Education Expenditure (% of GDP) 2016
Education expenditure measures the percentage of GDP spent on education. Compare countries and explore interactive rankings and trends.
Interactive Map
Complete Data Rankings
Rank | ||
|---|---|---|
1 |  Denmark | 8.5 % of GDP |
2 |  Finland | 7.2 % of GDP |
3 |  Iceland | 7 % of GDP |
4 |  Kyrgyzstan | 6.8 % of GDP |
5 |  Cyprus | 6.6 % of GDP |
6 |  Aruba | 6 % of GDP |
7 |  Ghana | 6 % of GDP |
8 |  Jamaica | 6 % of GDP |
9 |  Honduras | 5.9 % of GDP |
10 |  Israel | 5.9 % of GDP |
11 |  Ireland | 5.8 % of GDP |
12 |  France | 5.5 % of GDP |
13 |  Kenya | 5.5 % of GDP |
14 |  Germany | 4.9 % of GDP |
15 |  Estonia | 4.7 % of GDP |
16 |  Côte d'Ivoire | 4.7 % of GDP |
17 |  Hungary | 4.6 % of GDP |
18 |  South Korea | 4.6 % of GDP |
19 |  Djibouti | 4.5 % of GDP |
20 |  Ethiopia | 4.5 % of GDP |
21 |  Czech Republic | 4.3 % of GDP |
22 |  Ecuador | 4.2 % of GDP |
23 |  Croatia | 4.2 % of GDP |
24 |  Laos | 4.2 % of GDP |
25 |  Greece | 4.1 % of GDP |
26 |  Italy | 4.1 % of GDP |
27 |  Cook Islands | 3.9 % of GDP |
28 |  Fiji | 3.9 % of GDP |
29 |  Egypt | 3.8 % of GDP |
30 |  India | 3.8 % of GDP |
31 |  Japan | 3.8 % of GDP |
32 |  Kuwait | 3.8 % of GDP |
33 |  Guinea | 3.5 % of GDP |
34 |  El Salvador | 3.4 % of GDP |
35 |  Indonesia | 3.3 % of GDP |
36 |  Guyana | 3.2 % of GDP |
37 |  Kazakhstan | 3.1 % of GDP |
38 |  Iran | 3 % of GDP |
39 |  Gambia | 2.8 % of GDP |
40 |  Antigua and Barbuda | 2.6 % of GDP |
41 |  United Arab Emirates | NaN % of GDP |
42 |  Afghanistan | NaN % of GDP |
43 |  Cuba | 12.8 % of GDP |
44 |  Solomon Islands | 10 % of GDP |
45 |  Botswana | 9.6 % of GDP |
46 |  Bolivia | 7.3 % of GDP |
47 |  Costa Rica | 7 % of GDP |
48 |  Barbados | 6.7 % of GDP |
49 |  Belgium | 6.4 % of GDP |
50 |  Belize | 6.2 % of GDP |
51 |  Congo | 6.2 % of GDP |
52 |  Brazil | 5.9 % of GDP |
53 |  Bhutan | 5.9 % of GDP |
54 |  Austria | 5.6 % of GDP |
55 |  Burundi | 5.4 % of GDP |
56 |  Argentina | 5.3 % of GDP |
57 |  Australia | 5.3 % of GDP |
58 |  Canada | 5.3 % of GDP |
59 |  Comoros | 5.1 % of GDP |
60 |  Belarus | 5 % of GDP |
61 |  Cabo Verde | 5 % of GDP |
62 |  Curaçao | 4.9 % of GDP |
63 |  Colombia | 4.7 % of GDP |
64 |  Chile | 4.6 % of GDP |
65 |  Benin | 4.4 % of GDP |
66 |  Algeria | 4.3 % of GDP |
67 |  Brunei Darussalam | 3.8 % of GDP |
68 |  Albania | 3.54 % of GDP |
69 |  Bulgaria | 3.5 % of GDP |
70 |  Angola | 3.4 % of GDP |
71 |  Andorra | 3.1 % of GDP |
72 |  Cameroon | 3 % of GDP |
73 |  Chad | 2.9 % of GDP |
74 |  Bahrain | 2.6 % of GDP |
75 |  Azerbaijan | 2.5 % of GDP |
76 |  American Samoa | NaN % of GDP |
77 |  Anguilla | 2.8 % of GDP |
78 |  Bangladesh | 2 % of GDP |
79 |  Bermuda | 1.8 % of GDP |
80 |  Bahamas | NaN % of GDP |
81 |  Bosnia and Herzegovina | NaN % of GDP |
82 |  Congo, Democratic Republic of the | 2.2 % of GDP |
83 |  Dominican Republic | 2.1 % of GDP |
84 |  Eritrea | 2.1 % of GDP |
85 |  Cambodia | 2 % of GDP |
86 |  Sri Lanka | 1.6 % of GDP |
87 |  China | NaN % of GDP |
88 |  Cayman Islands | NaN % of GDP |
89 |  Central African Republic | 1.2 % of GDP |
90 |  Gabon | NaN % of GDP |
91 |  Georgia | 2 % of GDP |
92 |  Gibraltar | NaN % of GDP |
93 |  Guatemala | 2.8 % of GDP |
94 |  Haiti | NaN % of GDP |
95 |  Iraq | NaN % of GDP |
96 |  Jordan | NaN % of GDP |
97 |  North Korea | NaN % of GDP |
98 |  Lesotho | 13 % of GDP |
99 |  Republic of Moldova | 7.5 % of GDP |
100 |  Norway | 7.4 % of GDP |
101 |  Malawi | 6.9 % of GDP |
102 |  Malta | 6.8 % of GDP |
103 |  Niger | 6.8 % of GDP |
104 |  Mozambique | 6.5 % of GDP |
105 |  New Zealand | 6.4 % of GDP |
106 |  Puerto Rico | 6.4 % of GDP |
107 |  Malaysia | 6.1 % of GDP |
108 |  Netherlands | 5.6 % of GDP |
109 |  Morocco | 5.3 % of GDP |
110 |  Maldives | 5.2 % of GDP |
111 |  Mexico | 5.2 % of GDP |
112 |  Montserrat | 5.1 % of GDP |
113 |  Portugal | 5.1 % of GDP |
114 |  Mauritius | 5 % of GDP |
115 |  Oman | 5 % of GDP |
116 |  Paraguay | 5 % of GDP |
117 |  Latvia | 4.9 % of GDP |
118 |  Lithuania | 4.8 % of GDP |
119 |  Poland | 4.8 % of GDP |
120 |  Nepal | 4.7 % of GDP |
121 |  Mongolia | 4.6 % of GDP |
122 |  Slovakia | 4.1 % of GDP |
123 |  Qatar | 3.5 % of GDP |
124 |  Mauritania | 3.3 % of GDP |
125 |  Romania | 2.9 % of GDP |
126 |  Liberia | 2.8 % of GDP |
127 |  Liechtenstein | 2.6 % of GDP |
128 |  Libya | NaN % of GDP |
129 |  Madagascar | 2.1 % of GDP |
130 |  Montenegro | NaN % of GDP |
131 |  Vanuatu | 4.9 % of GDP |
132 |  Serbia | 4.4 % of GDP |
133 |  Mali | 4.3 % of GDP |
134 |  Philippines | 2.7 % of GDP |
135 |  Guinea-Bissau | 2.4 % of GDP |
136 |  Monaco | 1 % of GDP |
137 |  Niue | NaN % of GDP |
138 |  Nigeria | NaN % of GDP |
139 |  Nauru | NaN % of GDP |
140 |  Suriname | NaN % of GDP |
141 |  Nicaragua | 4.5 % of GDP |
142 |  Peru | 3.7 % of GDP |
143 |  Panama | 3.3 % of GDP |
144 |  Pakistan | 2.5 % of GDP |
145 |  South Sudan | 0.8 % of GDP |
146 |  Papua New Guinea | NaN % of GDP |
147 |  Eswatini | 8.6 % of GDP |
148 |  Namibia | 8.3 % of GDP |
149 |  Sweden | 7.7 % of GDP |
150 |  Timor-Leste | 7.7 % of GDP |
151 |  Venezuela | 6.9 % of GDP |
152 |  United Kingdom | 6.7 % of GDP |
153 |  Ukraine | 6.7 % of GDP |
154 |  Vietnam | 6.3 % of GDP |
155 |  Tunisia | 6.2 % of GDP |
156 |  South Africa | 6.1 % of GDP |
157 |  Slovenia | 5.7 % of GDP |
158 |  Senegal | 5.6 % of GDP |
159 |  United States | 5.2 % of GDP |
160 |  Saudi Arabia | 5.1 % of GDP |
161 |  Syrian Arab Republic | 5.1 % of GDP |
162 |  Switzerland | 5.1 % of GDP |
163 |  Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | 5.1 % of GDP |
164 |  Samoa | 5.1 % of GDP |
165 |  Rwanda | 5 % of GDP |
166 |  Saint Lucia | 4.8 % of GDP |
167 |  Togo | 4.8 % of GDP |
168 |  Yemen | 4.6 % of GDP |
169 |  Burkina Faso | 4.5 % of GDP |
170 |  Uruguay | 4.4 % of GDP |
171 |  British Virgin Islands | 4.4 % of GDP |
172 |  Spain | 4.3 % of GDP |
173 |  Russia | 4.2 % of GDP |
174 |  Saint Kitts and Nevis | 4.2 % of GDP |
175 |  Thailand | 4.1 % of GDP |
176 |  Tajikistan | 4 % of GDP |
177 |  Sao Tome and Principe | 3.9 % of GDP |
178 |  Seychelles | 3.6 % of GDP |
179 |  Tanzania | 3.5 % of GDP |
180 |  Turks and Caicos Islands | 3.3 % of GDP |
181 |  Turkmenistan | 3 % of GDP |
182 |  Singapore | 2.9 % of GDP |
183 |  Turkey | 2.9 % of GDP |
184 |  Sierra Leone | 2.8 % of GDP |
185 |  Lebanon | 2.6 % of GDP |
186 |  San Marino | 2.4 % of GDP |
187 |  Somalia | NaN % of GDP |
188 |  Tokelau | NaN % of GDP |
189 |  Tuvalu | NaN % of GDP |
190 |  Uganda | 2.2 % of GDP |
191 |  Uzbekistan | NaN % of GDP |
192 |  Holy See | NaN % of GDP |
193 |  Zimbabwe | 2 % of GDP |
194 |  Zambia | 1.1 % of GDP |
Analysis: These countries represent the highest values in this dataset, showcasing significant scale and impact on global statistics.
- #194Zambia
- #193Zimbabwe
- #192Holy See
- #191Uzbekistan
- #190Uganda
- #189Tuvalu
- #188Tokelau
- #187Somalia
- #186San Marino
- #185Lebanon
Context: These countries or territories have the lowest values, often due to geographic size, administrative status, or specific characteristics.
Analysis & Context
In 2016, Lesotho led the world in Education Expenditure (% of GDP) with a remarkable 13%, while the global range spanned from 0.80% to 13.00%. The average expenditure across the 169 countries with available data was 4.68%, offering a benchmark for global educational investment.
High Education Expenditure: Policy Priorities and Economic Context
The countries with the highest education expenditure as a percentage of GDP often reflect a deliberate policy choice to prioritize education, sometimes facilitated by specific economic or demographic factors. Lesotho and Cuba lead with 13% and 12.8%, respectively. Both nations have historically emphasized education as a tool for development and social stability. In Lesotho, education is seen as a critical pathway out of poverty, justifying its high national budget allocation. Meanwhile, Cuba's investment is consistent with its socialist policies that prioritize accessible education for all citizens.
Similarly, countries like the Solomon Islands and Botswana, with expenditures of 10% and 9.6%, demonstrate how smaller economies can dedicate significant resources to education to cultivate human capital. For Denmark and Sweden, both spending over 7%, high education expenditure aligns with their welfare state models, where education is integral to ensuring equality and high living standards.
Low Education Expenditure: Challenges and Constraints
On the opposite end, countries such as South Sudan (0.8%) and Monaco (1%) exhibit minimal education spending relative to GDP. In South Sudan, ongoing conflict and economic instability severely limit government capacity to fund education. Conversely, Monaco, with its high GDP per capita, does not need to allocate a large percentage of its GDP to education to maintain quality, as the absolute spending remains sufficient.
Other countries with low percentages, such as Zambia (1.1%) and the Central African Republic (1.2%), often face financial constraints and competing priorities in health and infrastructure, limiting their educational investments. These figures highlight the challenges faced by developing nations in balancing limited resources against pressing needs.
Year-over-Year Changes: Dynamic Shifts in Education Investment
Analyzing year-over-year changes reveals significant shifts in education expenditure. Niger experienced the most substantial increase, with a 2.40% rise, marking a 54.5% increase. Such a change likely reflects intensified efforts to improve educational access and quality in response to demographic pressures, such as a growing youth population.
Conversely, Sao Tome and Principe saw a drastic reduction of 5.60% (-58.9%), potentially due to economic constraints or shifts in political priorities. Thailand and Tanzania also experienced notable decreases of 3.50% (-46.1%) and 2.70% (-43.5%), respectively, possibly influenced by fiscal restructuring or reallocation of funds to other sectors.
Global Patterns and Implications
Globally, the average education expenditure of 4.68% illustrates the varying capacities and commitments of nations to invest in education. Wealthier nations with robust economies and stable governance structures, such as Denmark and Sweden, consistently invest a higher percentage, reinforcing their educational systems as pillars of social and economic policy.
In contrast, many low-income countries struggle to meet this average, often due to economic hardship, political instability, or competing developmental priorities. These disparities have significant implications for educational outcomes and long-term economic growth, as countries with higher investments tend to cultivate more skilled workforces, driving innovation and development.
The data from 2016 underscores the critical role of education expenditure as a reflection of national priorities and as a determinant of future socio-economic success. Understanding these patterns can inform policymakers and stakeholders as they navigate the complex landscape of educational funding and development strategies.
Data Source
CIA World Factbook
The World Factbook, also known as the CIA World Factbook, was a reference resource produced by the US Central Intelligence Agency between 1962 and 2026 with almanac-style information about the countries of the world. From 1971 it was not classified, and available to the public in print since 1975, initially by the CIA, and later the Government Publishing Office.
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