Government expenditure on education, total in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka: Government expenditure on education, total was 7.2% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Government expenditure on education, total in Sri Lanka, 1981–2024
Source: Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Measured in % of government expenditure.
Analysis
Sri Lanka recorded 7.2% for government expenditure on education, total in 2024.
The figure is down 16.8% on the previous year and down 33.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, government expenditure on education, total in Sri Lanka peaked at 17.7% in 2016 and was at its lowest, 0.0%, in 1981.
That places Sri Lanka 183rd out of 193 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Government expenditure on education, total in Sri Lanka, year by year
| Year | % of government expenditure | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1981 | 0.0% | — |
| 1982 | 0.0% | — |
| 1983 | 0.0% | — |
| 1984 | 0.0% | — |
| 1985 | 0.0% | — |
| 1986 | 0.0% | — |
| 1987 | 0.0% | — |
| 1988 | 0.0% | — |
| 1989 | 0.0% | — |
| 1990 | 0.0% | — |
| 1991 | 10.9% | — |
| 1994 | 12.7% | +16.8% |
| 1995 | 11.6% | -9.0% |
| 1996 | 12.7% | +9.8% |
| 1998 | 11.7% | -8.1% |
| 2009 | 8.3% | -29.1% |
| 2010 | 8.6% | +4.0% |
| 2011 | 9.1% | +5.9% |
| 2012 | 8.4% | -7.9% |
| 2013 | 9.4% | +12.2% |
| 2014 | 10.8% | +14.9% |
| 2015 | 11.0% | +1.2% |
| 2016 | 17.7% | +61.9% |
| 2017 | 14.5% | -18.2% |
| 2018 | 11.3% | -21.9% |
| 2020 | 5.5% | -51.7% |
| 2021 | 5.0% | -7.9% |
| 2022 | 5.3% | +6.1% |
| 2023 | 8.7% | +62.3% |
| 2024 | 7.2% | -16.8% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 9 |
| 1990s | 9.9% | 0.0% | 12.7% | 6 |
| 2000s | 8.3% | 8.3% | 8.3% | 1 |
| 2010s | 11.2% | 8.4% | 17.7% | 9 |
| 2020s | 6.4% | 5.0% | 8.7% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Sri Lanka
More education data for Sri Lanka
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 155,543 (2023)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 0 (2023)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 224,799 (2023)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 214,300 (2023)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 2.54 million (2023)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 1.58 million (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate -2.89 % change on previous year (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.0715 units per person (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is government expenditure on education, total in Sri Lanka?
- Government expenditure on education, total in Sri Lanka was 7.2% in 2024, according to Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
- What is the highest government expenditure on education, total recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The highest recorded value was 17.7% in 2016.
- What is the lowest government expenditure on education, total recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.0% in 1981.
- How does Sri Lanka rank for government expenditure on education, total?
- Sri Lanka ranks 183rd out of 193 countries with data for 2024.
- Is government expenditure on education, total rising or falling in Sri Lanka?
- Over the last ten years it is down 33.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Sri Lanka 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.