Government expenditure on education, total in Trinidad and Tobago
Trinidad and Tobago: Government expenditure on education, total was 12.6% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Government expenditure on education, total in Trinidad and Tobago, 1982–2025
Source: Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Measured in % of government expenditure.
Analysis
In 2025, government expenditure on education, total in Trinidad and Tobago stood at 12.6%.
The figure is up 37.5% on the previous year and up 2.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, government expenditure on education, total in Trinidad and Tobago peaked at 15.0% in 1994 and was at its lowest, 0.0%, in 1982.
That places Trinidad and Tobago 101st out of 193 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 32 years of available data.
Government expenditure on education, total in Trinidad and Tobago, year by year
| Year | % of government expenditure | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1982 | 0.0% | — |
| 1983 | 0.0% | — |
| 1984 | 0.0% | — |
| 1985 | 0.0% | — |
| 1989 | 12.9% | — |
| 1990 | 13.9% | +7.3% |
| 1994 | 15.0% | +8.4% |
| 1995 | 14.9% | -0.8% |
| 1996 | 13.3% | -10.8% |
| 1997 | 12.0% | -9.4% |
| 1998 | 8.9% | -25.8% |
| 1999 | 11.2% | +25.8% |
| 2000 | 11.7% | +4.5% |
| 2001 | 12.2% | +3.7% |
| 2002 | 14.3% | +17.4% |
| 2003 | 13.9% | -2.6% |
| 2010 | 12.9% | -7.2% |
| 2011 | 11.1% | -13.9% |
| 2012 | 11.3% | +1.4% |
| 2013 | 11.7% | +4.1% |
| 2014 | 10.5% | -10.4% |
| 2015 | 12.3% | +17.1% |
| 2016 | 11.8% | -4.2% |
| 2017 | 9.9% | -16.1% |
| 2018 | 10.7% | +7.7% |
| 2019 | 10.5% | -1.8% |
| 2020 | 11.7% | +12.1% |
| 2021 | 10.0% | -14.4% |
| 2022 | 10.4% | +3.8% |
| 2023 | 9.8% | -5.6% |
| 2024 | 9.1% | -6.9% |
| 2025 | 12.6% | +37.5% |
Trinidad and Tobago compared with similar countries
- Trinidad and Tobago's 12.6% is above the median for high income countries, which is 11.8%, 1.1× the median. (70 countries reporting)
- Trinidad and Tobago's 12.6% is below the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 13.4%, 94% of the median. (38 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 2.6% | 0.0% | 12.9% | 5 |
| 1990s | 12.7% | 8.9% | 15.0% | 7 |
| 2000s | 13.0% | 11.7% | 14.3% | 4 |
| 2010s | 11.3% | 9.9% | 12.9% | 10 |
| 2020s | 10.6% | 9.1% | 12.6% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Trinidad and Tobago
More education data for Trinidad and Tobago
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 7,950 (2024)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 8,036 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 12,546 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 12,926 (2024)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 91,195 (2024)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 126,491 (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate -1.94 % change on previous year (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.0924 units per person (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is government expenditure on education, total in Trinidad and Tobago?
- Government expenditure on education, total in Trinidad and Tobago 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 Trinidad and Tobago?
- The highest recorded value was 15.0% in 1994.
- What is the lowest government expenditure on education, total recorded in Trinidad and Tobago?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.0% in 1982.
- How does Trinidad and Tobago rank for government expenditure on education, total?
- Trinidad and Tobago ranks 101st out of 193 countries with data for 2025.
- Is government expenditure on education, total rising or falling in Trinidad and Tobago?
- Over the last ten years it is up 2.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Trinidad and Tobago 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.