Initial government expenditure on education as a percentage of GDP in Afghanistan
Afghanistan: Initial government expenditure on education as a percentage of GDP was 2.3% in 2018. ▲ Rising
Initial government expenditure on education as a percentage of GDP in Afghanistan, 2010–2018
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for initial government expenditure on education as a percentage of gdp in Afghanistan is 2.3%, measured in 2018.
The figure is down 28.8% on the previous year and down 20.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, initial government expenditure on education as a percentage of gdp in Afghanistan peaked at 3.2% in 2017 and was at its lowest, 1.4%, in 2011.
That places Afghanistan 159th out of 185 countries with data for 2018, putting it in the bottom quarter.
Initial government expenditure on education as a percentage of GDP in Afghanistan, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 2.9% | — |
| 2011 | 1.4% | -51.6% |
| 2012 | 2.2% | +60.9% |
| 2013 | 2.8% | +26.4% |
| 2014 | 3.0% | +6.6% |
| 2015 | 2.6% | -12.4% |
| 2016 | 3.2% | +21.3% |
| 2017 | 3.2% | +0.6% |
| 2018 | 2.3% | -28.8% |
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 initial government expenditure on education as a percentage of gdp in Afghanistan?
- Initial government expenditure on education as a percentage of gdp in Afghanistan was 2.3% in 2018, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest initial government expenditure on education as a percentage of gdp recorded in Afghanistan?
- The highest recorded value was 3.2% in 2017.
- What is the lowest initial government expenditure on education as a percentage of gdp recorded in Afghanistan?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.4% in 2011.
- How does Afghanistan rank for initial government expenditure on education as a percentage of gdp?
- Afghanistan ranks 159th out of 185 countries with data for 2018.
- Is initial government expenditure on education as a percentage of gdp rising or falling in Afghanistan?
- Over the last ten years it is down 20.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Afghanistan data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Initial government expenditure on 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