Education spending in United States
Government spending on education in United States was equal to 5.4% of GDP in 2021. The value for 2021 is the highest in the series, which starts in 2015.
United States, 2021
5.4%
Change from 2020
0percentage points
World, 2021
4.2%
Median of OECD (38 countries), 2021
5.1%
Education spending in United States over time
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United States
World
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The chart loads when you scroll to it. The table below shows the same data.
The chart shows a calculation from the published values. The table below keeps the published values.
% of GDP. Source: World Bank, World Development Indicators. Gaps mean no published value; points are not joined across missing years.
| Period | United States | World |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | – | 3.6% |
| 2022 | – | 3.9% |
| 2021 | 5.4% | 4.2% |
| 2020 | 5.4% | 4.3% |
| 2019 | 5.0% | 4.2% |
| 2018 | 4.9% | 4.2% |
| 2017 | 5.1% | 4.1% |
| 2016 | 4.8% | 4.2% |
| 2015 | 4.9% | 4.2% |
| 2014 | – | 4.2% |
| 2013 | – | 4.3% |
| 2012 | – | 4.0% |
| 2011 | – | 4.1% |
| 2010 | – | 4.2% |
| 2009 | – | 4.7% |
| 2008 | – | 4.2% |
| 2007 | – | 4.0% |
| 2006 | – | 4.0% |
| 2005 | – | 4.0% |
| 2004 | – | 3.9% |
| 2003 | – | 4.1% |
| 2002 | – | 3.9% |
| 2001 | – | 3.9% |
A dash means no value was published for that period.
In short
- That is a change of 0 percentage points from 5.4% in 2020.
- Since 2015, when it was 4.9%, the figure has changed by +0.5 percentage points.
- The figure for the world in 2021 was 4.2%.
More for United States
All statistics for United States
Tertiary education enrolment (gross)
79.4%
2022 · World Bank
Primary school enrolment (gross)
97.0%
2022 · World Bank
ILO estimate of the youth NEET rate
11.7%
2025 · ILOSTAT
Primary completion (UIS)
99.6%
2024 · UNESCO UIS
Lower secondary completion
98.7%
2024 · UNESCO UIS
Upper secondary completion
92.4%
2024 · UNESCO UIS