Initial government expenditure on education as a percentage of GDP in Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone: Initial government expenditure on education as a percentage of GDP was 4.9% in 2022. ◆ Volatile
Initial government expenditure on education as a percentage of GDP in Sierra Leone, 2000–2022
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.
Analysis
Sierra Leone recorded 4.9% for initial government expenditure on education as a percentage of gdp in 2022.
That represents a change of down 12.3% on the previous year and up 176.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, initial government expenditure on education as a percentage of gdp in Sierra Leone peaked at 5.6% in 2021 and was at its lowest, 1.4%, in 2008.
That places Sierra Leone 53rd out of 185 countries with data for 2022, putting it in the middle of the range.
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 Sierra Leone, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 4.9% | — |
| 2001 | 2.2% | -55.0% |
| 2002 | 2.3% | +3.2% |
| 2003 | 2.1% | -8.2% |
| 2004 | 2.0% | -4.6% |
| 2005 | 1.8% | -9.8% |
| 2007 | 1.5% | -17.8% |
| 2008 | 1.4% | -4.5% |
| 2009 | 1.7% | +21.0% |
| 2010 | 1.5% | -10.5% |
| 2011 | 1.6% | +4.3% |
| 2012 | 1.8% | +10.6% |
| 2013 | 1.6% | -12.2% |
| 2014 | 1.7% | +11.3% |
| 2016 | 1.8% | +6.4% |
| 2017 | 3.0% | +63.1% |
| 2018 | 4.5% | +48.2% |
| 2019 | 4.7% | +4.1% |
| 2020 | 5.3% | +14.9% |
| 2021 | 5.6% | +4.6% |
| 2022 | 4.9% | -12.3% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 2.2% | 1.4% | 4.9% | 9 |
| 2010s | 2.5% | 1.5% | 4.7% | 9 |
| 2020s | 5.3% | 4.9% | 5.6% | 3 |
Countries ranked near Sierra Leone
- 50 Burkina Faso 4.9% compare
- 51 Syrian Arab Republic 4.9% compare
- 52 Chile 4.9% compare
- 54 United States of America 4.9% compare
- 55 Estonia 4.9% compare
- 56 Kazakhstan 4.9% compare
More education data for Sierra Leone
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 38,043 (2024)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 73,295 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 85,708 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 92,723 (2024)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 1.16 million (2023)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 2.07 million (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 2.52 % change on previous year (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0.0003 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.2393 units per person (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is initial government expenditure on education as a percentage of gdp in Sierra Leone?
- Initial government expenditure on education as a percentage of gdp in Sierra Leone was 4.9% in 2022, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest initial government expenditure on education as a percentage of gdp recorded in Sierra Leone?
- The highest recorded value was 5.6% in 2021.
- What is the lowest initial government expenditure on education as a percentage of gdp recorded in Sierra Leone?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.4% in 2008.
- How does Sierra Leone rank for initial government expenditure on education as a percentage of gdp?
- Sierra Leone ranks 53rd out of 185 countries with data for 2022.
- Is initial government expenditure on education as a percentage of gdp rising or falling in Sierra Leone?
- Over the last ten years it is up 176.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Sierra Leone 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