Government expenditure on education, total in Sao Tome and Principe
Sao Tome and Principe: Government expenditure on education, total was 18.1% in 2024. ▲ Rising
Government expenditure on education, total in Sao Tome and Principe, 2002–2024
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 Sao Tome and Principe is 18.1%, measured in 2024.
The figure is down 1.4% on the previous year and up 46.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, government expenditure on education, total in Sao Tome and Principe peaked at 20.6% in 2009 and was at its lowest, 5.9%, in 2004.
That places Sao Tome and Principe 31st out of 193 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 23 years of available data.
Government expenditure on education, total in Sao Tome and Principe, year by year
| Year | % of government expenditure | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2002 | 6.6% | — |
| 2003 | 6.7% | +2.0% |
| 2004 | 5.9% | -12.5% |
| 2005 | 12.1% | +107.1% |
| 2006 | 14.1% | +16.2% |
| 2007 | 16.7% | +18.3% |
| 2008 | 18.2% | +9.6% |
| 2009 | 20.6% | +12.7% |
| 2010 | 19.3% | -6.0% |
| 2011 | 11.4% | -41.1% |
| 2012 | 13.7% | +20.6% |
| 2013 | 18.8% | +37.2% |
| 2014 | 12.3% | -34.5% |
| 2015 | 11.3% | -8.3% |
| 2016 | 16.0% | +41.3% |
| 2017 | 18.4% | +15.2% |
| 2018 | 20.1% | +9.3% |
| 2019 | 17.6% | -12.5% |
| 2020 | 16.1% | -8.3% |
| 2021 | 16.6% | +2.8% |
| 2022 | 17.1% | +3.0% |
| 2023 | 18.3% | +7.4% |
| 2024 | 18.1% | -1.4% |
Sao Tome and Principe compared with similar countries
- Sao Tome and Principe's 18.1% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 14.3%, 1.3× the median. (46 countries reporting)
- Sao Tome and Principe's 18.1% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 14.2%, 1.3× the median. (47 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 12.6% | 5.9% | 20.6% | 8 |
| 2010s | 15.9% | 11.3% | 20.1% | 10 |
| 2020s | 17.2% | 16.1% | 18.3% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Sao Tome and Principe
- 28 Iran, Islamic Republic of 18.8% compare
- 29 Micronesia, Federated States of 18.6% compare
- 30 Chile 18.4% compare
- 32 Benin 18.0% compare
- 33 Madagascar 18.0% compare
- 34 Zimbabwe 17.9% compare
More education data for Sao Tome and Principe
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 936 (2016)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 4,544 (2017)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 4,458 (2016)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 4,769 (2016)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 25,875 (2017)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 37,172 (2017)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 2.14 % change on previous year (2017)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2017)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.1796 units per person (2017)
Frequently asked questions
- What is government expenditure on education, total in Sao Tome and Principe?
- Government expenditure on education, total in Sao Tome and Principe was 18.1% in 2024, according to Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
- What is the highest government expenditure on education, total recorded in Sao Tome and Principe?
- The highest recorded value was 20.6% in 2009.
- What is the lowest government expenditure on education, total recorded in Sao Tome and Principe?
- The lowest recorded value was 5.9% in 2004.
- How does Sao Tome and Principe rank for government expenditure on education, total?
- Sao Tome and Principe ranks 31st out of 193 countries with data for 2024.
- Is government expenditure on education, total rising or falling in Sao Tome and Principe?
- Over the last ten years it is up 46.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Sao Tome and Principe 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.