Government expenditure on education, total in United States of America
United States of America: Government expenditure on education, total was 11.3% in 2021. ▼ Falling
Government expenditure on education, total in United States of America, 2015–2021
Source: Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Measured in % of government expenditure.
Analysis
United States of America recorded 11.3% for government expenditure on education, total in 2021. That is the lowest value across all 7 years on record.
The figure is down 7.1% on the previous year and down 16.6% over ten years.
United States of America ranks 128th of 193 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
Government expenditure on education, total in United States of America, year by year
| Year | % of government expenditure | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 13.5% | — |
| 2016 | 13.2% | -2.8% |
| 2017 | 13.9% | +5.4% |
| 2018 | 13.1% | -5.2% |
| 2019 | 13.3% | +1.0% |
| 2020 | 12.2% | -8.4% |
| 2021 | 11.3% | -7.1% |
United States of America compared with similar countries
- United States of America's 11.3% is below the median for high income countries, which is 11.8%, 96% of the median. (70 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 13.4% | 13.1% | 13.9% | 5 |
| 2020s | 11.7% | 11.3% | 12.2% | 2 |
Countries ranked near United States of America
- 125 Brunei Darussalam 11.4%
- 126 Marshall Islands 11.3% compare
- 127 Türkiye 11.3% compare
- 129 Slovenia 11.1% compare
- 130 Nicaragua 11.0% compare
- 131 Saint Kitts and Nevis 11.0% compare
More education data for United States of America
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 1.74 million (2023)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 419,732 (2023)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 4.34 million (2023)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 4.14 million (2023)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 25.35 million (2023)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 23.83 million (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 1.33 % change on previous year (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.0708 units per person (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is government expenditure on education, total in United States of America?
- Government expenditure on education, total in United States of America was 11.3% in 2021, according to Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
- What is the highest government expenditure on education, total recorded in United States of America?
- The highest recorded value was 13.9% in 2017.
- What is the lowest government expenditure on education, total recorded in United States of America?
- The lowest recorded value was 11.3% in 2021.
- How does United States of America rank for government expenditure on education, total?
- United States of America ranks 128th out of 193 countries with data for 2021.
- Is government expenditure on education, total rising or falling in United States of America?
- Over the last ten years it is down 16.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this United States of America 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.