Initial government expenditure on education as a percentage of GDP in Liberia
Liberia: Initial government expenditure on education as a percentage of GDP was 2.4% in 2021. ◆ Volatile
Initial government expenditure on education as a percentage of GDP in Liberia, 1978–2021
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.
Analysis
Liberia recorded 2.4% for initial government expenditure on education as a percentage of gdp in 2021.
The figure is up 89.9% on the previous year and up 36.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, initial government expenditure on education as a percentage of gdp in Liberia peaked at 7.0% in 1978 and was at its lowest, 1.1%, in 2014.
Liberia ranks 158th of 185 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
Initial government expenditure on education as a percentage of GDP in Liberia, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1978 | 7.0% | — |
| 1980 | 6.3% | -10.5% |
| 2008 | 1.7% | -72.8% |
| 2012 | 1.8% | +4.4% |
| 2013 | 1.7% | -4.9% |
| 2014 | 1.1% | -32.5% |
| 2017 | 1.8% | +54.0% |
| 2018 | 1.3% | -27.4% |
| 2021 | 2.4% | +89.9% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 7.0% | 7.0% | 7.0% | 1 |
| 1980s | 6.3% | 6.3% | 6.3% | 1 |
| 2000s | 1.7% | 1.7% | 1.7% | 1 |
| 2010s | 1.5% | 1.1% | 1.8% | 5 |
| 2020s | 2.4% | 2.4% | 2.4% | 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 initial government expenditure on education as a percentage of gdp in Liberia?
- Initial government expenditure on education as a percentage of gdp in Liberia was 2.4% in 2021, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest initial government expenditure on education as a percentage of gdp recorded in Liberia?
- The highest recorded value was 7.0% in 1978.
- What is the lowest initial government expenditure on education as a percentage of gdp recorded in Liberia?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.1% in 2014.
- How does Liberia rank for initial government expenditure on education as a percentage of gdp?
- Liberia ranks 158th out of 185 countries with data for 2021.
- Is initial government expenditure on education as a percentage of gdp rising or falling in Liberia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 36.4%. 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 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