Countries in Asia Ranked by Education expenditure share of GDP (2023)
Education expenditure share of GDP: each country's latest value (2018–2023), ranked from highest to lowest. Source: The World Bank (CC BY 4.0).
Summary
Kyrgyz Republic ranks #1 with 6.83% of GDP. Kuwait is second with 6.44% of GDP, 6.1% behind. The top five are Kyrgyz Republic, Kuwait, Israel, Bhutan and Uzbekistan. The median across all 43 is 3.69% of GDP; Lebanon is last at 1.22% of GDP. Kyrgyz Republic's figure has risen 67% since 1999 (4.09% of GDP to 6.83% of GDP in 2023).
- #1
- Kyrgyz Republic · 6.83% of GDP
- Median
- 3.69% of GDP
- Coverage
- 43 countries in Asia
- Data year
- 2023
- Last updated
- 2026-11-14
Full ranking
| Rank | Country | Education expenditure share of GDP (% of GDP) | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kyrgyz Republic | 6.83 | 2023 |
| 2 | Kuwait | 6.44 | 2024 |
| 3 | Israel | 5.93 | 2022 |
| 4 | Bhutan | 5.85 | 2023 |
| 5 | Uzbekistan | 5.47 | 2023 |
| 6 | Tajikistan | 5.44 | 2023 |
| 7 | West Bank and Gaza | 5.43 | 2021 |
| 8 | Korea, Rep. | 5.41 | 2022 |
| 9 | Timor-Leste | 5.24 | 2023 |
| 10 | Mongolia | 5.21 | 2024 |
| 11 | Maldives | 5.17 | 2023 |
| 12 | Kazakhstan | 4.86 | 2023 |
| 13 | Saudi Arabia | 4.48 | 2023 |
| 14 | Oman | 4.38 | 2022 |
| 15 | Turkmenistan | 4.29 | 2024 |
| 16 | India | 4.1 | 2022 |
| 17 | Georgia | 3.98 | 2024 |
| 18 | Philippines | 3.97 | 2025 |
| 19 | China | 3.9 | 2023 |
| 20 | United Arab Emirates | 3.89 | 2021 |
| 21 | Hong Kong SAR, China | 3.81 | 2024 |
| 22 | Nepal | 3.69 | 2024 |
| 23 | Azerbaijan | 3.66 | 2023 |
| 24 | Malaysia | 3.51 | 2023 |
| 25 | Macao SAR, China | 3.5 | 2023 |
| 26 | Japan | 3.34 | 2021 |
| 27 | Qatar | 3.23 | 2020 |
| 28 | Jordan | 3.23 | 2024 |
| 29 | Türkiye | 3.1 | 2022 |
| 30 | Viet Nam | 2.89 | 2022 |
| 31 | Iran, Islamic Rep. | 2.82 | 2023 |
| 32 | Thailand | 2.52 | 2023 |
| 33 | Armenia | 2.44 | 2023 |
| 34 | Singapore | 2.19 | 2024 |
| 35 | Cambodia | 2.18 | 2023 |
| 36 | Bangladesh | 2.03 | 2024 |
| 37 | Myanmar | 2 | 2019 |
| 38 | Pakistan | 1.95 | 2023 |
| 39 | Bahrain | 1.89 | 2023 |
| 40 | Sri Lanka | 1.83 | 2023 |
| 41 | Indonesia | 1.28 | 2023 |
| 42 | Lao PDR | 1.23 | 2023 |
| 43 | Lebanon | 1.22 | 2024 |
About the top 10
#1 Kyrgyz Republic
Kyrgyz Republic ranks #1 on this list with 6.83% of GDP.
- Capital
- Bishkek
- Continent
- Asia
- Income group
- Lower middle income
- Population
- 7.34 million people (2025)
- GDP
- US$22.62 billion (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$3,081 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 72.4 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 34.7% of population (2025)
Largest cities: Bishkek.
Also ranks #5 in gdp growth rate · #8 in income share of poorest 10% · #10 in mineral rents share of gdp.
#2 Kuwait
Kuwait ranks #2 on this list with 6.44% of GDP (2024).
- Capital
- Kuwait City
- Continent
- Asia
- Income group
- High income
- Population
- 4.87 million people (2025)
- GDP
- US$157.21 billion (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$32,312 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 84.6 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 100% of population (2025)
Largest cities: Kuwait City.
Also ranks #1 in fertiliser consumption · #2 in access to sanitation · #3 in population ages 15-64 share.
#3 Israel
Israel ranks #3 on this list with 5.93% of GDP (2022).
- Capital
- Jerusalem
- Continent
- Asia
- Income group
- High income
- Population
- 10.12 million people (2025)
- GDP
- US$610.78 billion (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$60,337 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 83.2 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 91.6% of population (2025)
Largest cities: Jerusalem.
Also ranks #1 in r&d expenditure share of gdp · #1 in firms using banks to finance investment share · #7 in irrigated land share.
#4 Bhutan
Bhutan ranks #4 on this list with 5.85% of GDP.
- Capital
- Thimphu
- Continent
- Asia
- Income group
- Lower middle income
- Population
- 796,680 people (2025)
- GDP
- US$3.58 billion (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$4,493 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 73.3 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 43.4% of population (2025)
Also ranks #3 in gross capital formation rate · #4 in water resources per capita · #4 in protected terrestrial area share.
#5 Uzbekistan
Uzbekistan ranks #5 on this list with 5.47% of GDP.
- Capital
- Tashkent
- Continent
- Asia
- Income group
- Lower middle income
- Population
- 37.05 million people (2025)
- GDP
- US$147.04 billion (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$3,968 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 72.5 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 51% of population (2025)
Largest cities: Tashkent.
Also ranks #2 in literacy rate · #4 in deposit interest rate · #5 in bank branches per 100,000 adults.
#6 Tajikistan
Tajikistan ranks #6 on this list with 5.44% of GDP.
- Capital
- Dushanbe
- Continent
- Asia
- Income group
- Lower middle income
- Population
- 10.79 million people (2025)
- GDP
- US$17.66 billion (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$1,637 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 71.9 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 26.2% of population (2025)
Also ranks #2 in livestock production index · #9 in gdp growth rate · #12 in gross savings rate.
#7 West Bank and Gaza
West Bank and Gaza ranks #7 on this list with 5.43% of GDP (2021).
- Capital
- Ramallah, East Jerusalem
- Continent
- Asia
- Income group
- Lower middle income
- Population
- 5.41 million people (2025)
- GDP
- US$17.17 billion (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$3,171 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 69.2 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 87.4% of population (2025)
Also ranks #5 in unemployment rate · #10 in crop production index · #12 in population density.
#8 Korea, Rep.
Korea, Rep. ranks #8 on this list with 5.41% of GDP (2022).
- Capital
- Seoul
- Continent
- Asia
- Income group
- High income
- Population
- 51.69 million people (2025)
- GDP
- US$1.87 trillion (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$36,227 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 83.6 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 81.2% of population (2025)
Largest cities: Seoul, Busan, Incheon.
Also ranks #1 in hospital beds per 10,000 · #2 in atms per 100,000 adults · #2 in researchers in r&d per million.
#9 Timor-Leste
Timor-Leste ranks #9 on this list with 5.24% of GDP.
- Capital
- Dili
- Continent
- Asia
- Income group
- Lower middle income
- Population
- 1.42 million people (2025)
- GDP
- US$1.9 billion (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$1,341 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 67.9 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 28.8% of population (2025)
Also ranks #1 in smoking prevalence · #3 in government revenue share of gdp · #4 in prevalence of stunting (under-5).
#10 Mongolia
Mongolia ranks #10 on this list with 5.21% of GDP (2024).
- Capital
- Ulaanbaatar
- Continent
- Asia
- Income group
- Upper middle income
- Population
- 3.57 million people (2025)
- GDP
- US$25.37 billion (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$7,108 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 72.4 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 71.1% of population (2025)
Largest cities: Ulaanbaatar.
Also ranks #3 in mineral rents share of gdp · #4 in bank branches per 100,000 adults · #5 in hospital beds per 10,000.
Profile facts: World Bank (CC BY 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0); weather links go to Purr Weather, another ChowChow Labs site.
Source and method
Education expenditure share of GDP: each country's latest value (2018–2023), ranked from highest to lowest.
Source: The World Bank, indicator SE.XPD.TOTL.GD.ZS. Licence: CC BY 4.0. Retrieved: 2026-11-14.
The World Bank: Government expenditure on education, total (% of GDP): Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) (via World Development Indicators)
Original data provider, as recorded by the World Bank: Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
Values are shown as published. Provider terms: The World Bank. All licences: Sources & licences.