Government expenditure on primary education as a percentage of GDP in Liberia
Liberia: Government expenditure on primary education as a percentage of GDP was 0.7% in 2021. ◆ Volatile
Government expenditure on primary education as a percentage of GDP in Liberia, 1978–2021
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for government expenditure on primary education as a percentage of gdp in Liberia is 0.7%, measured in 2021.
That represents a change of up 9,756.8% on the previous year and up 27.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, government expenditure on primary education as a percentage of gdp in Liberia peaked at 2.1% in 2016 and was at its lowest, 0.0%, in 2018.
That places Liberia 138th out of 162 countries with data for 2021, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Government expenditure on primary education as a percentage of GDP in Liberia, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1978 | 1.0% | — |
| 1980 | 0.9% | -10.1% |
| 2007 | 0.6% | -38.4% |
| 2012 | 0.5% | -2.0% |
| 2013 | 0.2% | -65.0% |
| 2015 | 0.6% | +216.1% |
| 2016 | 2.1% | +246.5% |
| 2017 | 0.0% | -98.8% |
| 2018 | 0.0% | -71.4% |
| 2021 | 0.7% | +9756.8% |
Liberia compared with similar countries
- Liberia's 0.7% is below the median for low income countries, which is 1.6%, 44% of the median. (16 countries reporting)
- Liberia's 0.7% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 1.6%, 45% of the median. (37 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 1.0% | 1.0% | 1.0% | 1 |
| 1980s | 0.9% | 0.9% | 0.9% | 1 |
| 2000s | 0.6% | 0.6% | 0.6% | 1 |
| 2010s | 0.6% | 0.0% | 2.1% | 6 |
| 2020s | 0.7% | 0.7% | 0.7% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Liberia
More education data for Liberia
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 17,857 (2020)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 14,815 (2022)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 123,519 (2022)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 123,876 (2022)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 274,573 (2020)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 569,741 (2022)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate -0.417 % change on previous year (2022)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2022)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.106 units per person (2022)
Frequently asked questions
- What is government expenditure on primary education as a percentage of gdp in Liberia?
- Government expenditure on primary education as a percentage of gdp in Liberia was 0.7% in 2021, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest government expenditure on primary education as a percentage of gdp recorded in Liberia?
- The highest recorded value was 2.1% in 2016.
- What is the lowest government expenditure on primary education as a percentage of gdp recorded in Liberia?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.0% in 2018.
- How does Liberia rank for government expenditure on primary education as a percentage of gdp?
- Liberia ranks 138th out of 162 countries with data for 2021.
- Is government expenditure on primary education as a percentage of gdp rising or falling in Liberia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 27.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Liberia 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