Countries by Education Spending (% GDP)
Complete ranking of 185 countries • % • Updated 2026
About Education Spending % GDP Rankings
Kiribati leads all 185 countries in Education Spending % GDP with a value of 16.391, while Somalia ranks last at 0. The gap between top and bottom reflects meaningful global variation.
What Education Spending % GDP Measures
Education Spending % GDP is a comparative indicator tracked across countries by the World Bank. It provides a quantitative basis for cross-national comparison, enabling researchers and policymakers to benchmark national performance on this dimension against global peers.
Why This Ranking Matters
Examining Education Spending % GDP across all countries reveals patterns that might not be obvious at the national level. Regional clusters, outlier nations, and historical trajectories all become clearer when the full global picture is assembled in a single ranking.
Global Range
Values range from 0 (Somalia) to 16.391 (Kiribati) — an infinitely large difference across 185 countries.
Regional Patterns
The top 20 is globally diverse, with countries from 6 continents represented. No single region dominates, suggesting this metric is driven more by national conditions than by broad continental patterns.
Values are tightly clustered around the median of 4.09, with most countries falling within a narrow range. A few outliers at the extremes account for most of the overall spread.
Notable Outliers
Kiribati holds a significant lead over Tuvalu, with a 28% gap between first and second place. While several countries cluster near the top, the leader's margin is notable.
Continental Leaders
Highest Ranked
The top five countries for Education Spending % GDP are Kiribati (16.391), Tuvalu (12.846), Micronesia (11.559), Namibia (9.08), and Cuba (8.44). Together, these nations represent the global leaders in this metric.
Lowest Ranked
At the other end of the spectrum, Somalia (0), Venezuela (0.00), Nigeria (0.32), Zimbabwe (0.38), and Papua New Guinea (0.78) have the lowest values globally.
Data Source & Methodology
Rankings are based on the latest available data from World Bank, covering 185 of 249 countries and territories. Countries without data for this metric are excluded from the ranking. All values represent the most recently reported figures.
Top 10 Countries
Full Rankings
| Percentile | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st |  Kiribati | 16.4% | Oceania | 100% |
| 2nd |  Tuvalu | 12.8% | Oceania | 99% |
| 3rd |  Micronesia | 11.6% | Oceania | 99% |
| 4th |  Namibia | 9.1% | Africa | 98% |
| 5th |  Cuba | 8.4% | North America | 98% |
| 6th |  Bolivia | 8.3% | South America | 97% |
| 7th |  Solomon Islands | 8.3% | Oceania | 97% |
| 8th |  Botswana | 8.1% | Africa | 96% |
| 9th |  Marshall Islands | 7.7% | Oceania | 96% |
| 10th |  Vanuatu | 7.6% | Oceania | 95% |
| 11th |  Sweden | 7.3% | Europe | 95% |
| 12th |  Iceland | 7.3% | Europe | 94% |
| 13th |  Kyrgyzstan | 6.8% | Asia | 94% |
| 14th |  Tunisia | 6.7% | Africa | 93% |
| 15th |  Moldova | 6.6% | Europe | 92% |
| 16th |  Lesotho | 6.6% | Africa | 92% |
| 17th |  Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | 6.5% | North America | 91% |
| 18th |  Kuwait | 6.4% | Asia | 91% |
| 19th |  Finland | 6.4% | Europe | 90% |
| 20th |  Denmark | 6.4% | Europe | 90% |
| 21st |  Belgium | 6.3% | Europe | 89% |
| 22nd |  Costa Rica | 6.2% | North America | 89% |
| 23rd |  Senegal | 6.2% | Africa | 88% |
| 24th |  Eswatini | 6.0% | Africa | 88% |
| 25th |  South Africa | 6.0% | Africa | 87% |
| 26th |  Morocco | 6.0% | Africa | 86% |
| 27th |  Mozambique | 6.0% | Africa | 86% |
| 28th |  Israel | 5.9% | Asia | 85% |
| 29th |  United Kingdom | 5.9% | Europe | 85% |
| 30th |  Argentina | 5.9% | South America | 84% |
| 31st |  Bhutan | 5.8% | Asia | 84% |
| 32nd |  South Korea | 5.8% | Asia | 83% |
| 33rd |  Nauru | 5.7% | Oceania | 83% |
| 34th |  Brazil | 5.6% | South America | 82% |
| 35th |  Algeria | 5.6% | Africa | 82% |
| 36th |  Jamaica | 5.5% | North America | 81% |
| 37th |  Uzbekistan | 5.5% | Asia | 81% |
| 38th |  Samoa | 5.5% | Oceania | 80% |
| 39th |  Norway | 5.5% | Europe | 79% |
| 40th |  Curaçao | 5.4% | North America | 79% |
| 41st |  Tajikistan | 5.4% | Asia | 78% |
| 42nd |  Palestine | 5.4% | Asia | 78% |
| 43rd |  United States | 5.4% | North America | 77% |
| 44th |  Dominica | 5.4% | North America | 77% |
| 45th |  Burkina Faso | 5.3% | Africa | 76% |
| 46th |  France | 5.3% | Europe | 76% |
| 47th |  Tonga | 5.3% | Oceania | 75% |
| 48th |  Slovenia | 5.3% | Europe | 75% |
| 49th |  Austria | 5.3% | Europe | 74% |
| 50th |  New Zealand | 5.3% | Oceania | 74% |
| 51st |  Colombia | 5.3% | North America | 73% |
| 52nd |  Timor-Leste | 5.2% | Asia | 72% |
| 53rd |  Germany | 5.2% | Europe | 72% |
| 54th |  Estonia | 5.2% | Europe | 71% |
| 55th |  Netherlands | 5.2% | Europe | 71% |
| 56th |  Maldives | 5.2% | Asia | 70% |
| 57th |  Ukraine | 5.1% | Europe | 70% |
| 58th |  Grenada | 5.1% | North America | 69% |
| 59th |  Saudi Arabia | 5.1% | Asia | 69% |
| 60th |  Australia | 5.1% | Oceania | 68% |
| 61st |  Sao Tome and Principe | 5.0% | Africa | 68% |
| 62nd |  Belarus | 5.0% | Europe | 67% |
| 63rd |  Switzerland | 4.9% | Europe | 66% |
| 64th |  Chile | 4.9% | South America | 66% |
| 65th |  Canada | 4.9% | North America | 65% |
| 66th |  Burundi | 4.9% | Africa | 65% |
| 67th |  Kazakhstan | 4.8% | Asia | 64% |
| 68th |  Uruguay | 4.8% | South America | 64% |
| 69th |  Cyprus | 4.7% | Europe | 63% |
| 70th |  Malta | 4.7% | Europe | 63% |
| 71st |  Mauritania | 4.7% | Africa | 62% |
| 72nd |  Rwanda | 4.7% | Africa | 62% |
| 73rd |  Slovakia | 4.7% | Europe | 61% |
| 74th |  Belize | 4.6% | North America | 61% |
| 75th |  Spain | 4.6% | Europe | 60% |
| 76th |  Portugal | 4.6% | Europe | 59% |
| 77th |  Honduras | 4.5% | North America | 59% |
| 78th |  Bulgaria | 4.5% | Europe | 58% |
| 79th |  Seychelles | 4.5% | Africa | 58% |
| 80th |  Cabo Verde | 4.3% | Africa | 57% |
| 81st |  Latvia | 4.3% | Europe | 57% |
| 82nd |  Poland | 4.3% | Europe | 56% |
| 83rd |  Czechia | 4.3% | Europe | 56% |
| 84th |  Oman | 4.3% | Asia | 55% |
| 85th |  Puerto Rico | 4.3% | North America | 55% |
| 86th |  Lithuania | 4.3% | Europe | 54% |
| 87th |  Fiji | 4.2% | Oceania | 54% |
| 88th |  Peru | 4.2% | South America | 53% |
| 89th |  Mali | 4.2% | Africa | 52% |
| 90th |  Russia | 4.2% | Europe | 52% |
| 91st |  Togo | 4.1% | Africa | 51% |
| 92nd |  India | 4.1% | Asia | 51% |
| 93rd |  Croatia | 4.1% | Europe | 50% |
| 94th |  Mauritius | 4.1% | Africa | 50% |
| 95th |  Niger | 4.1% | Africa | 49% |
| 96th |  Zambia | 4.1% | Africa | 49% |
| 97th |  Italy | 4.1% | Europe | 48% |
| 98th |  Mexico | 4.1% | North America | 48% |
| 99th |  Kenya | 4.0% | Africa | 47% |
| 100th |  China | 4.0% | Asia | 46% |
| 101st |  Georgia | 4.0% | Europe | 46% |
| 102nd |  Philippines | 3.9% | Asia | 45% |
| 103rd |  Sint Maarten | 3.9% | North America | 45% |
| 104th |  United Arab Emirates | 3.9% | Asia | 44% |
| 105th |  Ecuador | 3.9% | South America | 44% |
| 106th |  Saint Lucia | 3.8% | North America | 43% |
| 107th |  Hungary | 3.8% | Europe | 43% |
| 108th |  Hong Kong | 3.8% | Asia | 42% |
| 109th |  Dominican Republic | 3.8% | North America | 42% |
| 110th |  Luxembourg | 3.7% | Europe | 41% |
| 111st |  Nepal | 3.7% | Asia | 41% |
| 112nd |  Azerbaijan | 3.7% | Europe | 40% |
| 113rd |  Mongolia | 3.7% | Asia | 39% |
| 114th |  Aruba | 3.6% | North America | 39% |
| 115th |  Barbados | 3.6% | North America | 38% |
| 116th |  Palau | 3.5% | Oceania | 38% |
| 117th |  Jordan | 3.5% | Asia | 37% |
| 118th |  Malaysia | 3.5% | Asia | 37% |
| 119th |  Macao | 3.5% | Asia | 36% |
| 120th |  Saint Kitts and Nevis | 3.5% | North America | 36% |
| 121st |  Côte d'Ivoire | 3.4% | Africa | 35% |
| 122nd |  Paraguay | 3.4% | South America | 35% |
| 123rd |  Serbia | 3.4% | Europe | 34% |
| 124th |  Greece | 3.4% | Europe | 34% |
| 125th |  Congo | 3.3% | Africa | 33% |
| 126th |  Japan | 3.3% | Asia | 32% |
| 127th |  Romania | 3.3% | Europe | 32% |
| 128th |  Bosnia and Herzegovina | 3.2% | Europe | 31% |
| 129th |  Qatar | 3.2% | Asia | 31% |
| 130th |  Benin | 3.2% | Africa | 30% |
| 131st |  Chad | 3.2% | Africa | 30% |
| 132nd |  British Virgin Islands | 3.2% | North America | 29% |
| 133rd |  El Salvador | 3.2% | North America | 29% |
| 134th |  Tanzania | 3.2% | Africa | 28% |
| 135th |  Guatemala | 3.1% | North America | 28% |
| 136th |  Antigua and Barbuda | 3.1% | North America | 27% |
| 137th |  Turkey | 3.1% | Europe | 26% |
| 138th |  Albania | 3.1% | Europe | 26% |
| 139th |  Madagascar | 3.0% | Africa | 25% |
| 140th |  Trinidad and Tobago | 3.0% | North America | 25% |
| 141st |  Turks and Caicos Islands | 3.0% | North America | 24% |
| 142nd |  Ghana | 2.9% | Africa | 24% |
| 143rd |  Ireland | 2.9% | Europe | 23% |
| 144th |  San Marino | 2.9% | Europe | 23% |
| 145th |  Vietnam | 2.9% | Asia | 22% |
| 146th |  Suriname | 2.9% | North America | 22% |
| 147th |  Nicaragua | 2.9% | North America | 21% |
| 148th |  Congo, Democratic Republic | 2.8% | Africa | 21% |
| 149th |  Cameroon | 2.8% | Africa | 20% |
| 150th |  Iran | 2.8% | Asia | 19% |
| 151st |  Gambia | 2.8% | Africa | 19% |
| 152nd |  Malawi | 2.7% | Africa | 18% |
| 153rd |  Bahamas | 2.7% | North America | 18% |
| 154th |  Turkmenistan | 2.7% | Asia | 17% |
| 155th |  Sierra Leone | 2.6% | Africa | 17% |
| 156th |  Uganda | 2.6% | Africa | 16% |
| 157th |  Thailand | 2.5% | Asia | 16% |
| 158th |  Angola | 2.5% | Africa | 15% |
| 159th |  Panama | 2.5% | North America | 15% |
| 160th |  Armenia | 2.4% | Europe | 14% |
| 161st |  Comoros | 2.3% | Africa | 14% |
| 162nd |  Gabon | 2.3% | Africa | 13% |
| 163rd |  Ethiopia | 2.3% | Africa | 12% |
| 164th |  Liberia | 2.3% | Africa | 12% |
| 165th |  Singapore | 2.2% | Asia | 11% |
| 166th |  Cambodia | 2.2% | Asia | 11% |
| 167th |  Bangladesh | 2.0% | Asia | 10% |
| 168th |  Pakistan | 1.9% | Asia | 10% |
| 169th |  Andorra | 1.9% | Europe | 9% |
| 170th |  Bahrain | 1.9% | Asia | 9% |
| 171st |  Bermuda | 1.9% | North America | 8% |
| 172nd |  Central African Republic | 1.8% | Africa | 8% |
| 173rd |  Sri Lanka | 1.8% | Asia | 7% |
| 174th |  Monaco | 1.7% | Europe | 6% |
| 175th |  Guinea | 1.7% | Africa | 6% |
| 176th |  Cayman Islands | 1.6% | North America | 5% |
| 177th |  Indonesia | 1.3% | Asia | 5% |
| 178th |  Laos | 1.2% | Asia | 4% |
| 179th |  Lebanon | 1.2% | Asia | 4% |
| 180th |  Haiti | 1.0% | North America | 3% |
| 181st |  Papua New Guinea | 0.8% | Oceania | 3% |
| 182nd |  Zimbabwe | 0.4% | Africa | 2% |
| 183rd |  Nigeria | 0.3% | Africa | 2% |
| 184th |  Venezuela | 0.0% | North America | 1% |
| 185th |  Somalia | 0.0% | Africa | 1% |