Government expenditure on education, total in Gambia
Gambia: Government expenditure on education, total was 14.2% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Government expenditure on education, total in Gambia, 1985–2025
Source: Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Measured in % of government expenditure.
Analysis
Gambia recorded 14.2% for government expenditure on education, total in 2025.
The figure is down 5.9% on the previous year and up 28.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, government expenditure on education, total in Gambia peaked at 18.9% in 2008 and was at its lowest, 0.0%, in 1985.
Gambia ranks 70th 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 Gambia, year by year
| Year | % of government expenditure | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1985 | 0.0% | — |
| 1986 | 0.0% | — |
| 1989 | 0.0% | — |
| 1990 | 0.0% | — |
| 1991 | 0.0% | — |
| 1992 | 0.0% | — |
| 1995 | 0.0% | — |
| 1996 | 0.0% | — |
| 1999 | 0.0% | — |
| 2000 | 11.9% | — |
| 2001 | 8.2% | -31.2% |
| 2002 | 10.9% | +33.4% |
| 2003 | 8.5% | -22.6% |
| 2004 | 5.0% | -40.6% |
| 2005 | 5.3% | +6.3% |
| 2006 | 5.4% | +0.3% |
| 2007 | 7.3% | +36.1% |
| 2008 | 18.9% | +158.7% |
| 2009 | 13.3% | -29.6% |
| 2010 | 17.6% | +32.5% |
| 2011 | 15.1% | -14.2% |
| 2012 | 13.8% | -8.7% |
| 2013 | 10.6% | -23.3% |
| 2014 | 11.8% | +11.0% |
| 2015 | 11.0% | -6.1% |
| 2016 | 10.4% | -5.3% |
| 2017 | 15.4% | +47.8% |
| 2018 | 12.4% | -19.4% |
| 2019 | 16.9% | +35.4% |
| 2020 | 14.3% | -15.3% |
| 2021 | 15.6% | +9.4% |
| 2022 | 17.1% | +9.6% |
| 2023 | 18.7% | +9.2% |
| 2024 | 15.1% | -19.2% |
| 2025 | 14.2% | -5.9% |
Gambia compared with similar countries
- Gambia's 14.2% is below the median for low income countries, which is 14.4%, 99% of the median. (24 countries reporting)
- Gambia's 14.2% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 14.2%, 1.0× the median. (47 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Government expenditure on education, total in Gambia 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | +158.7% | 7.3% | 18.9% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 3 |
| 1990s | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 6 |
| 2000s | 9.5% | 5.0% | 18.9% | 10 |
| 2010s | 13.5% | 10.4% | 17.6% | 10 |
| 2020s | 15.8% | 14.2% | 18.7% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Gambia
More education data for Gambia
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 12,452 (2021)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 16,389 (2025)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 71,238 (2025)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 77,061 (2025)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 369,783 (2021)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 442,901 (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 2.4 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0.0002 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.1569 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is government expenditure on education, total in Gambia?
- Government expenditure on education, total in Gambia 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 Gambia?
- The highest recorded value was 18.9% in 2008.
- What is the lowest government expenditure on education, total recorded in Gambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.0% in 1985.
- How does Gambia rank for government expenditure on education, total?
- Gambia ranks 70th out of 193 countries with data for 2025.
- Is government expenditure on education, total rising or falling in Gambia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 28.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Gambia 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.