International expenditure on education as a percentage of GDP in Gambia
Gambia: International expenditure on education as a percentage of GDP was 1.3% in 2018. ◆ Volatile
International expenditure on education as a percentage of GDP in Gambia, 2000–2018
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for international expenditure on education as a percentage of gdp in Gambia is 1.3%, measured in 2018. That is the highest value across all 18 years on record.
The figure is up 119.0% on the previous year and up 78.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, international expenditure on education as a percentage of gdp in Gambia peaked at 1.3% in 2018 and was at its lowest, 0.0%, in 2000.
That places Gambia 14th out of 178 countries with data for 2018, putting it in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
International expenditure on education as a percentage of GDP in Gambia, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 0.0% | — |
| 2001 | 0.0% | — |
| 2002 | 1.1% | — |
| 2003 | 1.0% | -9.6% |
| 2004 | 0.6% | -37.1% |
| 2005 | 0.6% | -7.5% |
| 2006 | 0.4% | -36.3% |
| 2007 | 1.1% | +209.7% |
| 2008 | 0.7% | -37.3% |
| 2009 | 0.3% | -52.5% |
| 2010 | 0.5% | +36.1% |
| 2011 | 0.4% | -3.5% |
| 2012 | 0.4% | -8.4% |
| 2013 | 0.4% | -11.3% |
| 2014 | 0.8% | +108.9% |
| 2015 | 0.3% | -65.6% |
| 2016 | 0.6% | +124.3% |
| 2018 | 1.3% | +119.0% |
Gambia compared with similar countries
- Gambia's 1.3% is above the median for low income countries, which is 0.6%, 2.3× the median. (21 countries reporting)
- Gambia's 1.3% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 0.4%, 3.4× the median. (43 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 0.6% | 0.0% | 1.1% | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.6% | 0.3% | 1.3% | 8 |
Countries ranked near Gambia
- 11 Rwanda 1.4% compare
- 12 Mozambique 1.3% compare
- 13 Malawi 1.3% compare
- 15 Guinea-Bissau 0.9% compare
- 16 Kyrgyzstan 0.9% compare
- 17 Senegal 0.8% 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 international expenditure on education as a percentage of gdp in Gambia?
- International expenditure on education as a percentage of gdp in Gambia was 1.3% in 2018, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest international expenditure on education as a percentage of gdp recorded in Gambia?
- The highest recorded value was 1.3% in 2018.
- What is the lowest international expenditure on education as a percentage of gdp recorded in Gambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.0% in 2000.
- How does Gambia rank for international expenditure on education as a percentage of gdp?
- Gambia ranks 14th out of 178 countries with data for 2018.
- Is international expenditure on education as a percentage of gdp rising or falling in Gambia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 78.8%. 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 International expenditure on education as a percentage of GDP (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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CSV · JSON — 18 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
About this data
February 2026 Data Release