* indicates monthly or quarterly data series

Public spending on education, percent of GDP, 2021:

The average for 2021 based on 18 countries was 4.15 percent. The highest value was in Costa Rica: 6.28 percent and the lowest value was in Haiti: 1.84 percent. The indicator is available from 1970 to 2022. Below is a chart for all countries where data are available.

Measure: percent; Source: UNESCO
Select indicator
* indicates monthly or quarterly data series


Countries Education spending, percent of GDP, 2021 Global rank Available data
Costa Rica 6.28 1 1980 - 2021
Belize 5.86 2 1999 - 2022
Honduras 5.81 3 1978 - 2022
Jamaica 5.63 4 1973 - 2022
Dominica 5.47 5 1989 - 2022
Barbados 4.98 6 1976 - 2022
Canada 4.59 7 1971 - 2022
Grenada 4.09 8 2003 - 2022
Nicaragua 4.09 9 1970 - 2021
Ant.& Barb. 3.88 10 1999 - 2022
Domin. Rep. 3.75 11 1970 - 2022
Bahamas 3.57 12 2000 - 2022
El Salvador 3.53 13 1975 - 2022
Panama 3.27 14 1970 - 2022
Guatemala 3.11 15 1970 - 2022
Tr.&Tobago 3.01 16 1980 - 2022
Bermuda 1.88 17 1973 - 2022
Haiti 1.84 18 1981 - 2022



Definition: General government expenditure on education (current, capital, and transfers) is expressed as a percentage of GDP. It includes expenditure funded by transfers from international sources to government. General government usually refers to local, regional and central governments.

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