Countries With the Lowest Education Spending
Every country with a figure for education spending, ranked from lowest to highest. The top three are Somalia, Fed. Rep. (0.000008%), Nigeria (0.319%) and Zimbabwe (0.385%). The middle country of the 192 has 4.16%.
What this measures
Government expenditure on education, total (% of GDP). Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. For this measure, no agreed better direction.
The full ranking
Each country’s latest figure, from 2011–2025. The year beside each value says when it was measured.
| Rank | Country | Education spending | Year | Region |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Somalia, Fed. Rep. | 0.000008% | 2023 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 2 | Nigeria | 0.319% | 2023 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 3 | Zimbabwe | 0.385% | 2023 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 4 | Papua New Guinea | 0.782% | 2023 | East Asia & Pacific |
| 5 | Haiti | 0.965% | 2023 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 6 | Lebanon | 1.22% | 2024 | Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan |
| 7 | Lao PDR | 1.23% | 2023 | East Asia & Pacific |
| 8 | Indonesia | 1.28% | 2023 | East Asia & Pacific |
| 9 | South Sudan | 1.57% | 2016 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 10 | Cayman Islands | 1.57% | 2023 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 11 | Guinea | 1.72% | 2023 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 12 | Monaco | 1.73% | 2023 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 13 | Sri Lanka | 1.83% | 2023 | South Asia |
| 14 | Central African Republic | 1.83% | 2023 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 15 | Bermuda | 1.87% | 2023 | North America |
| 16 | Bahrain | 1.89% | 2023 | Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan |
| 17 | Andorra | 1.9% | 2023 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 18 | Pakistan | 1.95% | 2023 | Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan |
| 19 | Myanmar | 2% | 2019 | East Asia & Pacific |
| 20 | Guinea-Bissau | 2.01% | 2013 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 21 | Bangladesh | 2.03% | 2024 | South Asia |
| 22 | Cambodia | 2.18% | 2023 | East Asia & Pacific |
| 23 | Singapore | 2.19% | 2024 | East Asia & Pacific |
| 24 | Liberia | 2.27% | 2023 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 25 | Ethiopia | 2.3% | 2024 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 26 | Gabon | 2.32% | 2023 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 27 | Comoros | 2.34% | 2023 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 28 | Armenia | 2.44% | 2023 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 29 | Panama | 2.47% | 2023 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 30 | Angola | 2.51% | 2023 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 31 | Thailand | 2.52% | 2023 | East Asia & Pacific |
| 32 | Liechtenstein | 2.56% | 2011 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 33 | Uganda | 2.56% | 2022 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 34 | Sierra Leone | 2.62% | 2023 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 35 | Bahamas, The | 2.74% | 2023 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 36 | Malawi | 2.75% | 2022 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 37 | Gambia, The | 2.81% | 2023 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 38 | Iran, Islamic Rep. | 2.82% | 2023 | Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan |
| 39 | Cameroon | 2.84% | 2023 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 40 | Congo, Dem. Rep. | 2.84% | 2022 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 41 | Suriname | 2.87% | 2023 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 42 | Nicaragua | 2.87% | 2023 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 43 | Viet Nam | 2.89% | 2022 | East Asia & Pacific |
| 44 | San Marino | 2.9% | 2022 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 45 | Ireland | 2.9% | 2021 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 46 | Ghana | 2.91% | 2022 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 47 | Turks and Caicos Islands | 2.95% | 2024 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 48 | Madagascar | 3.05% | 2023 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 49 | Guatemala | 3.08% | 2024 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 50 | Albania | 3.09% | 2023 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 51 | Turkiye | 3.1% | 2022 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 52 | Antigua and Barbuda | 3.11% | 2023 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 53 | Tanzania | 3.16% | 2024 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 54 | British Virgin Islands | 3.17% | 2023 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 55 | Chad | 3.2% | 2023 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 56 | Benin | 3.23% | 2023 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 57 | Jordan | 3.23% | 2024 | Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan |
| 58 | Trinidad and Tobago | 3.23% | 2023 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 59 | Qatar | 3.23% | 2020 | Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan |
| 60 | Bosnia and Herzegovina | 3.25% | 2023 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 61 | Romania | 3.28% | 2022 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 62 | El Salvador | 3.32% | 2024 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 63 | Japan | 3.34% | 2021 | East Asia & Pacific |
| 64 | Congo, Rep. | 3.34% | 2023 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 65 | Greece | 3.38% | 2022 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 66 | Serbia | 3.4% | 2023 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 67 | Palau | 3.44% | 2023 | East Asia & Pacific |
| 68 | St. Kitts and Nevis | 3.5% | 2023 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 69 | Macao SAR, China | 3.5% | 2023 | East Asia & Pacific |
| 70 | Malaysia | 3.51% | 2023 | East Asia & Pacific |
| 71 | Paraguay | 3.53% | 2024 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 72 | Barbados | 3.56% | 2024 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 73 | Cote d'Ivoire | 3.61% | 2024 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 74 | Aruba | 3.62% | 2021 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 75 | Azerbaijan | 3.66% | 2023 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 76 | Nepal | 3.69% | 2024 | South Asia |
| 77 | Ecuador | 3.69% | 2024 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 78 | Luxembourg | 3.74% | 2022 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 79 | Djibouti | 3.75% | 2018 | Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan |
| 80 | Dominican Republic | 3.76% | 2023 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 81 | Hungary | 3.8% | 2022 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 82 | Hong Kong SAR, China | 3.81% | 2024 | East Asia & Pacific |
| 83 | St. Lucia | 3.85% | 2024 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 84 | United Arab Emirates | 3.89% | 2021 | Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan |
| 85 | China | 3.9% | 2023 | East Asia & Pacific |
| 86 | Sint Maarten (Dutch part) | 3.92% | 2023 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 87 | Philippines | 3.97% | 2025 | East Asia & Pacific |
| 88 | Georgia | 3.98% | 2024 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 89 | Kenya | 4.02% | 2024 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 90 | Mexico | 4.06% | 2022 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 91 | Italy | 4.07% | 2022 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 92 | Zambia | 4.07% | 2023 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 93 | Niger | 4.07% | 2023 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 94 | Croatia | 4.09% | 2021 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 95 | India | 4.1% | 2022 | South Asia |
| 96 | Togo | 4.14% | 2023 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 97 | Russian Federation | 4.16% | 2023 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 98 | Mali | 4.18% | 2023 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 99 | Fiji | 4.25% | 2023 | East Asia & Pacific |
| 100 | Mauritius | 4.25% | 2024 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 101 | Lithuania | 4.25% | 2022 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 102 | Puerto Rico (US) | 4.27% | 2024 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 103 | Turkmenistan | 4.29% | 2024 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 104 | Czechia | 4.3% | 2022 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 105 | Poland | 4.31% | 2022 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 106 | Latvia | 4.32% | 2022 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 107 | Afghanistan | 4.34% | 2017 | Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan |
| 108 | Cabo Verde | 4.35% | 2023 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 109 | Peru | 4.36% | 2024 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 110 | Oman | 4.38% | 2022 | Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan |
| 111 | Brunei Darussalam | 4.43% | 2016 | East Asia & Pacific |
| 112 | Guyana | 4.45% | 2018 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 113 | Seychelles | 4.45% | 2023 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 114 | Saudi Arabia | 4.48% | 2023 | Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan |
| 115 | Bulgaria | 4.5% | 2022 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 116 | Burundi | 4.5% | 2025 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 117 | Honduras | 4.55% | 2023 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 118 | Portugal | 4.55% | 2022 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 119 | Spain | 4.59% | 2022 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 120 | Rwanda | 4.61% | 2024 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 121 | Belize | 4.62% | 2024 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 122 | Slovak Republic | 4.66% | 2022 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 123 | Malta | 4.71% | 2022 | Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan |
| 124 | Cyprus | 4.74% | 2022 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 125 | Uruguay | 4.76% | 2023 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 126 | Canada | 4.84% | 2022 | North America |
| 127 | Switzerland | 4.86% | 2022 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 128 | Kazakhstan | 4.86% | 2023 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 129 | Chile | 4.91% | 2022 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 130 | Argentina | 5% | 2023 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 131 | Sao Tome and Principe | 5.03% | 2023 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 132 | Belarus | 5.05% | 2024 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 133 | Australia | 5.06% | 2022 | East Asia & Pacific |
| 134 | Grenada | 5.13% | 2023 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 135 | Ukraine | 5.14% | 2021 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 136 | Maldives | 5.17% | 2023 | South Asia |
| 137 | Netherlands | 5.18% | 2022 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 138 | Estonia | 5.21% | 2022 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 139 | Mongolia | 5.21% | 2024 | East Asia & Pacific |
| 140 | New Zealand | 5.21% | 2023 | East Asia & Pacific |
| 141 | Germany | 5.24% | 2022 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 142 | Timor-Leste | 5.24% | 2023 | East Asia & Pacific |
| 143 | Colombia | 5.26% | 2020 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 144 | Austria | 5.28% | 2022 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 145 | Slovenia | 5.28% | 2022 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 146 | Tonga | 5.31% | 2022 | East Asia & Pacific |
| 147 | Costa Rica | 5.31% | 2023 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 148 | France | 5.32% | 2022 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 149 | Burkina Faso | 5.33% | 2023 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 150 | Dominica | 5.39% | 2024 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 151 | Korea, Rep. | 5.41% | 2022 | East Asia & Pacific |
| 152 | United States | 5.42% | 2021 | North America |
| 153 | Norway | 5.43% | 2022 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 154 | West Bank and Gaza | 5.43% | 2021 | Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan |
| 155 | Tajikistan | 5.44% | 2023 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 156 | Curacao | 5.44% | 2024 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 157 | Samoa | 5.46% | 2024 | East Asia & Pacific |
| 158 | Uzbekistan | 5.47% | 2023 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 159 | Jamaica | 5.51% | 2024 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 160 | Brazil | 5.62% | 2022 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 161 | Naoero | 5.78% | 2023 | East Asia & Pacific |
| 162 | Bhutan | 5.85% | 2023 | South Asia |
| 163 | United Kingdom | 5.91% | 2021 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 164 | Israel | 5.93% | 2022 | Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan |
| 165 | Mozambique | 5.98% | 2022 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 166 | Morocco | 6.02% | 2023 | Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan |
| 167 | South Africa | 6.02% | 2024 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 168 | Eswatini | 6.03% | 2024 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 169 | Senegal | 6.16% | 2023 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 170 | Belgium | 6.28% | 2022 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 171 | Denmark | 6.36% | 2022 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 172 | Finland | 6.38% | 2022 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 173 | Kuwait | 6.44% | 2024 | Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan |
| 174 | St. Vincent and the Grenadines | 6.46% | 2023 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 175 | Moldova | 6.56% | 2023 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 176 | Lesotho | 6.62% | 2024 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 177 | Tunisia | 6.73% | 2023 | Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan |
| 178 | Kyrgyz Republic | 6.83% | 2023 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 179 | Iceland | 7.31% | 2022 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 180 | Sweden | 7.32% | 2022 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 181 | Bolivia | 7.54% | 2024 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 182 | Mauritania | 7.61% | 2024 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 183 | Vanuatu | 7.64% | 2024 | East Asia & Pacific |
| 184 | Marshall Islands | 7.7% | 2022 | East Asia & Pacific |
| 185 | Botswana | 8.06% | 2020 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 186 | Solomon Islands | 8.29% | 2023 | East Asia & Pacific |
| 187 | Cuba | 8.44% | 2022 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 188 | Algeria | 8.98% | 2024 | Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan |
| 189 | Namibia | 9.08% | 2024 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 190 | Micronesia, Fed. Sts. | 11.6% | 2020 | East Asia & Pacific |
| 191 | Tuvalu | 12.8% | 2023 | East Asia & Pacific |
| 192 | Kiribati | 16.4% | 2023 | East Asia & Pacific |
More on education spending
- Countries With the Highest Education Spending
- Education spending by country: trend over time and what it goes with
Related rankings
- Countries With the Lowest PISA Maths
- Countries With the Lowest PISA Reading
- Countries With the Lowest PISA Science
- Countries With the Lowest Primary Completion
- Countries With the Lowest Expected Schooling
- Countries With the Lowest Mean Years of Schooling
- Countries With the Lowest Primary Enrollment
- Countries With the Lowest Secondary Enrollment
A ranking describes countries, not the people in them, and a high or low place does not by itself say why. All country rankings.