* indicates monthly or quarterly data series

Public spending on education, percent of GDP, 2021:

The average for 2021 based on 20 countries was 4.12 percent. The highest value was in Costa Rica: 6.25 percent and the lowest value was in Haiti: 1.24 percent. The indicator is available from 1970 to 2023. 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 6.25 1 1980 - 2021
Belize 5.95 2 1999 - 2023
Honduras 5.81 3 1978 - 2023
Jamaica 5.63 4 1973 - 2023
Dominica 5.47 5 1989 - 2023
USA 5.43 6 2000 - 2021
Barbados 4.86 7 1971 - 2023
Canada 4.75 8 1971 - 2022
Mexico 4.25 9 1989 - 2021
Grenada 4.09 10 2003 - 2022
Nicaragua 4.09 11 1970 - 2022
Domin. Rep. 3.75 12 1970 - 2022
Panama 3.71 13 1970 - 2022
El Salvador 3.58 14 1975 - 2023
Guatemala 3.11 15 1970 - 2023
Bahamas 3.01 16 2000 - 2022
Tr.&Tobago 3 17 1980 - 2022
Ant.& Barb. 2.57 18 1999 - 2022
Bermuda 1.88 19 1973 - 2023
Haiti 1.24 20 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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