Government expenditure on education, total in Jamaica
Jamaica: Government expenditure on education, total was 17.9% in 2024. ▲ Rising
Government expenditure on education, total in Jamaica, 1985–2024
Source: Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Measured in % of government expenditure.
Analysis
Jamaica recorded 17.9% for government expenditure on education, total in 2024.
That represents a change of up 5.5% on the previous year and down 18.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, government expenditure on education, total in Jamaica peaked at 21.8% in 2014 and was at its lowest, 0.0%, in 1985.
That places Jamaica 35th out of 193 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 34 years of available data.
Government expenditure on education, total in Jamaica, year by year
| Year | % of government expenditure | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1985 | 0.0% | — |
| 1986 | 0.0% | — |
| 1988 | 0.0% | — |
| 1989 | 0.0% | — |
| 1990 | 0.0% | — |
| 1991 | 16.4% | — |
| 1992 | 12.8% | -22.0% |
| 1993 | 12.8% | +0.4% |
| 1994 | 18.4% | +43.7% |
| 1995 | 15.4% | -16.5% |
| 1996 | 15.5% | +1.1% |
| 1997 | 15.4% | -0.9% |
| 2000 | 16.8% | +9.1% |
| 2001 | 20.0% | +19.0% |
| 2002 | 18.4% | -8.1% |
| 2003 | 13.4% | -27.2% |
| 2004 | 11.7% | -12.2% |
| 2005 | 14.3% | +21.6% |
| 2007 | 17.2% | +20.3% |
| 2008 | 19.1% | +11.3% |
| 2009 | 17.6% | -8.2% |
| 2010 | 16.1% | -8.3% |
| 2011 | 18.6% | +15.4% |
| 2012 | 18.8% | +1.2% |
| 2013 | 20.6% | +9.4% |
| 2014 | 21.8% | +5.9% |
| 2015 | 20.1% | -8.0% |
| 2016 | 19.1% | -4.5% |
| 2017 | 18.4% | -3.9% |
| 2018 | 18.6% | +1.0% |
| 2019 | 17.3% | -6.8% |
| 2021 | 17.4% | +0.6% |
| 2022 | 16.9% | -2.8% |
| 2024 | 17.9% | +5.5% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 4 |
| 1990s | 13.3% | 0.0% | 18.4% | 8 |
| 2000s | 16.5% | 11.7% | 20.0% | 9 |
| 2010s | 18.9% | 16.1% | 21.8% | 10 |
| 2020s | 17.4% | 16.9% | 17.9% | 3 |
Countries ranked near Jamaica
More education data for Jamaica
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 11,043 (2024)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 4,597 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 52,983 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 51,265 (2024)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 177,095 (2024)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 211,097 (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 8.14 % change on previous year (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.0744 units per person (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is government expenditure on education, total in Jamaica?
- Government expenditure on education, total in Jamaica was 17.9% in 2024, according to Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
- What is the highest government expenditure on education, total recorded in Jamaica?
- The highest recorded value was 21.8% in 2014.
- What is the lowest government expenditure on education, total recorded in Jamaica?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.0% in 1985.
- How does Jamaica rank for government expenditure on education, total?
- Jamaica ranks 35th out of 193 countries with data for 2024.
- Is government expenditure on education, total rising or falling in Jamaica?
- Over the last ten years it is down 18.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Jamaica 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.