Initial government expenditure on education as a percentage of GDP in Gambia
Gambia: Initial government expenditure on education as a percentage of GDP was 1.1% in 2018. ◆ Volatile
Initial government expenditure on education as a percentage of GDP in Gambia, 1985–2018
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2018, initial government expenditure on education as a percentage of gdp in Gambia stood at 1.1%.
The figure is down 24.6% on the previous year and down 25.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, initial government expenditure on education as a percentage of gdp in Gambia peaked at 4.3% in 1985 and was at its lowest, 0.6%, in 2004.
Gambia ranks 183rd of 185 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Initial government expenditure on education as a percentage of GDP in Gambia, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1985 | 4.3% | — |
| 1986 | 3.5% | -18.9% |
| 1989 | 3.0% | -14.7% |
| 1990 | 2.8% | -5.0% |
| 1991 | 3.8% | +33.8% |
| 1992 | 1.2% | -69.1% |
| 1995 | 2.6% | +118.3% |
| 1996 | 2.6% | +0.5% |
| 1999 | 1.6% | -39.0% |
| 2000 | 1.5% | -6.3% |
| 2001 | 1.2% | -21.0% |
| 2002 | 1.4% | +24.6% |
| 2003 | 1.4% | -5.5% |
| 2004 | 0.6% | -54.3% |
| 2005 | 0.7% | +11.2% |
| 2006 | 0.8% | +8.6% |
| 2007 | 0.8% | +8.7% |
| 2008 | 1.5% | +79.4% |
| 2009 | 1.6% | +7.0% |
| 2010 | 2.1% | +33.9% |
| 2011 | 1.7% | -16.7% |
| 2012 | 1.6% | -9.5% |
| 2013 | 1.5% | -8.1% |
| 2014 | 2.1% | +47.5% |
| 2015 | 2.1% | -0.4% |
| 2016 | 1.4% | -32.6% |
| 2018 | 1.1% | -24.6% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 3.6% | 3.0% | 4.3% | 3 |
| 1990s | 2.4% | 1.2% | 3.8% | 6 |
| 2000s | 1.1% | 0.6% | 1.6% | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.7% | 1.1% | 2.1% | 8 |
Countries ranked near Gambia
- 180 Congo, Democratic Republic of the 1.1% compare
- 181 Haiti 1.1% compare
- 182 Central African Republic 1.1% compare
- 184 Bangladesh 1.0% compare
- 185 Guinea-Bissau 1.0% compare
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 initial government expenditure on education as a percentage of gdp in Gambia?
- Initial government expenditure on education as a percentage of gdp in Gambia was 1.1% in 2018, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest initial government expenditure on education as a percentage of gdp recorded in Gambia?
- The highest recorded value was 4.3% in 1985.
- What is the lowest initial government expenditure on education as a percentage of gdp recorded in Gambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.6% in 2004.
- How does Gambia rank for initial government expenditure on education as a percentage of gdp?
- Gambia ranks 183rd out of 185 countries with data for 2018.
- Is initial government expenditure on education as a percentage of gdp rising or falling in Gambia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 25.9%. 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 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