Government expenditure on education, total in Africa Eastern and Southern
Africa Eastern and Southern: Government expenditure on education, total was 15.4% in 2024. ▬ Flat
Government expenditure on education, total in Africa Eastern and Southern, 1999–2024
Source: Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Measured in % of government expenditure.
Analysis
In 2024, government expenditure on education, total in Africa Eastern and Southern stood at 15.4%.
The figure is up 2.3% on the previous year and down 19.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, government expenditure on education, total in Africa Eastern and Southern peaked at 19.5% in 2012 and was at its lowest, 13.0%, in 2000.
That places Africa Eastern and Southern 10th out of 46 groups with data for 2024, putting it in the top quarter.
Government expenditure on education, total in Africa Eastern and Southern, year by year
| Year | % of government expenditure | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1999 | 15.5% | — |
| 2000 | 13.0% | -16.5% |
| 2001 | 18.7% | +43.9% |
| 2004 | 18.0% | -3.6% |
| 2005 | 18.1% | +0.8% |
| 2006 | 18.0% | -0.8% |
| 2008 | 17.1% | -5.1% |
| 2010 | 18.2% | +6.3% |
| 2011 | 18.7% | +2.7% |
| 2012 | 19.5% | +4.5% |
| 2013 | 17.5% | -10.4% |
| 2014 | 19.0% | +8.6% |
| 2015 | 17.4% | -8.5% |
| 2016 | 17.4% | -0.1% |
| 2017 | 18.6% | +7.2% |
| 2018 | 18.9% | +1.7% |
| 2019 | 18.5% | -2.1% |
| 2020 | 15.9% | -14.1% |
| 2021 | 15.5% | -2.3% |
| 2022 | 15.9% | +2.3% |
| 2023 | 15.0% | -5.5% |
| 2024 | 15.4% | +2.3% |
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Government expenditure on education, total in Africa Eastern and Southern changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | +43.9% | 13.0% | 18.7% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 15.5% | 15.5% | 15.5% | 1 |
| 2000s | 17.1% | 13.0% | 18.7% | 6 |
| 2010s | 18.3% | 17.4% | 19.5% | 10 |
| 2020s | 15.5% | 15.0% | 15.9% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Africa Eastern and Southern
- 7 Honduras 23.2% compare
- 8 Bhutan 22.2% compare
- 9 Uzbekistan 22.1% compare
- 10 Kazakhstan 22.0% compare
- 11 Botswana 21.5% compare
- 12 Senegal 20.9% compare
- 13 Dominican Republic 20.9% compare
More education data for Africa Eastern and Southern
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 46.07 million (2024)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 121.03 million (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 1.02 % change on previous year (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.1573 units per person (2024)
- Population ages 15-64 56.6% (2025)
- Population ages 0-14 40.0% (2025)
- Primary education, teachers, gaps filled 3.06 million (2024)
- Secondary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is government expenditure on education, total in Africa Eastern and Southern?
- Government expenditure on education, total in Africa Eastern and Southern was 15.4% in 2024, according to Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
- What is the highest government expenditure on education, total recorded in Africa Eastern and Southern?
- The highest recorded value was 19.5% in 2012.
- What is the lowest government expenditure on education, total recorded in Africa Eastern and Southern?
- The lowest recorded value was 13.0% in 2000.
- How does Africa Eastern and Southern rank for government expenditure on education, total?
- Africa Eastern and Southern ranks 10th out of 46 groups with data for 2024.
- Is government expenditure on education, total rising or falling in Africa Eastern and Southern?
- Over the last ten years it is down 19.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Africa Eastern and Southern 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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About this data
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.