Government expenditure on education, total in Barbados
Barbados: Government expenditure on education, total was 14.2% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Government expenditure on education, total in Barbados, 1991–2025
Source: Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Measured in % of government expenditure.
Analysis
In 2025, government expenditure on education, total in Barbados stood at 14.2%.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 19.8% on the previous year and down 20.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, government expenditure on education, total in Barbados peaked at 26.9% in 2001 and was at its lowest, 0.0%, in 1991.
That places Barbados 72nd out of 193 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 26 years of available data.
Government expenditure on education, total in Barbados, year by year
| Year | % of government expenditure | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 0.0% | — |
| 1999 | 21.2% | — |
| 2000 | 22.2% | +4.6% |
| 2001 | 26.9% | +21.4% |
| 2002 | 24.7% | -8.0% |
| 2003 | 18.6% | -24.8% |
| 2004 | 18.6% | +0.2% |
| 2005 | 18.2% | -2.0% |
| 2007 | 17.2% | -5.6% |
| 2008 | 15.7% | -8.8% |
| 2009 | 16.1% | +2.5% |
| 2010 | 18.1% | +12.4% |
| 2012 | 16.7% | -7.7% |
| 2013 | 14.8% | -11.1% |
| 2014 | 17.5% | +17.6% |
| 2015 | 17.8% | +2.1% |
| 2016 | 13.4% | -25.0% |
| 2017 | 12.9% | -3.6% |
| 2018 | 16.4% | +27.0% |
| 2019 | 13.9% | -15.3% |
| 2020 | 16.1% | +16.5% |
| 2021 | 14.8% | -8.0% |
| 2022 | 12.7% | -14.2% |
| 2023 | 12.5% | -2.0% |
| 2024 | 11.8% | -5.1% |
| 2025 | 14.2% | +19.8% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 10.6% | 0.0% | 21.2% | 2 |
| 2000s | 19.8% | 15.7% | 26.9% | 9 |
| 2010s | 15.7% | 12.9% | 18.1% | 9 |
| 2020s | 13.7% | 11.8% | 16.1% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Barbados
More education data for Barbados
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 1,244 (2024)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 279 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 2,255 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 2,277 (2024)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 18,457 (2024)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 16,314 (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate -5.2 % change on previous year (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.0578 units per person (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is government expenditure on education, total in Barbados?
- Government expenditure on education, total in Barbados was 14.2% in 2025, according to Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
- What is the highest government expenditure on education, total recorded in Barbados?
- The highest recorded value was 26.9% in 2001.
- What is the lowest government expenditure on education, total recorded in Barbados?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.0% in 1991.
- How does Barbados rank for government expenditure on education, total?
- Barbados ranks 72nd out of 193 countries with data for 2025.
- Is government expenditure on education, total rising or falling in Barbados?
- Over the last ten years it is down 20.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Barbados 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.