Cambodia Education Spending
Government expenditure on education as % of GDP SE.XPD.TOTL.GD.ZS
Cambodia's education spending was 2.02% in 2025, ranked 149th globally. This represents a 7.4% decrease from 2024. Data from World Bank, covering 1998–2025.
Overview
Cambodia's education spending stood at 2.02% in 2025, a decline of +0.16% from 2023. Based on recent trends, this figure is projected to reach 2.02% by 2025. Cambodia ranked 149th globally.
Cambodia’s public expenditure on education has risen modestly but steadily over the 19‑year series, moving from 1.26 percent of GDP in 1998 to 2.02 percent in 2025, which places the kingdom at rank 149 globally. The trajectory peaked in 2020 at 2.25 percent before slipping to a trough of 1.21 percent in 2011, indicating that recent gains reflect a recovery from the early‑2010s decline. Compared with its nearest peers, Cambodia’s spending is slightly below Bangladesh’s 2.05 percent and Türkiye’s 2.23 percent, yet above the Central African Republic’s 1.98 percent and Singapore’s 1.97 percent, suggesting a middle‑of‑the‑road commitment within the region. The upward swing since the trough aligns with broader reforms to expand primary enrolment and improve teacher training, although the modest size of the peak implies limited fiscal space. Continued economic growth and targeted budget reallocations will be essential to sustain the upward trend and close the gap with higher‑spending neighbours.
Data & projection
| Year | Education Spending | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026* trend | 2.00% | - | - |
| 2025* trend | 2.02% | - | - |
| 2025 | 2.02% | −0.16% | #149 |
| 2023 | 2.18% | +0.22% | #20 |
| 2022 | 1.96% | −0.00% | #14 |
| 2021 | 1.96% | −0.29% | #15 |
| 2020 | 2.25% | +0.11% | #17 |
| 2019 | 2.13% | +0.53% | #18 |
| 2018 | 1.60% | +0.16% | #5 |
| 2014 | 1.45% | −0.13% | #4 |
| 2013 | 1.58% | +0.35% | #6 |
| 2012 | 1.23% | +0.02% | #2 |
| 2011 | 1.21% | −0.04% | #4 |
| 2010 | 1.25% | −0.14% | #4 |
| 2009 | 1.39% | +0.02% | #3 |
| 2007 | 1.36% | −0.20% | #4 |
| 2004 | 1.56% | −0.07% | #7 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Cambodia matched the Export Boom Cycle pattern in 2024. Historically, 71% of countries showing this pattern (546 out of 768) saw education spending improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
Cambodia's education spending was 2.02% in 2025. Ranked 149th globally. This represents a 7.4% decrease from the previous year.
Cambodia's education spending peaked at 2.25% in 2020.
The lowest education spending in Cambodia was 1.21% in 2011.
Cambodia ranks 149th globally in education spending as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is SE.XPD.TOTL.GD.ZS. Data sourced from World Bank.
Cambodia's education spending is projected to reach 2.02% by 2025 based on trend extrapolation.
The education spending of Cambodia in 2025 was 2.02%. This ranks 149th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_cambodia_education-spending-gdp,
title = {Cambodia Education Spending},
url = {https://historysaid.com/cambodia/education-spending-gdp/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}