Government expenditure on tertiary education as a percentage of GDP in Gambia
Gambia: Government expenditure on tertiary education as a percentage of GDP was 0.1% in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Government expenditure on tertiary education as a percentage of GDP in Gambia, 1985–2023
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2023, government expenditure on tertiary education as a percentage of gdp in Gambia stood at 0.1%.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 39.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, government expenditure on tertiary education as a percentage of gdp in Gambia peaked at 0.6% in 1996 and was at its lowest, 0.0%, in 1992.
Gambia ranks 165th of 173 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Government expenditure on tertiary education as a percentage of GDP in Gambia, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1985 | 0.6% | — |
| 1986 | 0.4% | -25.1% |
| 1989 | 0.4% | -7.7% |
| 1990 | 0.6% | +41.3% |
| 1991 | 0.5% | -5.3% |
| 1992 | 0.0% | -100.0% |
| 1995 | 0.5% | — |
| 1996 | 0.6% | +19.7% |
| 2001 | 0.3% | -47.6% |
| 2002 | 0.4% | +29.6% |
| 2003 | 0.4% | -11.0% |
| 2004 | 0.1% | -72.8% |
| 2005 | 0.1% | +2.5% |
| 2006 | 0.1% | +4.8% |
| 2007 | 0.1% | +18.4% |
| 2008 | 0.2% | +60.7% |
| 2009 | 0.2% | -15.4% |
| 2010 | 0.3% | +52.0% |
| 2011 | 0.2% | -24.6% |
| 2012 | 0.2% | +1.7% |
| 2013 | 0.2% | +0.5% |
| 2014 | 0.3% | +66.6% |
| 2015 | 0.2% | -24.7% |
| 2023 | 0.1% | -51.7% |
Gambia compared with similar countries
- Gambia's 0.1% is below the median for low income countries, which is 0.7%, 18% of the median. (17 countries reporting)
- Gambia's 0.1% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 0.7%, 18% of the median. (39 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 0.5% | 0.4% | 0.6% | 3 |
| 1990s | 0.4% | 0.0% | 0.6% | 5 |
| 2000s | 0.2% | 0.1% | 0.4% | 9 |
| 2010s | 0.2% | 0.2% | 0.3% | 6 |
| 2020s | 0.1% | 0.1% | 0.1% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Gambia
More education data for Gambia
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 12,452 (2021)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 16,389 (2025)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 71,238 (2025)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 77,061 (2025)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 369,783 (2021)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 442,901 (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 2.4 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0.0002 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.1569 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is government expenditure on tertiary education as a percentage of gdp in Gambia?
- Government expenditure on tertiary education as a percentage of gdp in Gambia was 0.1% in 2023, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest government expenditure on tertiary education as a percentage of gdp recorded in Gambia?
- The highest recorded value was 0.6% in 1996.
- What is the lowest government expenditure on tertiary education as a percentage of gdp recorded in Gambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.0% in 1992.
- How does Gambia rank for government expenditure on tertiary education as a percentage of gdp?
- Gambia ranks 165th out of 173 countries with data for 2023.
- Is government expenditure on tertiary education as a percentage of gdp rising or falling in Gambia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 39.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Gambia data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Government expenditure on tertiary 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