Education Expenditure (% of GDP) 2018
Education expenditure measures the percentage of GDP spent on education. Compare countries and explore interactive rankings and trends.
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Complete Data Rankings
Rank | ||
|---|---|---|
1 |  Cuba | 12.8 % of GDP |
2 |  Grenada | 10.3 % of GDP |
3 |  Solomon Islands | 10 % of GDP |
4 |  Iceland | 7.8 % of GDP |
5 |  Denmark | 7.6 % of GDP |
6 |  Finland | 7.2 % of GDP |
7 |  Aruba | 6.5 % of GDP |
8 |  Ghana | 6.2 % of GDP |
9 |  Cyprus | 6.1 % of GDP |
10 |  Kyrgyzstan | 6 % of GDP |
11 |  Honduras | 5.9 % of GDP |
12 |  Israel | 5.7 % of GDP |
13 |  Estonia | 5.5 % of GDP |
14 |  France | 5.5 % of GDP |
15 |  Jamaica | 5.4 % of GDP |
16 |  Kenya | 5.3 % of GDP |
17 |  Latvia | 5.3 % of GDP |
18 |  South Korea | 5.1 % of GDP |
19 |  Ecuador | 5 % of GDP |
20 |  Ireland | 4.9 % of GDP |
21 |  Germany | 4.9 % of GDP |
22 |  Côte d'Ivoire | 4.8 % of GDP |
23 |  Cook Islands | 4.7 % of GDP |
24 |  Croatia | 4.6 % of GDP |
25 |  Hungary | 4.6 % of GDP |
26 |  Djibouti | 4.5 % of GDP |
27 |  Ethiopia | 4.5 % of GDP |
28 |  Lithuania | 4.5 % of GDP |
29 |  Italy | 4.1 % of GDP |
30 |  Czech Republic | 4 % of GDP |
31 |  Fiji | 3.9 % of GDP |
32 |  Jordan | 3.9 % of GDP |
33 |  Egypt | 3.8 % of GDP |
34 |  Georgia | 3.8 % of GDP |
35 |  India | 3.8 % of GDP |
36 |  Indonesia | 3.6 % of GDP |
37 |  Japan | 3.6 % of GDP |
38 |  El Salvador | 3.5 % of GDP |
39 |  Dominica | 3.4 % of GDP |
40 |  Iran | 3.4 % of GDP |
41 |  Guyana | 3.2 % of GDP |
42 |  Laos | 2.9 % of GDP |
43 |  Gambia | 2.8 % of GDP |
44 |  Guatemala | 2.8 % of GDP |
45 |  Gabon | 2.7 % of GDP |
46 |  Antigua and Barbuda | 2.5 % of GDP |
47 |  United Arab Emirates | NaN % of GDP |
48 |  Botswana | 9.6 % of GDP |
49 |  Belize | 7.4 % of GDP |
50 |  Bhutan | 7.4 % of GDP |
51 |  Bolivia | 7.3 % of GDP |
52 |  Costa Rica | 7.1 % of GDP |
53 |  Belgium | 6.6 % of GDP |
54 |  Congo | 6.2 % of GDP |
55 |  Argentina | 5.9 % of GDP |
56 |  Brazil | 5.9 % of GDP |
57 |  Austria | 5.4 % of GDP |
58 |  Burundi | 5.4 % of GDP |
59 |  Cabo Verde | 5.4 % of GDP |
60 |  Canada | 5.3 % of GDP |
61 |  Australia | 5.2 % of GDP |
62 |  Barbados | 5.1 % of GDP |
63 |  Belarus | 5 % of GDP |
64 |  Chile | 4.9 % of GDP |
65 |  Colombia | 4.5 % of GDP |
66 |  Benin | 4.4 % of GDP |
67 |  Algeria | 4.3 % of GDP |
68 |  Comoros | 4.3 % of GDP |
69 |  Bulgaria | 4.1 % of GDP |
70 |  Albania | 3.5 % of GDP |
71 |  Angola | 3.5 % of GDP |
72 |  Sri Lanka | 3.5 % of GDP |
73 |  Andorra | 3.3 % of GDP |
74 |  Afghanistan | 3.2 % of GDP |
75 |  Azerbaijan | 3 % of GDP |
76 |  American Samoa | NaN % of GDP |
77 |  Brunei Darussalam | 4.4 % of GDP |
78 |  Chad | 2.9 % of GDP |
79 |  Anguilla | 2.8 % of GDP |
80 |  Cameroon | 2.8 % of GDP |
81 |  Bahrain | 2.7 % of GDP |
82 |  Bangladesh | 2.5 % of GDP |
83 |  Congo, Democratic Republic of the | 2.3 % of GDP |
84 |  Cambodia | 1.9 % of GDP |
85 |  Bermuda | 1.5 % of GDP |
86 |  Bahamas | NaN % of GDP |
87 |  Bosnia and Herzegovina | NaN % of GDP |
88 |  Myanmar | 0.8 % of GDP |
89 |  China | NaN % of GDP |
90 |  Cayman Islands | NaN % of GDP |
91 |  Central African Republic | 1.2 % of GDP |
92 |  Gibraltar | NaN % of GDP |
93 |  Lebanon | 2.5 % of GDP |
94 |  Guinea | 2.4 % of GDP |
95 |  Haiti | NaN % of GDP |
96 |  Iraq | NaN % of GDP |
97 |  North Korea | NaN % of GDP |
98 |  Lesotho | 11.4 % of GDP |
99 |  Norway | 7.7 % of GDP |
100 |  Malta | 7.2 % of GDP |
101 |  Republic of Moldova | 6.7 % of GDP |
102 |  Mozambique | 6.5 % of GDP |
103 |  New Zealand | 6.3 % of GDP |
104 |  Oman | 6.2 % of GDP |
105 |  Niger | 6 % of GDP |
106 |  Puerto Rico | 6 % of GDP |
107 |  Vanuatu | 5.5 % of GDP |
108 |  Netherlands | 5.5 % of GDP |
109 |  Morocco | 5.3 % of GDP |
110 |  Mexico | 5.3 % of GDP |
111 |  Mongolia | 5.2 % of GDP |
112 |  Montserrat | 5.1 % of GDP |
113 |  Mauritius | 5.1 % of GDP |
114 |  Portugal | 5.1 % of GDP |
115 |  Paraguay | 5 % of GDP |
116 |  Poland | 4.9 % of GDP |
117 |  Malaysia | 4.8 % of GDP |
118 |  Malawi | 4.7 % of GDP |
119 |  Slovakia | 4.6 % of GDP |
120 |  Nicaragua | 4.5 % of GDP |
121 |  Maldives | 4.3 % of GDP |
122 |  Luxembourg | 4 % of GDP |
123 |  Serbia | 4 % of GDP |
124 |  Peru | 3.8 % of GDP |
125 |  Russia | 3.8 % of GDP |
126 |  Nepal | 3.7 % of GDP |
127 |  Qatar | 3.6 % of GDP |
128 |  Romania | 3.1 % of GDP |
129 |  Liberia | 2.8 % of GDP |
130 |  Liechtenstein | 2.6 % of GDP |
131 |  Libya | NaN % of GDP |
132 |  Panama | 3.2 % of GDP |
133 |  Pakistan | 2.8 % of GDP |
134 |  Philippines | 2.7 % of GDP |
135 |  Mauritania | 2.6 % of GDP |
136 |  Madagascar | 2.1 % of GDP |
137 |  Montenegro | NaN % of GDP |
138 |  Mali | 3.8 % of GDP |
139 |  Monaco | 1.4 % of GDP |
140 |  Niue | NaN % of GDP |
141 |  Nigeria | NaN % of GDP |
142 |  Nauru | NaN % of GDP |
143 |  Suriname | NaN % of GDP |
144 |  Guinea-Bissau | 2.1 % of GDP |
145 |  South Sudan | 1.8 % of GDP |
146 |  Papua New Guinea | NaN % of GDP |
147 |  Zimbabwe | 8.4 % of GDP |
148 |  Namibia | 8.3 % of GDP |
149 |  Sweden | 7.7 % of GDP |
150 |  Timor-Leste | 7.5 % of GDP |
151 |  Senegal | 7.1 % of GDP |
152 |  Eswatini | 7.1 % of GDP |
153 |  Venezuela | 6.9 % of GDP |
154 |  Tunisia | 6.6 % of GDP |
155 |  British Virgin Islands | 6.3 % of GDP |
156 |  South Africa | 5.9 % of GDP |
157 |  Ukraine | 5.9 % of GDP |
158 |  Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | 5.8 % of GDP |
159 |  Saint Lucia | 5.7 % of GDP |
160 |  Vietnam | 5.7 % of GDP |
161 |  United Kingdom | 5.6 % of GDP |
162 |  Slovenia | 5.3 % of GDP |
163 |  Tajikistan | 5.2 % of GDP |
164 |  Saudi Arabia | 5.1 % of GDP |
165 |  Syrian Arab Republic | 5.1 % of GDP |
166 |  Switzerland | 5.1 % of GDP |
167 |  Togo | 5.1 % of GDP |
168 |  United States | 5 % of GDP |
169 |  Curaçao | 4.9 % of GDP |
170 |  Yemen | 4.6 % of GDP |
171 |  Turkey | 4.4 % of GDP |
172 |  Uruguay | 4.4 % of GDP |
173 |  Spain | 4.3 % of GDP |
174 |  Burkina Faso | 4.2 % of GDP |
175 |  Thailand | 4.1 % of GDP |
176 |  Samoa | 4.1 % of GDP |
177 |  Sao Tome and Principe | 3.7 % of GDP |
178 |  Seychelles | 3.6 % of GDP |
179 |  Rwanda | 3.5 % of GDP |
180 |  Tanzania | 3.5 % of GDP |
181 |  Turks and Caicos Islands | 3.3 % of GDP |
182 |  Kazakhstan | 3 % of GDP |
183 |  Turkmenistan | 3 % of GDP |
184 |  Sierra Leone | 2.9 % of GDP |
185 |  Singapore | 2.9 % of GDP |
186 |  Saint Kitts and Nevis | 2.8 % of GDP |
187 |  San Marino | 2.4 % of GDP |
188 |  Somalia | NaN % of GDP |
189 |  Tokelau | NaN % of GDP |
190 |  Tuvalu | NaN % of GDP |
191 |  Uganda | 2.3 % of GDP |
192 |  Uzbekistan | NaN % of GDP |
193 |  Holy See | NaN % 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
- #193Holy See
- #192Uzbekistan
- #191Uganda
- #190Tuvalu
- #189Tokelau
- #188Somalia
- #187San Marino
- #186Saint Kitts and Nevis
- #185Singapore
Context: These countries or territories have the lowest values, often due to geographic size, administrative status, or specific characteristics.
Analysis & Context
In 2018, Cuba led the world in Education Expenditure with 12.8% of its GDP allocated to education, while the global range for this expenditure was between 0.80% and 12.80%. The global average for Education Expenditure (% of GDP) was 4.72%, providing a benchmark against which countries' investments in education can be compared.
High Investment in Education: Policy and Priorities
The countries at the upper end of the Education Expenditure spectrum, such as Cuba (12.8%), Lesotho (11.4%), and Grenada (10.3%), reflect a strong policy-driven commitment to education. In Cuba, the longstanding emphasis on universal education as a pillar of its social policy explains its top position. Similarly, Lesotho and Grenada have prioritized education as a mechanism for social development and poverty alleviation, which is apparent in their high GDP allocation to this sector.
Economic strategies and demographic pressures also play a role. For example, Lesotho, despite economic challenges, invests heavily in education to address its high youth population and improve literacy rates. In contrast, wealthier nations such as Iceland (7.8%) and Sweden (7.7%) use their robust economies to sustain high-quality education systems, which are integral to their social welfare models.
Low Expenditure and Its Implications
On the opposite end, countries like Myanmar (0.8%), Zambia (1.1%), and Central African Republic (1.2%) allocate minimal portions of their GDP to education. Such low investment often correlates with broader economic constraints and competing fiscal demands. In Myanmar, political transitions and economic restructuring have influenced budget allocations, limiting education funding. Similarly, in the Central African Republic, prolonged conflict and instability have diverted resources away from education towards immediate humanitarian needs.
These fiscal limitations can have long-term implications, including lower literacy rates and limited economic growth, as education is a critical driver of human capital development.
Year-Over-Year Changes: Key Movers
Analyzing the year-over-year changes, the British Virgin Islands saw the largest increase in education expenditure, with a 43.2% rise, bringing its investment to focus on improving educational infrastructure post-natural disasters. Similarly, Georgia experienced a 90.0% increase, reflecting reforms aimed at enhancing educational quality and accessibility.
Conversely, Barbados and Lesotho experienced significant decreases of 23.9% and 12.3% respectively. In Barbados, economic challenges necessitated budget cuts across sectors, including education. Meanwhile, Lesotho's decrease, despite its high overall expenditure, suggests a reallocation of resources within its education sector, potentially to balance competing needs or inefficiencies.
Regional Insights and Economic Context
Regional economic conditions heavily influence education expenditure. In Sub-Saharan Africa, countries like Lesotho and Namibia (8.3%) invest heavily in education relative to their GDP, often as a strategy to overcome socio-economic hurdles. However, neighboring nations such as Zambia allocate significantly less, highlighting disparities driven by different economic conditions and policy priorities.
In Europe, countries such as Iceland and Norway (7.7%) maintain high education expenditure, leveraging their advanced economies to sustain comprehensive educational systems that support innovation and competitiveness on a global scale.
The analysis of Education Expenditure (% of GDP) in 2018 reveals a complex interplay of policy priorities, economic capacity, and regional challenges. Understanding these dynamics offers insights into how nations prioritize education as a tool for development and the broader socio-economic ramifications of such investments.
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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