- 43 Republic of Korea 5.4% compare
- 44 Dominica 5.4% compare
More education data for Least developed countries
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 171.01 million (2024)
- Primary education, teachers, gaps filled 4.43 million (2024)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Secondary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 0-14 38.4% (2025)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 75.92 million (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.1441 units per person (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 1.04 % change on previous year (2024)
- Population ages 15-64 57.7% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is government expenditure on education, total in Least developed countries?
- Government expenditure on education, total in Least developed countries was 3.2% in 2023, according to Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
- What is the highest government expenditure on education, total recorded in Least developed countries?
- The highest recorded value was 3.3% in 2015.
- What is the lowest government expenditure on education, total recorded in Least developed countries?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.3% in 2002.
- How does Least developed countries rank for government expenditure on education, total?
- Least developed countries ranks 41st out of 46 groups with data for 2023.
- Is government expenditure on education, total rising or falling in Least developed countries?
- Over the last ten years it is up 3.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Least developed countries 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.