Government expenditure on education, total in Bangladesh
Bangladesh: Government expenditure on education, total was 11.9% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Government expenditure on education, total in Bangladesh, 1980–2025
Source: Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Measured in % of government expenditure.
Analysis
The most recent figure for government expenditure on education, total in Bangladesh is 11.9%, measured in 2025.
The figure is down 0.9% on the previous year and down 1.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, government expenditure on education, total in Bangladesh peaked at 20.5% in 2000 and was at its lowest, 5.3%, in 1980.
Bangladesh ranks 116th of 193 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 37 years of available data.
Government expenditure on education, total in Bangladesh, year by year
| Year | % of government expenditure | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 5.3% | — |
| 1981 | 6.6% | +26.0% |
| 1982 | 6.4% | -3.6% |
| 1983 | 6.5% | +1.2% |
| 1984 | 8.1% | +24.9% |
| 1985 | 8.4% | +3.7% |
| 1986 | 9.1% | +8.8% |
| 1987 | 10.5% | +14.7% |
| 1990 | 11.2% | +6.9% |
| 1991 | 11.1% | -1.2% |
| 1992 | 12.5% | +13.3% |
| 1993 | 12.1% | -3.4% |
| 1997 | 15.2% | +25.5% |
| 1999 | 18.1% | +19.3% |
| 2000 | 20.5% | +13.0% |
| 2001 | 18.6% | -9.3% |
| 2002 | 15.7% | -15.6% |
| 2003 | 16.7% | +6.3% |
| 2004 | 16.0% | -4.4% |
| 2006 | 17.3% | +8.7% |
| 2007 | 18.2% | +4.7% |
| 2008 | 17.8% | -1.9% |
| 2009 | 14.0% | -21.3% |
| 2011 | 16.8% | +19.7% |
| 2012 | 15.7% | -6.2% |
| 2013 | 14.0% | -10.9% |
| 2014 | 13.3% | -5.2% |
| 2015 | 12.0% | -9.5% |
| 2016 | 11.0% | -8.3% |
| 2018 | 14.2% | +28.9% |
| 2019 | 8.7% | -38.7% |
| 2020 | 15.0% | +72.1% |
| 2021 | 12.8% | -15.0% |
| 2022 | 12.4% | -2.9% |
| 2023 | 13.0% | +4.8% |
| 2024 | 12.0% | -7.8% |
| 2025 | 11.9% | -0.9% |
Bangladesh compared with similar countries
- Bangladesh's 11.9% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 14.3%, 83% of the median. (46 countries reporting)
- Bangladesh's 11.9% is above the median for South Asia, which is 11.3%, 1.1× the median. (6 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 7.6% | 5.3% | 10.5% | 8 |
| 1990s | 13.4% | 11.1% | 18.1% | 6 |
| 2000s | 17.2% | 14.0% | 20.5% | 9 |
| 2010s | 13.2% | 8.7% | 16.8% | 8 |
| 2020s | 12.8% | 11.9% | 15.0% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Bangladesh
- 113 Netherlands 12.0% compare
- 114 Azerbaijan 11.9% compare
- 115 China 11.9% compare
- 117 United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 11.8% compare
- 118 Lithuania 11.7% compare
- 119 Samoa 11.7% compare
More education data for Bangladesh
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 571,690 (2024)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 387,056 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 1.73 million (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 1.77 million (2024)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 15.07 million (2024)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 16.69 million (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 2.67 % change on previous year (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.0961 units per person (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is government expenditure on education, total in Bangladesh?
- Government expenditure on education, total in Bangladesh was 11.9% in 2025, according to Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
- What is the highest government expenditure on education, total recorded in Bangladesh?
- The highest recorded value was 20.5% in 2000.
- What is the lowest government expenditure on education, total recorded in Bangladesh?
- The lowest recorded value was 5.3% in 1980.
- How does Bangladesh rank for government expenditure on education, total?
- Bangladesh ranks 116th out of 193 countries with data for 2025.
- Is government expenditure on education, total rising or falling in Bangladesh?
- Over the last ten years it is down 1.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Bangladesh 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.