Government expenditure on education, total in Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone: Government expenditure on education, total was 2.6% in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Government expenditure on education, total in Sierra Leone, 2000–2023
Source: Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Measured in % of GDP.
Analysis
Sierra Leone recorded 2.6% for government expenditure on education, total in 2023.
The figure is down 46.5% on the previous year and up 68.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, government expenditure on education, total in Sierra Leone peaked at 5.6% in 2021 and was at its lowest, 1.5%, in 2008.
Sierra Leone ranks 161st of 196 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Government expenditure on education, total in Sierra Leone, year by year
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 4.9% | — |
| 2001 | 2.2% | -55.0% |
| 2002 | 2.3% | +3.2% |
| 2003 | 2.1% | -8.2% |
| 2004 | 2.0% | -4.6% |
| 2005 | 1.8% | -9.8% |
| 2007 | 1.5% | -16.2% |
| 2008 | 1.5% | -4.3% |
| 2009 | 1.7% | +18.6% |
| 2010 | 1.6% | -9.2% |
| 2011 | 1.6% | +3.2% |
| 2012 | 1.8% | +10.1% |
| 2013 | 1.6% | -12.2% |
| 2014 | 1.7% | +11.3% |
| 2015 | 3.2% | +85.2% |
| 2016 | 1.8% | -42.6% |
| 2017 | 3.0% | +63.1% |
| 2018 | 4.5% | +48.2% |
| 2019 | 4.7% | +4.1% |
| 2020 | 5.3% | +14.9% |
| 2021 | 5.6% | +4.6% |
| 2022 | 4.9% | -12.3% |
| 2023 | 2.6% | -46.5% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 2.2% | 1.5% | 4.9% | 9 |
| 2010s | 2.5% | 1.6% | 4.7% | 10 |
| 2020s | 4.6% | 2.6% | 5.6% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Sierra Leone
More education data for Sierra Leone
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 38,043 (2024)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 73,295 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 85,708 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 92,723 (2024)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 1.16 million (2023)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 2.07 million (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 2.52 % change on previous year (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0.0003 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.2393 units per person (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is government expenditure on education, total in Sierra Leone?
- Government expenditure on education, total in Sierra Leone was 2.6% in 2023, according to Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
- What is the highest government expenditure on education, total recorded in Sierra Leone?
- The highest recorded value was 5.6% in 2021.
- What is the lowest government expenditure on education, total recorded in Sierra Leone?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.5% in 2008.
- How does Sierra Leone rank for government expenditure on education, total?
- Sierra Leone ranks 161st out of 196 countries with data for 2023.
- Is government expenditure on education, total rising or falling in Sierra Leone?
- Over the last ten years it is up 68.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Sierra Leone 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.