Initial government expenditure on education as a percentage of GDP (%) by country
February 2026 Data Release
Countries reporting
185
Highest
12.8%
Cuba
Lowest
1.0%
Guinea-Bissau
Median
4.0%
Years covered
56
1970–2025
Data points
4,380
What the numbers show
Initial government expenditure on education as a percentage of GDP (%) is currently reported for 185 countries. The highest value is 12.8% in Cuba; the lowest is 1.0% in Guinea-Bissau.
The median across all reporting countries is 4.0%, and the mean is 4.1%.
The gap between the highest and lowest reporting country is a factor of about 13.
Over the past decade 76 countries rose and 99 fell. The largest increase was in Zambia (up 331.0%), and the largest decrease in Namibia (down 71.7%).
Initial government expenditure on education as a percentage of GDP: full country ranking
| # | Country | Latest | Year | 10-year change | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cuba | 12.8% | 2010 | up 66.6% | rising |
| 1 | Montserrat | 8.4% | 2019 | up 63.3% | rising |
| 2 | Kiribati | 11.6% | 2001 | — | rising |
| 2 | Cook Islands | 4.6% | 2022 | up 64.7% | rising |
| 3 | Botswana | 9.9% | 2009 | — | rising |
| 3 | Anguilla | 2.8% | 2008 | down 26.1% | falling |
| 4 | Algeria | 9.0% | 2024 | — | falling |
| 5 | Vanuatu | 7.6% | 2024 | up 175.9% | falling |
| 6 | Mauritania | 7.6% | 2024 | up 231.8% | volatile |
| 7 | Bolivia, Plurinational State of | 7.5% | 2024 | up 2.7% | rising |
| 8 | Eswatini | 7.4% | 2014 | up 47.5% | rising |
| 9 | Sweden | 7.3% | 2022 | down 2.9% | rising |
| 10 | Iceland | 7.3% | 2022 | down 3.6% | rising |
| 11 | Lesotho | 7.3% | 2018 | down 19.7% | rising |
| 12 | Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of | 6.8% | 2009 | up 35.8% | flat |
| 13 | Republic of Moldova | 6.6% | 2023 | down 5.4% | falling |
| 14 | Finland | 6.4% | 2022 | down 10.8% | rising |
| 15 | Denmark | 6.4% | 2022 | down 12.2% | rising |
| 16 | Belgium | 6.3% | 2022 | down 5.0% | rising |
| 17 | Puerto Rico | 6.1% | 2014 | — | falling |
| 18 | South Africa | 6.0% | 2024 | up 17.5% | rising |
| 19 | Tunisia | 6.0% | 2015 | up 0.1% | rising |
| 20 | Israel | 5.9% | 2022 | up 6.2% | flat |
| 21 | Bhutan | 5.8% | 2023 | up 25.9% | rising |
| 22 | Sao Tome and Principe | 5.6% | 2018 | up 1.3% | rising |
| 23 | Brazil | 5.6% | 2022 | down 3.6% | rising |
| 24 | Solomon Islands | 5.6% | 2010 | up 141.3% | rising |
| 25 | Jamaica | 5.5% | 2024 | down 6.8% | rising |
| 26 | Dominica | 5.5% | 2020 | up 72.4% | flat |
| 27 | United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland | 5.4% | 2021 | up 0.9% | flat |
| 28 | Norway | 5.4% | 2022 | down 25.9% | rising |
| 29 | Republic of Korea | 5.4% | 2022 | up 21.4% | rising |
| 30 | France | 5.3% | 2022 | down 2.6% | rising |
| 31 | Costa Rica | 5.3% | 2023 | down 20.0% | rising |
| 32 | Palestine, State of | 5.3% | 2021 | down 0.7% | falling |
| 33 | Austria | 5.3% | 2022 | down 3.7% | rising |
| 34 | Aruba | 5.3% | 2016 | up 14.0% | rising |
| 35 | Colombia | 5.3% | 2020 | up 8.9% | rising |
| 36 | Germany | 5.2% | 2022 | up 6.3% | rising |
| 37 | New Zealand | 5.2% | 2023 | down 11.5% | rising |
| 38 | Mongolia | 5.2% | 2024 | up 20.0% | falling |
| 39 | Slovenia | 5.2% | 2022 | down 6.1% | flat |
| 40 | Netherlands | 5.2% | 2022 | down 4.2% | falling |
| 41 | Senegal | 5.2% | 2022 | up 8.0% | rising |
| 42 | Ukraine | 5.1% | 2021 | down 12.7% | rising |
| 43 | Saudi Arabia | 5.1% | 2023 | down 0.5% | rising |
| 44 | Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | 5.1% | 2018 | down 6.4% | rising |
| 45 | Australia | 5.1% | 2022 | — | falling |
| 46 | Belarus | 5.0% | 2024 | up 4.7% | falling |
| 47 | Argentina | 5.0% | 2023 | down 7.8% | rising |
| 48 | Brunei Darussalam | 5.0% | 2016 | up 192.2% | volatile |
| 49 | Burkina Faso | 4.9% | 2018 | up 59.8% | rising |
| 50 | Syrian Arab Republic | 4.9% | 2009 | up 8.2% | flat |
| 51 | Chile | 4.9% | 2022 | up 20.9% | rising |
| 52 | Sierra Leone | 4.9% | 2022 | up 176.0% | volatile |
| 53 | United States of America | 4.9% | 2021 | up 3.4% | rising |
| 54 | Estonia | 4.9% | 2022 | up 3.2% | falling |
| 55 | Kazakhstan | 4.9% | 2023 | up 74.5% | falling |
| 56 | Switzerland | 4.9% | 2022 | down 0.7% | rising |
| 57 | Canada | 4.8% | 2022 | down 2.0% | falling |
| 58 | Uruguay | 4.8% | 2023 | up 15.5% | rising |
| 59 | Cyprus | 4.7% | 2022 | down 27.3% | rising |
| 60 | Zambia | 4.7% | 2018 | up 331.0% | falling |
| 61 | Ethiopia | 4.7% | 2015 | up 37.8% | rising |
| 62 | Malta | 4.7% | 2022 | down 25.7% | rising |
| 63 | Rwanda | 4.7% | 2024 | up 72.1% | rising |
| 64 | Russian Federation | 4.7% | 2018 | up 14.1% | rising |
| 65 | Uzbekistan | 4.6% | 2021 | down 19.3% | falling |
| 66 | Timor-Leste | 4.6% | 2018 | down 15.6% | falling |
| 67 | Tajikistan | 4.6% | 2015 | up 42.3% | rising |
| 68 | Portugal | 4.5% | 2022 | down 8.1% | rising |
| 69 | Burundi | 4.5% | 2025 | down 22.7% | rising |
| 70 | Spain | 4.5% | 2022 | up 0.1% | rising |
| 71 | Kenya | 4.5% | 2018 | down 12.5% | falling |
| 72 | Bulgaria | 4.4% | 2022 | up 30.5% | flat |
| 73 | Morocco | 4.4% | 2009 | down 4.2% | falling |
| 74 | Slovakia | 4.4% | 2022 | up 22.0% | falling |
| 75 | Peru | 4.4% | 2024 | up 18.9% | rising |
| 76 | Mali | 4.3% | 2021 | up 20.9% | rising |
| 77 | Czechia | 4.3% | 2022 | up 1.9% | rising |
| 78 | Guyana | 4.3% | 2018 | up 79.9% | falling |
| 79 | Oman | 4.3% | 2022 | down 1.2% | rising |
| 80 | Turkmenistan | 4.3% | 2024 | up 41.2% | rising |
| 81 | Kyrgyzstan | 4.3% | 2021 | down 31.0% | rising |
| 82 | Poland | 4.3% | 2022 | down 11.3% | flat |
| 83 | Mauritius | 4.2% | 2024 | down 10.0% | rising |
| 84 | Belize | 4.2% | 2023 | down 10.8% | rising |
| 85 | Latvia | 4.2% | 2022 | down 9.5% | flat |
| 86 | Thailand | 4.1% | 2013 | up 11.7% | rising |
| 87 | Cape Verde | 4.1% | 2019 | down 15.7% | falling |
| 88 | Italy | 4.1% | 2022 | up 0.3% | rising |
| 89 | Mexico | 4.1% | 2022 | down 16.5% | rising |
| 90 | Mozambique | 4.0% | 2018 | up 8.3% | rising |
| 91 | Honduras | 4.0% | 2023 | down 27.7% | rising |
| 92 | Seychelles | 4.0% | 2016 | down 9.5% | falling |
| 93 | Lithuania | 4.0% | 2022 | down 5.3% | falling |
| 94 | China | 4.0% | 2023 | — | rising |
| 95 | India | 3.9% | 2021 | up 18.2% | rising |
| 96 | Marshall Islands | 3.8% | 2022 | — | falling |
| 97 | Hong Kong, China | 3.8% | 2024 | up 6.6% | rising |
| 98 | Croatia | 3.8% | 2021 | down 7.3% | flat |
| 99 | Hungary | 3.8% | 2022 | down 8.2% | rising |
| 100 | Luxembourg | 3.7% | 2022 | down 3.4% | rising |
| 101 | Ghana | 3.7% | 2018 | down 28.9% | rising |
| 102 | Togo | 3.7% | 2018 | up 85.6% | falling |
| 103 | Ecuador | 3.7% | 2024 | down 29.2% | rising |
| 104 | Azerbaijan | 3.7% | 2023 | up 52.1% | falling |
| 105 | Maldives | 3.7% | 2016 | down 17.7% | falling |
| 106 | Côte d'Ivoire | 3.6% | 2024 | up 9.8% | falling |
| 107 | Samoa | 3.6% | 2016 | down 0.5% | rising |
| 108 | Egypt | 3.6% | 2008 | down 23.0% | falling |
| 109 | Indonesia | 3.6% | 2015 | up 24.7% | rising |
| 110 | Barbados | 3.6% | 2024 | down 33.7% | falling |
| 111 | Paraguay | 3.5% | 2024 | down 3.0% | rising |
| 112 | Malaysia | 3.5% | 2023 | down 35.8% | falling |
| 113 | Macau, China | 3.5% | 2023 | up 70.8% | rising |
| 114 | Georgia | 3.5% | 2023 | up 118.2% | rising |
| 115 | Angola | 3.4% | 2010 | up 31.2% | falling |
| 116 | Serbia | 3.4% | 2023 | down 15.4% | falling |
| 117 | Fiji | 3.4% | 2013 | down 44.0% | falling |
| 118 | Greece | 3.3% | 2022 | down 2.0% | rising |
| 119 | Nepal | 3.3% | 2018 | down 1.9% | rising |
| 120 | Romania | 3.3% | 2022 | up 16.1% | falling |
| 121 | Japan | 3.3% | 2021 | down 11.1% | falling |
| 122 | Qatar | 3.2% | 2020 | down 8.9% | rising |
| 123 | Jordan | 3.2% | 2024 | down 12.8% | falling |
| 124 | Viet Nam | 3.2% | 2018 | down 30.3% | falling |
| 125 | North Macedonia | 3.2% | 2002 | down 32.0% | falling |
| 126 | Djibouti | 3.2% | 2018 | down 45.9% | falling |
| 127 | British Virgin Islands | 3.2% | 2023 | down 32.6% | falling |
| 128 | El Salvador | 3.1% | 2024 | down 17.7% | rising |
| 129 | Türkiye | 3.1% | 2022 | down 29.5% | rising |
| 130 | Albania | 3.1% | 2023 | down 5.9% | falling |
| 131 | Guatemala | 3.1% | 2024 | up 7.3% | rising |
| 132 | Tanzania, United Republic of | 3.1% | 2018 | up 0.5% | rising |
| 133 | Kuwait | 3.0% | 2006 | down 48.6% | volatile |
| 134 | Ireland | 3.0% | 2021 | down 48.3% | falling |
| 135 | Lao People's Democratic Republic | 2.9% | 2014 | up 21.7% | flat |
| 136 | Trinidad and Tobago | 2.9% | 2023 | — | falling |
| 137 | San Marino | 2.9% | 2022 | up 7.2% | rising |
| 138 | Nicaragua | 2.9% | 2023 | down 24.1% | rising |
| 139 | Turks and Caicos Islands | 2.8% | 2022 | up 1.2% | falling |
| 140 | Saint Kitts and Nevis | 2.8% | 2021 | down 29.5% | rising |
| 141 | Cameroon | 2.8% | 2018 | up 32.6% | falling |
| 142 | Niger | 2.7% | 2018 | up 54.4% | rising |
| 143 | Gabon | 2.7% | 2014 | down 30.3% | falling |
| 144 | Congo | 2.6% | 2018 | down 53.7% | falling |
| 145 | Liechtenstein | 2.6% | 2011 | up 4.2% | flat |
| 146 | Saint Lucia | 2.5% | 2023 | down 28.7% | falling |
| 147 | Comoros | 2.5% | 2015 | up 13.6% | rising |
| 148 | Benin | 2.5% | 2018 | down 8.6% | rising |
| 149 | Chad | 2.5% | 2021 | up 16.6% | flat |
| 150 | Philippines | 2.5% | 2009 | down 33.0% | rising |
| 151 | Panama | 2.5% | 2023 | down 19.9% | falling |
| 152 | Madagascar | 2.5% | 2018 | down 3.7% | falling |
| 153 | Guinea | 2.4% | 2020 | down 4.6% | rising |
| 154 | Armenia | 2.4% | 2023 | down 8.2% | rising |
| 155 | Liberia | 2.4% | 2021 | up 36.4% | volatile |
| 156 | Afghanistan | 2.3% | 2018 | down 20.2% | rising |
| 157 | Bahrain | 2.2% | 2017 | down 13.9% | rising |
| 158 | Singapore | 2.1% | 2023 | down 23.1% | flat |
| 159 | Lebanon | 2.1% | 2013 | down 14.2% | falling |
| 160 | Tonga | 2.1% | 2004 | down 62.1% | volatile |
| 161 | Zimbabwe | 2.1% | 2018 | up 32.8% | rising |
| 162 | Dominican Republic | 2.0% | 2007 | up 66.8% | falling |
| 163 | Myanmar | 2.0% | 2019 | up 152.5% | falling |
| 164 | Pakistan | 1.9% | 2023 | up 6.6% | falling |
| 165 | Andorra | 1.9% | 2023 | down 24.2% | rising |
| 166 | Sudan | 1.9% | 2009 | up 84.3% | rising |
| 167 | Sri Lanka | 1.7% | 2018 | down 9.4% | falling |
| 168 | Monaco | 1.7% | 2023 | up 29.8% | volatile |
| 169 | Malawi | 1.7% | 2018 | down 9.3% | flat |
| 170 | Iran, Islamic Republic of | 1.7% | 2022 | down 33.4% | falling |
| 171 | Cambodia | 1.6% | 2018 | up 1.7% | rising |
| 172 | Cayman Islands | 1.6% | 2023 | — | flat |
| 173 | Uganda | 1.5% | 2018 | down 1.2% | falling |
| 174 | Namibia | 1.4% | 2017 | down 71.7% | falling |
| 175 | Eritrea | 1.4% | 2006 | down 15.5% | falling |
| 176 | Bermuda | 1.3% | 2017 | down 35.6% | falling |
| 177 | Congo, Democratic Republic of the | 1.1% | 2017 | down 25.6% | rising |
| 178 | Haiti | 1.1% | 2018 | — | rising |
| 179 | Central African Republic | 1.1% | 2011 | down 31.3% | falling |
| 180 | Gambia | 1.1% | 2018 | down 25.9% | volatile |
| 181 | Bangladesh | 1.0% | 2019 | down 41.0% | rising |
| 182 | Guinea-Bissau | 1.0% | 2013 | down 51.3% | falling |
About this data
February 2026 Data Release