Education Expenditure
Public education spending as a percentage of GDP (UNESCO/World Bank). Reflects government commitment to education as a public good. High spenders: Nordic countries (Denmark 8.4%, Norway 7.9%, Finland 7.6%, Sweden 7.6%), Iceland 7.4%, New Zealand 6.0%, Belgium 6.2%, Lesotho 11.3% (high relative to small economy). Low spenders: Pakistan 2.4%, Cambodia 1.8%, Bangladesh 1.7%, Nigeria 0.5%, Bahrain 2.4%, Monaco 3.5%. Cuba is a notable outlier — 13.5% of GDP, reflecting an education-first ideology producing very high literacy and tertiary enrollment despite other development constraints. Caution: High spending % doesn't guarantee results (Nigeria spends little but teacher quality is the bottleneck; Marshall Islands spends 10% but results are modest). The correlation between spending, quality, and outcomes is significant but not linear — teacher recruitment, curriculum design, and accountability systems matter enormously. Capped at 10% GDP for scoring.
| #↑ | Country↕ | Raw Value↕ | Score↕ |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Cuba13.5 % of GDP |
13.5 % of GDP | 100 |
| 1 |  Lesotho11.3 % of GDP |
11.3 % of GDP | 100 |
| 1 |  Marshall Islands10.1 % of GDP |
10.1 % of GDP | 100 |
| 4 |  Namibia9 % of GDP |
9 % of GDP | 89 |
| 4 |  Tuvalu9 % of GDP |
9 % of GDP | 89 |
| 6 |  Botswana8.7 % of GDP |
8.7 % of GDP | 86 |
| 7 |  Palau8.5 % of GDP |
8.5 % of GDP | 84 |
| 7 |  Solomon Islands8.5 % of GDP |
8.5 % of GDP | 84 |
| 9 |  Denmark8.4 % of GDP |
8.4 % of GDP | 83 |
| 10 |  Timor-Leste8.1 % of GDP |
8.1 % of GDP | 80 |
| 11 |  Zimbabwe8 % of GDP |
8 % of GDP | 79 |
| 12 |  Norway7.9 % of GDP |
7.9 % of GDP | 78 |
| 13 |  Finland7.6 % of GDP |
7.6 % of GDP | 75 |
| 13 |  Sweden7.6 % of GDP |
7.6 % of GDP | 75 |
| 13 |  Faroe Islands7.5 % of GDP |
7.5 % of GDP | 75 |
| 13 |  Saudi Arabia7.5 % of GDP |
7.5 % of GDP | 75 |
| 17 |  Iceland7.4 % of GDP |
7.4 % of GDP | 74 |
| 18 |  Bolivia7.3 % of GDP |
7.3 % of GDP | 73 |
| 18 |  Kyrgyzstan7.3 % of GDP |
7.3 % of GDP | 73 |
| 18 |  Costa Rica7.3 % of GDP |
7.3 % of GDP | 73 |
| 21 |  Tunisia7.2 % of GDP |
7.2 % of GDP | 72 |
| 22 |  Swaziland7 % of GDP |
7 % of GDP | 70 |
| 22 |  Belize7 % of GDP |
7 % of GDP | 70 |
| 24 |  Venezuela6.9 % of GDP |
6.9 % of GDP | 69 |
| 24 |  Bhutan6.9 % of GDP |
6.9 % of GDP | 69 |
| 26 |  Barbados6.5 % of GDP |
6.5 % of GDP | 65 |
| 27 |  Kuwait6.3 % of GDP |
6.3 % of GDP | 63 |
| 28 |  Estonia6.2 % of GDP |
6.2 % of GDP | 62 |
| 28 |  Belgium6.2 % of GDP |
6.2 % of GDP | 62 |
| 28 |  Moldova6.2 % of GDP |
6.2 % of GDP | 62 |
| 31 |  South Africa6.1 % of GDP |
6.1 % of GDP | 61 |
| 32 |  Iraq6 % of GDP |
6 % of GDP | 60 |
| 32 |  New Zealand6 % of GDP |
6 % of GDP | 60 |
| 34 |  Israel5.9 % of GDP |
5.9 % of GDP | 59 |
| 35 |  Brazil5.8 % of GDP |
5.8 % of GDP | 58 |
| 35 |  Honduras5.8 % of GDP |
5.8 % of GDP | 58 |
| 37 |  Argentina5.7 % of GDP |
5.7 % of GDP | 57 |
| 38 |  Morocco5.6 % of GDP |
5.6 % of GDP | 56 |
| 39 |  England5.5 % of GDP |
5.5 % of GDP | 55 |
| 39 |  Wales5.5 % of GDP |
5.5 % of GDP | 55 |
| 39 |  Northern Ireland5.5 % of GDP |
5.5 % of GDP | 55 |
| 39 |  Scotland5.5 % of GDP |
5.5 % of GDP | 55 |
| 39 |  Togo5.5 % of GDP |
5.5 % of GDP | 55 |
| 39 |  Netherlands5.5 % of GDP |
5.5 % of GDP | 55 |
| 39 |  French Guiana5.5 % of GDP |
5.5 % of GDP | 55 |
| 39 |  Saint Pierre and Miquelon5.5 % of GDP |
5.5 % of GDP | 55 |
| 39 |  Aruba5.5 % of GDP |
5.5 % of GDP | 55 |
| 39 |  Nauru5.5 % of GDP |
5.5 % of GDP | 55 |
| 39 |  France5.5 % of GDP |
5.5 % of GDP | 55 |
| 39 |  Oman5.5 % of GDP |
5.5 % of GDP | 55 |
| 39 |  Austria5.5 % of GDP |
5.5 % of GDP | 55 |
| 39 |  Kenya5.5 % of GDP |
5.5 % of GDP | 55 |
| 39 |  Ethiopia5.5 % of GDP |
5.5 % of GDP | 55 |
| 39 |  Réunion5.5 % of GDP |
5.5 % of GDP | 55 |
| 39 |  Mozambique5.5 % of GDP |
5.5 % of GDP | 55 |
| 39 |  Puerto Rico5.5 % of GDP |
5.5 % of GDP | 55 |
| 39 |  Palestine5.5 % of GDP |
5.5 % of GDP | 55 |
| 39 |  Jamaica5.5 % of GDP |
5.5 % of GDP | 55 |
| 39 |  Mayotte5.5 % of GDP |
5.5 % of GDP | 55 |
| 39 |  Martinique5.5 % of GDP |
5.5 % of GDP | 55 |
| 39 |  Guadeloupe5.5 % of GDP |
5.5 % of GDP | 55 |
| 62 |  Latvia5.4 % of GDP |
5.4 % of GDP | 54 |
| 62 |  Ukraine5.4 % of GDP |
5.4 % of GDP | 54 |
| 62 |  Slovenia5.4 % of GDP |
5.4 % of GDP | 54 |
| 62 |  Cyprus5.4 % of GDP |
5.4 % of GDP | 54 |
| 62 |  Chinese Taipei5.4 % of GDP |
5.4 % of GDP | 54 |
| 62 |  Chile5.4 % of GDP |
5.4 % of GDP | 54 |
| 68 |  Burkina Faso5.3 % of GDP |
5.3 % of GDP | 53 |
| 68 |  Canada5.3 % of GDP |
5.3 % of GDP | 53 |
| 70 |  Switzerland5.2 % of GDP |
5.2 % of GDP | 52 |
| 70 |  Uzbekistan5.2 % of GDP |
5.2 % of GDP | 52 |
| 70 |  Tajikistan5.2 % of GDP |
5.2 % of GDP | 52 |
| 73 |  Syria5.1 % of GDP |
5.1 % of GDP | 51 |
| 74 |  United States5 % of GDP |
5 % of GDP | 50 |
| 74 |  Senegal5 % of GDP |
5 % of GDP | 50 |
| 74 |  Czech Republic5 % of GDP |
5 % of GDP | 50 |
| 74 |  Poland5 % of GDP |
5 % of GDP | 50 |
| 74 |  Zambia5 % of GDP |
5 % of GDP | 50 |
| 74 |  Cape Verde5 % of GDP |
5 % of GDP | 50 |
| 74 |  Samoa5 % of GDP |
5 % of GDP | 50 |
| 74 |  Vanuatu5 % of GDP |
5 % of GDP | 50 |
| 82 |  Australia4.9 % of GDP |
4.9 % of GDP | 49 |
| 82 |  Portugal4.9 % of GDP |
4.9 % of GDP | 49 |
| 82 |  Montenegro4.9 % of GDP |
4.9 % of GDP | 49 |
| 82 |  Colombia4.9 % of GDP |
4.9 % of GDP | 49 |
| 86 |  Belarus4.7 % of GDP |
4.7 % of GDP | 47 |
| 86 |  Maldives4.7 % of GDP |
4.7 % of GDP | 47 |
| 86 |  Korea Republic4.7 % of GDP |
4.7 % of GDP | 47 |
| 89 |  Yemen4.6 % of GDP |
4.6 % of GDP | 46 |
| 90 |  Kosovo4.5 % of GDP |
4.5 % of GDP | 45 |
| 90 |  Germany4.5 % of GDP |
4.5 % of GDP | 45 |
| 90 |  Ivory Coast4.5 % of GDP |
4.5 % of GDP | 45 |
| 90 |  Benin4.5 % of GDP |
4.5 % of GDP | 45 |
| 90 |  Uruguay4.5 % of GDP |
4.5 % of GDP | 45 |
| 90 |  Suriname4.5 % of GDP |
4.5 % of GDP | 45 |
| 90 |  Curacao4.5 % of GDP |
4.5 % of GDP | 45 |
| 90 |  Spain4.5 % of GDP |
4.5 % of GDP | 45 |
| 90 |  India4.5 % of GDP |
4.5 % of GDP | 45 |
| 90 |  São Tomé and Príncipe4.5 % of GDP |
4.5 % of GDP | 45 |
| 90 |  Tahiti4.5 % of GDP |
4.5 % of GDP | 45 |
| 90 |  Saint-Martin4.5 % of GDP |
4.5 % of GDP | 45 |
| 90 |  Croatia4.5 % of GDP |
4.5 % of GDP | 45 |
| 90 |  Grenada4.5 % of GDP |
4.5 % of GDP | 45 |
| 90 |  New Caledonia4.5 % of GDP |
4.5 % of GDP | 45 |
| 90 |  Nicaragua4.5 % of GDP |
4.5 % of GDP | 45 |
| 90 |  Papua New Guinea4.5 % of GDP |
4.5 % of GDP | 45 |
| 90 |  Nepal4.5 % of GDP |
4.5 % of GDP | 45 |
| 108 |  Brunei4.4 % of GDP |
4.4 % of GDP | 44 |
| 108 |  Malaysia4.4 % of GDP |
4.4 % of GDP | 44 |
| 108 |  Hungary4.4 % of GDP |
4.4 % of GDP | 44 |
| 108 |  Ecuador4.4 % of GDP |
4.4 % of GDP | 44 |
| 112 |  Mali4.3 % of GDP |
4.3 % of GDP | 43 |
| 112 |  Malta4.3 % of GDP |
4.3 % of GDP | 43 |
| 112 |  Mexico4.3 % of GDP |
4.3 % of GDP | 43 |
| 115 |  Vietnam4.2 % of GDP |
4.2 % of GDP | 42 |
| 115 |  Saint Vincent and the Grenadines4.2 % of GDP |
4.2 % of GDP | 42 |
| 115 |  Saint Lucia4.2 % of GDP |
4.2 % of GDP | 42 |
| 118 |  China4.1 % of GDP |
4.1 % of GDP | 41 |
| 118 |  Afghanistan4.1 % of GDP |
4.1 % of GDP | 41 |
| 118 |  Italy4.1 % of GDP |
4.1 % of GDP | 41 |
| 118 |  Greece4.1 % of GDP |
4.1 % of GDP | 41 |
| 122 |  Lithuania4 % of GDP |
4 % of GDP | 40 |
| 122 |  Ghana4 % of GDP |
4 % of GDP | 40 |
| 122 |  Mauritius4 % of GDP |
4 % of GDP | 40 |
| 122 |  Malawi4 % of GDP |
4 % of GDP | 40 |
| 122 |  Algeria4 % of GDP |
4 % of GDP | 40 |
| 122 |  Mongolia4 % of GDP |
4 % of GDP | 40 |
| 122 |  Anguilla4 % of GDP |
4 % of GDP | 40 |
| 122 |  Cook Islands4 % of GDP |
4 % of GDP | 40 |
| 122 |  British Virgin Islands4 % of GDP |
4 % of GDP | 40 |
| 122 |  Sint Maarten4 % of GDP |
4 % of GDP | 40 |
| 122 |  Niue4 % of GDP |
4 % of GDP | 40 |
| 122 |  Montserrat4 % of GDP |
4 % of GDP | 40 |
| 122 |  Djibouti4 % of GDP |
4 % of GDP | 40 |
| 122 |  Peru4 % of GDP |
4 % of GDP | 40 |
| 122 |  Iran4 % of GDP |
4 % of GDP | 40 |
| 122 |  Dominica4 % of GDP |
4 % of GDP | 40 |
| 122 |  Haiti4 % of GDP |
4 % of GDP | 40 |
| 139 |  Guyana3.9 % of GDP |
3.9 % of GDP | 39 |
| 139 |  United Arab Emirates3.9 % of GDP |
3.9 % of GDP | 39 |
| 139 |  Kazakhstan3.9 % of GDP |
3.9 % of GDP | 39 |
| 139 |  Bulgaria3.9 % of GDP |
3.9 % of GDP | 39 |
| 139 |  Dominican Republic3.9 % of GDP |
3.9 % of GDP | 39 |
| 139 |  Turkey3.9 % of GDP |
3.9 % of GDP | 39 |
| 145 |  Libya3.8 % of GDP |
3.8 % of GDP | 38 |
| 145 |  Egypt3.8 % of GDP |
3.8 % of GDP | 38 |
| 145 |  Slovakia3.8 % of GDP |
3.8 % of GDP | 38 |
| 145 |  Bosnia and Herzegovina3.8 % of GDP |
3.8 % of GDP | 38 |
| 149 |  Russia3.7 % of GDP |
3.7 % of GDP | 37 |
| 149 |  Philippines3.7 % of GDP |
3.7 % of GDP | 37 |
| 151 |  Ireland3.6 % of GDP |
3.6 % of GDP | 36 |
| 151 |  Georgia3.6 % of GDP |
3.6 % of GDP | 36 |
| 151 |  El Salvador3.6 % of GDP |
3.6 % of GDP | 36 |
| 154 |  Niger3.5 % of GDP |
3.5 % of GDP | 35 |
| 154 |  Mauritania3.5 % of GDP |
3.5 % of GDP | 35 |
| 154 |  Luxembourg3.5 % of GDP |
3.5 % of GDP | 35 |
| 154 |  Seychelles3.5 % of GDP |
3.5 % of GDP | 35 |
| 154 |  Congo3.5 % of GDP |
3.5 % of GDP | 35 |
| 154 |  Sierra Leone3.5 % of GDP |
3.5 % of GDP | 35 |
| 154 |  Monaco3.5 % of GDP |
3.5 % of GDP | 35 |
| 154 |  Bahamas3.5 % of GDP |
3.5 % of GDP | 35 |
| 154 |  San Marino3.5 % of GDP |
3.5 % of GDP | 35 |
| 154 |  Tanzania3.5 % of GDP |
3.5 % of GDP | 35 |
| 154 |  Burundi3.5 % of GDP |
3.5 % of GDP | 35 |
| 154 |  Gibraltar3.5 % of GDP |
3.5 % of GDP | 35 |
| 154 |  Rwanda3.5 % of GDP |
3.5 % of GDP | 35 |
| 154 |  Turks and Caicos Islands3.5 % of GDP |
3.5 % of GDP | 35 |
| 154 |  Trinidad and Tobago3.5 % of GDP |
3.5 % of GDP | 35 |
| 154 |  Serbia3.5 % of GDP |
3.5 % of GDP | 35 |
| 154 |  U.S. Virgin Islands3.5 % of GDP |
3.5 % of GDP | 35 |
| 154 |  Wallis and Futuna3.5 % of GDP |
3.5 % of GDP | 35 |
| 154 |  Albania3.5 % of GDP |
3.5 % of GDP | 35 |
| 154 |  Guam3.5 % of GDP |
3.5 % of GDP | 35 |
| 154 |  Indonesia3.5 % of GDP |
3.5 % of GDP | 35 |
| 175 |  Paraguay3.4 % of GDP |
3.4 % of GDP | 34 |
| 175 |  North Macedonia3.4 % of GDP |
3.4 % of GDP | 34 |
| 177 |  Hong Kong3.3 % of GDP |
3.3 % of GDP | 33 |
| 177 |  Panama3.3 % of GDP |
3.3 % of GDP | 33 |
| 177 |  Romania3.3 % of GDP |
3.3 % of GDP | 33 |
| 180 |  Thailand3.1 % of GDP |
3.1 % of GDP | 31 |
| 180 |  Sri Lanka3.1 % of GDP |
3.1 % of GDP | 31 |
| 180 |  Jordan3.1 % of GDP |
3.1 % of GDP | 31 |
| 180 |  Japan3.1 % of GDP |
3.1 % of GDP | 31 |
| 184 |  Qatar3 % of GDP |
3 % of GDP | 30 |
| 184 |  Cameroon3 % of GDP |
3 % of GDP | 30 |
| 184 |  Andorra3 % of GDP |
3 % of GDP | 30 |
| 184 |  Turkmenistan3 % of GDP |
3 % of GDP | 30 |
| 184 |  American Samoa3 % of GDP |
3 % of GDP | 30 |
| 184 |  Azerbaijan3 % of GDP |
3 % of GDP | 30 |
| 184 |  Fiji3 % of GDP |
3 % of GDP | 30 |
| 184 |  Saint Kitts and Nevis3 % of GDP |
3 % of GDP | 30 |
| 184 |  Northern Mariana Islands3 % of GDP |
3 % of GDP | 30 |
| 184 |  Tonga3 % of GDP |
3 % of GDP | 30 |
| 194 |  Singapore2.9 % of GDP |
2.9 % of GDP | 29 |
| 194 |  Laos2.9 % of GDP |
2.9 % of GDP | 29 |
| 194 |  Guatemala2.9 % of GDP |
2.9 % of GDP | 29 |
| 197 |  Korea DPR8 % of GDP |
8 % of GDP | 28 |
| 197 |  Liberia2.8 % of GDP |
2.8 % of GDP | 28 |
| 197 |  Armenia2.8 % of GDP |
2.8 % of GDP | 28 |
| 200 |  Gambia2.5 % of GDP |
2.5 % of GDP | 26 |
| 200 |  Madagascar2.5 % of GDP |
2.5 % of GDP | 26 |
| 200 |  Angola2.5 % of GDP |
2.5 % of GDP | 26 |
| 200 |  Gabon2.5 % of GDP |
2.5 % of GDP | 26 |
| 200 |  Equatorial Guinea2.5 % of GDP |
2.5 % of GDP | 26 |
| 200 |  Guinea2.5 % of GDP |
2.5 % of GDP | 26 |
| 200 |  Bermuda2.5 % of GDP |
2.5 % of GDP | 26 |
| 200 |  Congo DR2.5 % of GDP |
2.5 % of GDP | 26 |
| 200 |  Liechtenstein2.5 % of GDP |
2.5 % of GDP | 26 |
| 200 |  Zanzibar2.5 % of GDP |
2.5 % of GDP | 26 |
| 200 |  Uganda2.5 % of GDP |
2.5 % of GDP | 26 |
| 200 |  Cayman Islands2.5 % of GDP |
2.5 % of GDP | 26 |
| 200 |  Comoros2.5 % of GDP |
2.5 % of GDP | 26 |
| 200 |  Antigua and Barbuda2.5 % of GDP |
2.5 % of GDP | 26 |
| 214 |  Bahrain2.4 % of GDP |
2.4 % of GDP | 25 |
| 214 |  Pakistan2.4 % of GDP |
2.4 % of GDP | 25 |
| 216 |  Macau2.2 % of GDP |
2.2 % of GDP | 23 |
| 217 |  Western Sahara2 % of GDP |
2 % of GDP | 21 |
| 217 |  Guinea-Bissau2 % of GDP |
2 % of GDP | 21 |
| 217 |  Chad2 % of GDP |
2 % of GDP | 21 |
| 217 |  Sudan2 % of GDP |
2 % of GDP | 21 |
| 217 |  Kiribati2 % of GDP |
2 % of GDP | 21 |
| 217 |  Eritrea2 % of GDP |
2 % of GDP | 21 |
| 217 |  Lebanon2 % of GDP |
2 % of GDP | 21 |
| 224 |  Cambodia1.8 % of GDP |
1.8 % of GDP | 19 |
| 225 |  Bangladesh1.7 % of GDP |
1.7 % of GDP | 18 |
| 226 |  Central African Republic1.5 % of GDP |
1.5 % of GDP | 16 |
| 226 |  South Sudan1.5 % of GDP |
1.5 % of GDP | 16 |
| 226 |  Myanmar1.5 % of GDP |
1.5 % of GDP | 16 |
| 229 |  Nigeria0.5 % of GDP |
0.5 % of GDP | 6 |
| 230 |  Somalia0 % of GDP |
0 % of GDP | 1 |
| 230 |  Micronesia0 % of GDP |
0 % of GDP | 1 |