Education Expenditure (% of GDP) 2020
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 |  Dominica | 5.6 % of GDP |
2 |  Aruba | 5.5 % of GDP |
3 |  Antigua and Barbuda | NaN % of GDP |
4 |  United Arab Emirates | NaN % of GDP |
5 |  Cuba | 12.8 % of GDP |
6 |  Solomon Islands | 9.9 % of GDP |
7 |  Denmark | 7.8 % of GDP |
8 |  Belize | 7.6 % of GDP |
9 |  Bolivia | 7.3 % of GDP |
10 |  Costa Rica | 7 % of GDP |
11 |  Bhutan | 6.9 % of GDP |
12 |  Belgium | 6.4 % of GDP |
13 |  Brazil | 6.3 % of GDP |
14 |  Cyprus | 5.8 % of GDP |
15 |  Austria | 5.4 % of GDP |
16 |  Chile | 5.4 % of GDP |
17 |  Colombia | 4.5 % of GDP |
18 |  Afghanistan | 4.1 % of GDP |
19 |  Algeria | NaN % of GDP |
20 |  Argentina | 5.5 % of GDP |
21 |  Canada | 5.3 % of GDP |
22 |  Cabo Verde | 5.2 % of GDP |
23 |  Australia | 5.1 % of GDP |
24 |  Burundi | 5.1 % of GDP |
25 |  Belarus | 4.8 % of GDP |
26 |  Cook Islands | 4.7 % of GDP |
27 |  Barbados | 4.4 % of GDP |
28 |  Albania | 3.6 % of GDP |
29 |  Angola | 3.4 % of GDP |
30 |  Andorra | 3.2 % of GDP |
31 |  Azerbaijan | 2.5 % of GDP |
32 |  American Samoa | NaN % of GDP |
33 |  Anguilla | NaN % of GDP |
34 |  Chad | 2.5 % of GDP |
35 |  Bahrain | 2.3 % of GDP |
36 |  Botswana | NaN % of GDP |
37 |  Congo | 3.5 % of GDP |
38 |  Cambodia | 2.2 % of GDP |
39 |  Bermuda | 1.5 % of GDP |
40 |  Bahamas | NaN % of GDP |
41 |  Brunei Darussalam | 4.4 % of GDP |
42 |  Bulgaria | 4.1 % of GDP |
43 |  Djibouti | 3.6 % of GDP |
44 |  Benin | 2.9 % of GDP |
45 |  Comoros | 2.5 % of GDP |
46 |  Congo, Democratic Republic of the | 1.5 % of GDP |
47 |  Bangladesh | 1.3 % of GDP |
48 |  Bosnia and Herzegovina | NaN % of GDP |
49 |  Sri Lanka | 2.1 % of GDP |
50 |  Myanmar | 1.9 % of GDP |
51 |  China | NaN % of GDP |
52 |  Cayman Islands | NaN % of GDP |
53 |  Cameroon | 3.1 % of GDP |
54 |  Northern Mariana Islands | NaN % of GDP |
55 |  Central African Republic | 1.2 % of GDP |
56 |  Dominican Republic | NaN % of GDP |
57 |  Iceland | 7.7 % of GDP |
58 |  Finland | 6.4 % of GDP |
59 |  Honduras | 6.1 % of GDP |
60 |  Israel | 6.1 % of GDP |
61 |  France | 5.5 % of GDP |
62 |  Ecuador | 5 % of GDP |
63 |  Egypt | NaN % of GDP |
64 |  Kyrgyzstan | 6 % of GDP |
65 |  Guyana | 5.5 % of GDP |
66 |  Kenya | 5.3 % of GDP |
67 |  Jamaica | 5.2 % of GDP |
68 |  Ethiopia | 4.7 % of GDP |
69 |  Ghana | 4 % of GDP |
70 |  Czech Republic | 3.9 % of GDP |
71 |  Ireland | 3.5 % of GDP |
72 |  Equatorial Guinea | NaN % of GDP |
73 |  Estonia | 5 % of GDP |
74 |  Eritrea | NaN % of GDP |
75 |  Germany | 4.9 % of GDP |
76 |  Hungary | 4.7 % of GDP |
77 |  Latvia | 4.4 % of GDP |
78 |  South Korea | 4.3 % of GDP |
79 |  Iran | 4 % of GDP |
80 |  Italy | 4 % of GDP |
81 |  Fiji | 3.9 % of GDP |
82 |  Croatia | 3.9 % of GDP |
83 |  India | 3.8 % of GDP |
84 |  Lithuania | 3.8 % of GDP |
85 |  El Salvador | 3.6 % of GDP |
86 |  Indonesia | 3.6 % of GDP |
87 |  Georgia | 3.5 % of GDP |
88 |  Côte d'Ivoire | 3.3 % of GDP |
89 |  Grenada | 3.2 % of GDP |
90 |  Guatemala | 3.2 % of GDP |
91 |  Jordan | 3.1 % of GDP |
92 |  Laos | 2.9 % of GDP |
93 |  Haiti | 2.8 % of GDP |
94 |  Gabon | 2.7 % of GDP |
95 |  Liberia | 2.6 % of GDP |
96 |  Lebanon | 2.5 % of GDP |
97 |  Gambia | 2.4 % of GDP |
98 |  Gibraltar | NaN % of GDP |
99 |  Greenland | NaN % of GDP |
100 |  Guam | NaN % of GDP |
101 |  Greece | NaN % of GDP |
102 |  Japan | 3.2 % of GDP |
103 |  Guinea | 2.3 % of GDP |
104 |  Iraq | NaN % of GDP |
105 |  North Korea | NaN % of GDP |
106 |  Kiribati | NaN % of GDP |
107 |  Kuwait | NaN % of GDP |
108 |  Montserrat | 8.8 % of GDP |
109 |  Norway | 7.9 % of GDP |
110 |  Lesotho | 7 % of GDP |
111 |  Oman | 6.8 % of GDP |
112 |  New Zealand | 6.3 % of GDP |
113 |  Puerto Rico | 6.1 % of GDP |
114 |  Mozambique | 5.5 % of GDP |
115 |  Republic of Moldova | 5.4 % of GDP |
116 |  Netherlands | 5.2 % of GDP |
117 |  Nepal | 5.1 % of GDP |
118 |  Portugal | 5 % of GDP |
119 |  Malta | 4.8 % of GDP |
120 |  Malawi | 4.7 % of GDP |
121 |  Mauritius | 4.7 % of GDP |
122 |  Russia | 4.7 % of GDP |
123 |  Poland | 4.6 % of GDP |
124 |  Mexico | 4.5 % of GDP |
125 |  Vanuatu | 4.5 % of GDP |
126 |  Nicaragua | 4.4 % of GDP |
127 |  Malaysia | 4.2 % of GDP |
128 |  Mongolia | 4.1 % of GDP |
129 |  Maldives | 4.1 % of GDP |
130 |  Slovakia | 3.9 % of GDP |
131 |  Mali | 3.8 % of GDP |
132 |  Luxembourg | 3.6 % of GDP |
133 |  Serbia | 3.6 % of GDP |
134 |  Romania | 3.1 % of GDP |
135 |  Liechtenstein | 2.6 % of GDP |
136 |  Libya | NaN % of GDP |
137 |  Madagascar | 2.8 % of GDP |
138 |  Montenegro | NaN % of GDP |
139 |  North Macedonia | NaN % of GDP |
140 |  Mauritania | 1.9 % of GDP |
141 |  Monaco | 1.5 % of GDP |
142 |  Morocco | NaN % of GDP |
143 |  New Caledonia | NaN % of GDP |
144 |  Niue | NaN % of GDP |
145 |  Niger | 3.5 % of GDP |
146 |  Nigeria | NaN % of GDP |
147 |  Sint Maarten (Dutch part) | NaN % of GDP |
148 |  Nauru | NaN % of GDP |
149 |  Suriname | NaN % of GDP |
150 |  Peru | 3.8 % of GDP |
151 |  Paraguay | 3.4 % of GDP |
152 |  Panama | 3.2 % of GDP |
153 |  Rwanda | 3.1 % of GDP |
154 |  Pakistan | 2.9 % of GDP |
155 |  Qatar | 2.7 % of GDP |
156 |  Guinea-Bissau | 2.1 % of GDP |
157 |  Papua New Guinea | 1.9 % of GDP |
158 |  South Sudan | 1.5 % of GDP |
159 |  Saint Martin (French part) | NaN % of GDP |
160 |  Philippines | NaN % of GDP |
161 |  Saudi Arabia | NaN % of GDP |
162 |  Saint Pierre and Miquelon | NaN % of GDP |
163 |  Sierra Leone | 7.7 % of GDP |
164 |  Sweden | 7.6 % of GDP |
165 |  Eswatini | 7.1 % of GDP |
166 |  Timor-Leste | 6.8 % of GDP |
167 |  Tunisia | 6.6 % of GDP |
168 |  South Africa | 6.5 % of GDP |
169 |  Zimbabwe | 5.9 % of GDP |
170 |  Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | 5.7 % of GDP |
171 |  Togo | 5.4 % of GDP |
172 |  United Kingdom | 5.4 % of GDP |
173 |  Ukraine | 5.4 % of GDP |
174 |  Burkina Faso | 5.4 % of GDP |
175 |  Uzbekistan | 5.3 % of GDP |
176 |  Tajikistan | 5.2 % of GDP |
177 |  Switzerland | 5.1 % of GDP |
178 |  Sao Tome and Principe | 5.1 % of GDP |
179 |  United States | 5 % of GDP |
180 |  Uruguay | 5 % of GDP |
181 |  Curaçao | 4.9 % of GDP |
182 |  Senegal | 4.8 % of GDP |
183 |  Slovenia | 4.8 % of GDP |
184 |  Zambia | 4.6 % of GDP |
185 |  Seychelles | 4.4 % of GDP |
186 |  Turkey | 4.3 % of GDP |
187 |  Spain | 4.2 % of GDP |
188 |  Samoa | 4.2 % of GDP |
189 |  Thailand | 4.1 % of GDP |
190 |  San Marino | 3.6 % of GDP |
191 |  Saint Lucia | 3.3 % of GDP |
192 |  Singapore | 2.9 % of GDP |
193 |  Saint Kitts and Nevis | 2.6 % of GDP |
194 |  Saint Helena | NaN % of GDP |
195 |  Somalia | NaN % of GDP |
196 |  Syrian Arab Republic | NaN % of GDP |
197 |  Saint Barthélemy | NaN % of GDP |
198 |  Trinidad and Tobago | NaN % of GDP |
199 |  Turks and Caicos Islands | 2.9 % of GDP |
200 |  Tokelau | NaN % of GDP |
201 |  Tonga | NaN % of GDP |
202 |  Tuvalu | NaN % of GDP |
203 |  Taiwan | NaN % of GDP |
204 |  Vietnam | 4.2 % of GDP |
205 |  Tanzania | 3.4 % of GDP |
206 |  Turkmenistan | 3.1 % of GDP |
207 |  Namibia | 3.1 % of GDP |
208 |  Kazakhstan | 2.6 % of GDP |
209 |  British Virgin Islands | 2.5 % of GDP |
210 |  Uganda | 2.1 % of GDP |
211 |  Venezuela | NaN % of GDP |
212 |  United States Virgin Islands | NaN % of GDP |
213 |  Holy See | NaN % of GDP |
214 |  Wallis and Futuna Islands | NaN % of GDP |
215 |  Yemen | NaN % of GDP |
- #1Dominica
- #2Aruba
- #3Antigua and Barbuda
- #4United Arab Emirates
- #5Cuba
- #6Solomon Islands
- #7Denmark
- #8Belize
- #9Bolivia
- #10Costa Rica
Analysis: These countries represent the highest values in this dataset, showcasing significant scale and impact on global statistics.
- #215Yemen
- #214Wallis and Futuna Islands
- #213Holy See
- #212United States Virgin Islands
- #211Venezuela
- #210Uganda
- #209British Virgin Islands
- #208Kazakhstan
- #207Namibia
- #206Turkmenistan
Context: These countries or territories have the lowest values, often due to geographic size, administrative status, or specific characteristics.
Analysis & Context
In 2020, Cuba led the world in Education Expenditure (% of GDP) with a remarkable 12.8%, while the global range spanned from 1.20% to 12.80%. The global average expenditure on education was 4.42% of GDP, providing a benchmark for comparison across the 164 countries with available data.
High Expenditure Leaders and Their Context
The countries with the highest education expenditures as a percentage of GDP highlight diverse economic and social priorities. Cuba at 12.8% and the Solomon Islands at 9.9% reflect a strong governmental commitment to education, often driven by policy decisions that prioritize human capital development despite economic constraints. In Norway and Denmark, with expenditures of 7.9% and 7.8% respectively, the high investment in education aligns with their welfare state models, where education is seen as a public good essential for maintaining a competitive and equitable society.
Low Expenditure and Economic Challenges
At the other end of the spectrum, countries like the Central African Republic and Bangladesh, spending 1.2% and 1.3% of GDP on education, face significant economic challenges. Limited fiscal space and competing priorities often force these nations to allocate fewer resources to education. In South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, both spending around 1.5%, ongoing conflicts and political instability further strain their educational investments. These figures highlight the persistent inequalities in global education financing, where economic stability often dictates the capacity to invest in education.
Year-over-Year Trends and Significant Changes
Analyzing the year-over-year changes, Montserrat and Sierra Leone experienced the most significant increases in education expenditure, rising by 3.70% (72.5%) and 3.10% (67.4%) respectively. These increases are often the result of strategic policy shifts aimed at improving educational access and quality. In contrast, Côte d'Ivoire and the Czech Republic saw the largest decreases, with reductions of 1.80% (-35.3%) and 1.70% (-30.4%) respectively. These declines may be attributed to budget reallocations or economic contractions, highlighting the volatility that can accompany reliance on GDP percentage as a funding metric.
Policy Implications and Future Directions
The variance in Education Expenditure (% of GDP) underscores the critical role of policy and economic conditions in shaping educational investment. Countries with high expenditures often prioritize education as a means of fostering economic growth and social equity. However, for nations at the lower end, international support and policy reform may be necessary to overcome economic barriers and enhance educational outcomes. As the world continues to grapple with the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has disrupted educational systems globally, the importance of sustained and strategic investment in education becomes even more pronounced.
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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