Government expenditure on primary education as a percentage of GDP in Afghanistan
Afghanistan: Government expenditure on primary education as a percentage of GDP was 1.9% in 2017. ▼ Falling
Latest (2017)
1.9%
Change on year
down 2.5%
World rank
31st
of 162 countries
All-time high
2.2%
in 2014
All-time low
1.5%
in 2012
Years of data
8
2010–2017
Government expenditure on primary education as a percentage of GDP in Afghanistan, 2010–2017
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for government expenditure on primary education as a percentage of gdp in Afghanistan is 1.9%, measured in 2017.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 2.5% on the previous year and down 11.2% over ten years.
Afghanistan ranks 31st of 162 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
Government expenditure on primary education as a percentage of GDP in Afghanistan, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 2.2% | — |
| 2011 | 2.1% | -0.8% |
| 2012 | 1.5% | -28.3% |
| 2013 | 2.1% | +34.7% |
| 2014 | 2.2% | +5.4% |
| 2015 | 1.8% | -15.5% |
| 2016 | 2.0% | +6.6% |
| 2017 | 1.9% | -2.5% |
Afghanistan compared with similar countries
- Afghanistan's 1.9% is above the median for low income countries, which is 1.6%, 1.2× the median. (16 countries reporting)
- Afghanistan's 1.9% is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 1.4%, 1.3× the median. (15 countries reporting)
Countries ranked near Afghanistan
More education data for Afghanistan
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 88,020 (2023)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 343,942 (2023)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 13,837 (2003)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 10,383 (2003)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 3.43 million (2023)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 7.51 million (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 3.56 % change on previous year (2019)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0.0004 units per US$ of GDP (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.1811 units per person (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is government expenditure on primary education as a percentage of gdp in Afghanistan?
- Government expenditure on primary education as a percentage of gdp in Afghanistan was 1.9% in 2017, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest government expenditure on primary education as a percentage of gdp recorded in Afghanistan?
- The highest recorded value was 2.2% in 2014.
- What is the lowest government expenditure on primary education as a percentage of gdp recorded in Afghanistan?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.5% in 2012.
- How does Afghanistan rank for government expenditure on primary education as a percentage of gdp?
- Afghanistan ranks 31st out of 162 countries with data for 2017.
- Is government expenditure on primary education as a percentage of gdp rising or falling in Afghanistan?
- Over the last ten years it is down 11.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Afghanistan data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Government expenditure on primary education as a percentage of GDP (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release