Government expenditure on education, total in Afghanistan

Afghanistan: Government expenditure on education, total was 15.7% in 2017. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2017)
15.7%
Change on year
down 3.4%
World rank
53rd
of 193 countries
All-time high
17.1%
in 2010
All-time low
0.0%
in 1981
Years of data
14
1981–2017

Government expenditure on education, total in Afghanistan, 1981–2017

0510151981199920171981: 0 % of government expenditure1982: 0 % of government expenditure1983: 0 % of government expenditure1999: 0 % of government expenditure2000: 0 % of government expenditure2001: 0 % of government expenditure2010: 17.1 % of government expenditure2011: 16 % of government expenditure2012: 10.4 % of government expenditure2013: 14.1 % of government expenditure2014: 14.5 % of government expenditure2015: 12.5 % of government expenditure2016: 16.2 % of government expenditure2017: 15.7 % of government expenditure

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

Analysis

In 2017, government expenditure on education, total in Afghanistan stood at 15.7%.

The figure is down 3.4% on the previous year and down 8.3% over ten years.

Over the whole period, government expenditure on education, total in Afghanistan peaked at 17.1% in 2010 and was at its lowest, 0.0%, in 1981.

Afghanistan ranks 53rd of 193 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.

The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.

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

Annual values for Government expenditure on education, total (% of government expenditure) in Afghanistan, 1981 to 2017.
Year % of government expenditure Change
1981 0.0%
1982 0.0%
1983 0.0%
1999 0.0%
2000 0.0%
2001 0.0%
2010 17.1%
2011 16.0% -6.0%
2012 10.4% -35.5%
2013 14.1% +36.2%
2014 14.5% +2.6%
2015 12.5% -13.5%
2016 16.2% +29.6%
2017 15.7% -3.4%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1980s 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 3
1990s 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 1
2000s 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 2
2010s 14.6% 10.4% 17.1% 8

Countries ranked near Afghanistan

  1. 50 Puerto Rico 16.0% compare
  2. 51 El Salvador 15.9% compare
  3. 52 Hong Kong, China 15.7% compare
  4. 54 Iceland 15.7% compare
  5. 55 Saudi Arabia 15.6% compare
  6. 56 Uruguay 15.6% compare

See the full ranking of 239 places →

More education data for Afghanistan

All data for Afghanistan →

Frequently asked questions

What is government expenditure on education, total in Afghanistan?
Government expenditure on education, total in Afghanistan was 15.7% in 2017, according to Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
What is the highest government expenditure on education, total recorded in Afghanistan?
The highest recorded value was 17.1% in 2010.
What is the lowest government expenditure on education, total recorded in Afghanistan?
The lowest recorded value was 0.0% in 1981.
How does Afghanistan rank for government expenditure on education, total?
Afghanistan ranks 53rd out of 193 countries with data for 2017.
Is government expenditure on education, total rising or falling in Afghanistan?
Over the last ten years it is down 8.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this Afghanistan 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 government expenditure). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Government expenditure on education, total in Afghanistan. Statizoid, drawing on Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Retrieved 11 September 2026, from https://education.statizoid.com/stat/government-expenditure-on-education-total-percent-of-government-expenditure/afghanistan/

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About this data

Indicator
Government expenditure on education, total (% of government expenditure)
Unit
% of government expenditure
Source
Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
239 places, 5,722 data points, 1980–2025
Last refreshed

General government expenditure on education (current, capital, and transfers) is expressed as a percentage of total general government expenditure on all sectors (including health, education, social services, etc.). It includes expenditure funded by transfers from international sources to government. General government usually refers to local, regional and central governments.