Cameroon Education Spending
Government expenditure on education as % of GDP SE.XPD.TOTL.GD.ZS
Cameroon's education spending was 2.56% in 2025, ranked 134th globally. This represents a 10.0% decrease from 2024. Data from World Bank, covering 1971–2025.
Overview
Cameroon's education spending stood at 2.56% in 2025, a decline of +0.28% from 2023. Based on recent trends, this figure is projected to reach 2.56% by 2025. Cameroon ranked 134th globally.
Cameroon’s public expenditure on education has declined markedly since the early 1980s, falling from an all‑time peak of 3.50 percent of GDP in 1983 to a trough of 1.70 percent in 2000, before modestly rebounding to 2.56 percent in 2025, a level that places the country 134th globally. Over the 36‑year coverage period, the average share has hovered around the low‑mid‑single digits, indicating persistent under‑investment relative to regional peers. For comparison, Vietnam allocates 2.61 percent of GDP to education, while Ghana’s spending stands at 2.50 percent, both slightly above Cameroon’s current figure. The downward swing in the late 1990s coincided with fiscal tightening and structural adjustment programmes, while the recent uptick reflects renewed policy emphasis on human capital development. Maintaining or accelerating this upward trajectory will likely require sustained budgetary prioritisation and efficient resource allocation to translate higher spending into measurable improvements in enrollment and learning outcomes.
Data & projection
| Year | Education Spending | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026* trend | 2.47% | - | - |
| 2025* trend | 2.56% | - | - |
| 2025 | 2.56% | −0.28% | #134 |
| 2023 | 2.84% | +0.18% | #35 |
| 2022 | 2.66% | −0.19% | #32 |
| 2021 | 2.85% | −0.25% | #29 |
| 2020 | 3.10% | +0.06% | #34 |
| 2019 | 3.05% | +0.02% | #38 |
| 2018 | 3.03% | −0.03% | #38 |
| 2017 | 3.06% | +0.50% | #42 |
| 2016 | 2.56% | −0.10% | #20 |
| 2015 | 2.66% | +0.07% | #23 |
| 2014 | 2.58% | −0.07% | #25 |
| 2013 | 2.66% | +0.05% | #28 |
| 2012 | 2.60% | −0.05% | #30 |
| 2011 | 2.65% | −0.19% | #29 |
| 2010 | 2.85% | −0.06% | #34 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Cameroon matched the Export Boom Cycle pattern in 2007. Historically, 71% of countries showing this pattern (546 out of 768) saw education spending improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
Cameroon's education spending was 2.56% in 2025. Ranked 134th globally. This represents a 10.0% decrease from the previous year.
Cameroon's education spending peaked at 3.50% in 1983.
The lowest education spending in Cameroon was 1.70% in 2000.
Cameroon ranks 134th globally in education spending as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is SE.XPD.TOTL.GD.ZS. Data sourced from World Bank.
Cameroon's education spending is projected to reach 2.56% by 2025 based on trend extrapolation.
The education spending of Cameroon in 2025 was 2.56%. This ranks 134th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_cameroon_education-spending-gdp,
title = {Cameroon Education Spending},
url = {https://historysaid.com/cameroon/education-spending-gdp/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}