Government expenditure on education, total in Thailand
Thailand: Government expenditure on education, total was 12.6% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Government expenditure on education, total in Thailand, 1980–2025
Source: Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Measured in % of government expenditure.
Analysis
In 2025, government expenditure on education, total in Thailand stood at 12.6%.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 3.6% on the previous year and down 38.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, government expenditure on education, total in Thailand peaked at 28.4% in 2000 and was at its lowest, 0.0%, in 1980.
Thailand ranks 100th 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 Thailand, year by year
| Year | % of government expenditure | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 0.0% | — |
| 1981 | 0.0% | — |
| 1982 | 0.0% | — |
| 1983 | 0.0% | — |
| 1984 | 0.0% | — |
| 1986 | 0.0% | — |
| 1987 | 0.0% | — |
| 1988 | 0.0% | — |
| 1989 | 0.0% | — |
| 1991 | 0.0% | — |
| 1992 | 0.0% | — |
| 1994 | 0.0% | — |
| 1995 | 18.9% | — |
| 1996 | 20.0% | +6.0% |
| 1997 | 21.2% | +5.8% |
| 1998 | 19.5% | -8.1% |
| 1999 | 19.0% | -2.6% |
| 2000 | 28.4% | +49.6% |
| 2001 | 24.2% | -14.6% |
| 2002 | 16.2% | -33.1% |
| 2003 | 20.9% | +28.6% |
| 2004 | 21.5% | +2.8% |
| 2005 | 20.5% | -4.2% |
| 2006 | 22.0% | +7.1% |
| 2007 | 18.5% | -16.0% |
| 2008 | 18.2% | -1.7% |
| 2009 | 18.2% | +0.1% |
| 2010 | 16.2% | -10.8% |
| 2011 | 22.6% | +39.5% |
| 2012 | 21.4% | -5.5% |
| 2013 | 19.1% | -10.6% |
| 2014 | 20.5% | +7.4% |
| 2015 | 20.6% | +0.4% |
| 2016 | 19.8% | -4.0% |
| 2017 | 18.4% | -7.3% |
| 2018 | 17.2% | -6.5% |
| 2019 | 17.0% | -0.9% |
| 2020 | 15.4% | -9.3% |
| 2021 | 14.7% | -4.8% |
| 2022 | 14.6% | -0.3% |
| 2023 | 14.2% | -3.1% |
| 2024 | 13.1% | -7.7% |
| 2025 | 12.6% | -3.6% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 9 |
| 1990s | 12.3% | 0.0% | 21.2% | 8 |
| 2000s | 20.9% | 16.2% | 28.4% | 10 |
| 2010s | 19.3% | 16.2% | 22.6% | 10 |
| 2020s | 14.1% | 12.6% | 15.4% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Thailand
More education data for Thailand
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 243,991 (2025)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 13,596 (2025)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 758,147 (2025)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 716,498 (2025)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 4.26 million (2025)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 4.45 million (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate -1.23 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.0621 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is government expenditure on education, total in Thailand?
- Government expenditure on education, total in Thailand was 12.6% in 2025, according to Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
- What is the highest government expenditure on education, total recorded in Thailand?
- The highest recorded value was 28.4% in 2000.
- What is the lowest government expenditure on education, total recorded in Thailand?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.0% in 1980.
- How does Thailand rank for government expenditure on education, total?
- Thailand ranks 100th out of 193 countries with data for 2025.
- Is government expenditure on education, total rising or falling in Thailand?
- Over the last ten years it is down 38.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Thailand 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.