Proportion of total government spending on essential services in India

India: Proportion of total government spending on essential services was 2.7% in 2018. ▲ Rising

Latest (2018)
2.7%
Change on year
down 21.1%
World rank
115th
of 116 countries
All-time high
3.9%
in 2014
All-time low
2.2%
in 2003
Years of data
19
2000–2018

Proportion of total government spending on essential services in India, 2000–2018

012342000200920182000: 2.52001: 2.32002: 2.32003: 2.22004: 2.62005: 3.22006: 3.72007: 2.32008: 2.42009: 2.52010: 3.22011: 3.12012: 3.62013: 3.32014: 3.92015: 3.22016: 2.92017: 3.42018: 2.7

Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.

Analysis

In 2018, proportion of total government spending on essential services in India stood at 2.7%.

Compared with earlier readings it is down 21.1% on the previous year and up 11.3% over ten years.

Over the whole period, proportion of total government spending on essential services in India peaked at 3.9% in 2014 and was at its lowest, 2.2%, in 2003.

India ranks 115th of 116 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 19 years of available data.

Proportion of total government spending on essential services in India, year by year

Annual values for Proportion of total government spending on essential services, education (%) in India, 2000 to 2018.
Year Value Change
2000 2.5%
2001 2.3% -9.1%
2002 2.3% +0.5%
2003 2.2% -3.2%
2004 2.6% +17.8%
2005 3.2% +21.6%
2006 3.7% +16.6%
2007 2.3% -39.8%
2008 2.4% +6.6%
2009 2.5% +2.4%
2010 3.2% +29.4%
2011 3.1% -1.0%
2012 3.6% +13.8%
2013 3.3% -7.6%
2014 3.9% +17.4%
2015 3.2% -18.3%
2016 2.9% -8.8%
2017 3.4% +16.8%
2018 2.7% -21.1%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 2.6% 2.2% 3.7% 10
2010s 3.2% 2.7% 3.9% 9

Countries ranked near India

  1. 112 Argentina 5.0% compare
  2. 113 Somalia 4.4%
  3. 114 Nepal 3.6% compare
  4. 116 Pakistan 1.5% compare

See the full ranking of 127 places →

More education data for India

All data for India →

Frequently asked questions

What is proportion of total government spending on essential services in India?
Proportion of total government spending on essential services in India was 2.7% in 2018, according to United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
What is the highest proportion of total government spending on essential services recorded in India?
The highest recorded value was 3.9% in 2014.
What is the lowest proportion of total government spending on essential services recorded in India?
The lowest recorded value was 2.2% in 2003.
How does India rank for proportion of total government spending on essential services?
India ranks 115th out of 116 countries with data for 2018.
Is proportion of total government spending on essential services rising or falling in India?
Over the last ten years it is up 11.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this India data come from?
The figures come from United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database, published as part of Proportion of total government spending on essential services, education (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Proportion of total government spending on essential services in India. Statizoid, drawing on United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database. Retrieved 31 August 2026, from https://education.statizoid.com/stat/proportion-of-total-government-spending-on-essential-services-education-percent/india/

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About this data

Indicator
Proportion of total government spending on essential services, education (%)
Source
United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database
Licence
UN SDG Global Database (open, attribution requested)
Coverage
127 places, 2,344 data points, 2000–2025
Last refreshed