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In the most recent reporting year (2024), the largest shares of the education budget were allocated by Mauritania (MRT) - 32.04% and Turkmenistan - 29.56%, followed by Kenya (KEN) - 27.92% and Namibia (NAM) - 25.05%. Over the course of a single year (2023→2024), these leaders demonstrated sharp shifts: Mauritania rose from 18.89% to 32.04% - an increase of 13.15 percentage points (+69.6%), while Turkmenistan increased from 19.32% to 29.56% (+10.24 points, +53.0%). Kenya added 2.93 points (+11.7%), and the Solomon Islands increased spending from 23.20% to 25.23% (+2.03 points, +8.8%). Conversely, Nigeria (NGA) reduced its share from 3.65% in 2023 to 2.98% in 2024 (−0.67 points, −18.3%), Ethiopia (ETH) - from 18.33% to 16.70% (−1.64 points, −8.9%), and South Africa - from 19.21% to 18.52% (−0.69 points, −3.6%).
Looking at longer-term trends, significant changes are also evident: compared to 2019, Mauritania increased its spending from 10.23% to 32.04% (+21.81 points; +213%), reflecting a fundamental shift in budgetary priorities. Turkmenistan rose from 23.01% in 2019 to 29.56% (+6.55 points; +28.5%), demonstrating a sustained high prioritization of education in recent years. Over two decades (2000→2024), Kenya grew from 24.07% to 27.92% (+3.86 points; +16.0%), confirming the long-term commitment of the East African region to maintaining high levels of educational funding. In contrast, Nigeria’s share nearly halved over 2019→2024 (from 5.86% to 2.98%, −49.1%), likely reflecting budgetary reallocation or declining revenues.
Regionally, the highest shares in Africa are observed in several East and Southern African countries (Kenya, Namibia, Sahel countries, and island nations). However, the African picture is highly fragmented, with both sharp increases (Mauritania) and significant declines (Nigeria, Ethiopia). In Asia, high shares are observed in some Central Asian states (Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan - 21.96% in 2024), but overall Asian indicators are more mixed: some countries maintain moderate levels around 10–16%, while others reduce funding. In Europe, shares are generally stable, ranging from 8–16%, with most countries showing moderate dynamics without sharp fluctuations.
The reasons behind these trends are evident from the dynamics observed: large one-off spikes (Mauritania, Turkmenistan) are likely linked to budgetary reprioritization or changes in calculation methodology; sustained growth in Kenya reflects long-term education support policies; while declines in Nigeria and, to a lesser extent, Ethiopia are associated with economic shocks and expenditure reallocation. Leaders in 2024 not only achieved high shares but also maintained or increased significant absolute volumes (Mauritania +13.15 points in one year; Turkmenistan +10.24 points), whereas laggards consistently lost share (Nigeria −0.67 points per year; Ethiopia −1.64 points).
Statbase Outlook: In the short term, up to 2026, high volatility in education spending is expected to continue in countries with unstable revenues and in those where 2023–2024 changes were one-off - some spikes are likely to revert to more sustainable levels. Countries with consistent multi-year trends (e.g., Kenya, Turkmenistan) are expected to maintain or moderately increase their shares. The risk of declining shares is highest in large economies under fiscal pressure, which could reduce global weighted averages. For countries experiencing sharp one-off growth, structural reforms need to be consolidated; otherwise, the increase in share is likely to be temporary.
Government expenditure on education, budget share. Data by Countries from 1980 to 2023
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Definition
Expenditure on education, total (% of government expenditure) is calculated by dividing total government expenditure on education by the total government expenditure on all sectors and multiplying by 100. Aggregate data are based on World Bank estimates. Data on education are collected by the UNESCO Institute for Statistics from official responses to its annual education survey. All the data are mapped to the International Standard Classification of Education (ISCED) to ensure the comparability of education programs at the international level. The current version was formally adopted by UNESCO Member States in 2011. Data on total general government expenditure were previously collected from countries through the annual questionnaire, but are from the International Monetary Fund's World Economic Outlook database since January 2014. Therefore, current data cannot be compared with data in earlier editions. The reference years reflect the school year for which the data are presented. In some countries the school year spans two calendar years (for example, from September 2010 to June 2011); in these cases the reference year refers to the year in which the school year ended (2011 in the example).
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Analysis ↓
Average: 13.48 % of government expenditure
Countries: 202
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Definition and methodology
Expenditure on education, total (% of government expenditure) is calculated by dividing total government expenditure on education by the total government expenditure on all sectors and multiplying by 100. Aggregate data are based on World Bank estimates. Data on education are collected by the UNESCO Institute for Statistics from official responses to its annual education survey. All the data are mapped to the International Standard Classification of Education (ISCED) to ensure the comparability of education programs at the international level. The current version was formally adopted by UNESCO Member States in 2011. Data on total general government expenditure were previously collected from countries through the annual questionnaire, but are from the International Monetary Fund's World Economic Outlook database since January 2014. Therefore, current data cannot be compared with data in earlier editions. The reference years reflect the school year for which the data are presented. In some countries the school year spans two calendar years (for example, from September 2010 to June 2011); in these cases the reference year refers to the year in which the school year ended (2011 in the example).
