Government expenditure on education, total in World
World: Government expenditure on education, total was 14.0% in 2023. ▬ Flat
Government expenditure on education, total in World, 1999–2023
Source: Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Measured in % of government expenditure.
Analysis
In 2023, government expenditure on education, total in World stood at 14.0%.
The figure is up 6.5% on the previous year and down 3.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, government expenditure on education, total in World peaked at 15.0% in 2006 and was at its lowest, 12.8%, in 2021.
That places World 25th out of 46 groups with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.
Government expenditure on education, total in World, year by year
| Year | % of government expenditure | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1999 | 13.3% | — |
| 2000 | 13.5% | +0.9% |
| 2001 | 14.0% | +4.1% |
| 2002 | 14.4% | +2.7% |
| 2003 | 14.9% | +3.5% |
| 2004 | 14.2% | -4.8% |
| 2005 | 14.0% | -1.5% |
| 2006 | 15.0% | +7.3% |
| 2007 | 14.2% | -5.2% |
| 2008 | 14.6% | +3.0% |
| 2009 | 13.8% | -5.4% |
| 2010 | 13.8% | +0.0% |
| 2011 | 13.6% | -1.5% |
| 2012 | 14.4% | +5.7% |
| 2013 | 14.5% | +0.8% |
| 2014 | 14.3% | -1.7% |
| 2015 | 14.1% | -1.0% |
| 2016 | 14.0% | -0.9% |
| 2017 | 14.5% | +3.7% |
| 2018 | 14.1% | -2.7% |
| 2019 | 13.5% | -4.4% |
| 2020 | 13.6% | +1.1% |
| 2021 | 12.8% | -6.1% |
| 2022 | 13.1% | +2.5% |
| 2023 | 14.0% | +6.5% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 13.3% | 13.3% | 13.3% | 1 |
| 2000s | 14.2% | 13.5% | 15.0% | 10 |
| 2010s | 14.1% | 13.5% | 14.5% | 10 |
| 2020s | 13.4% | 12.8% | 14.0% | 4 |
Countries ranked near World
- 22 Tajikistan 19.3% compare
- 23 Eswatini 19.2% compare
- 24 Peru 19.2% compare
- 25 Syrian Arab Republic 19.2% compare
- 26 South Africa 19.1% compare
- 27 Belize 18.9% compare
- 28 Iran, Islamic Republic of 18.8% compare
More education data for World
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 651.68 million (2024)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 780.85 million (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 1.43 % change on previous year (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.0959 units per person (2024)
- Secondary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, teachers, gaps filled 34.10 million (2024)
- Population ages 15-64 65.2% (2025)
- Population ages 0-14 24.4% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is government expenditure on education, total in World?
- Government expenditure on education, total in World was 14.0% in 2023, according to Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
- What is the highest government expenditure on education, total recorded in World?
- The highest recorded value was 15.0% in 2006.
- What is the lowest government expenditure on education, total recorded in World?
- The lowest recorded value was 12.8% in 2021.
- How does World rank for government expenditure on education, total?
- World ranks 25th out of 46 groups with data for 2023.
- Is government expenditure on education, total rising or falling in World?
- Over the last ten years it is down 3.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this World 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.