Cuba Education Spending
Government expenditure on education as % of GDP SE.XPD.TOTL.GD.ZS
Cuba's education spending was 9.87% in 2025, ranked 5th globally. This represents a 16.9% increase from 2024. Data from World Bank, covering 1980–2025.
Overview
Cuba's education spending stood at 9.87% in 2025, a rise of +1.43% from 2022. Based on recent trends, this figure is projected to reach 9.87% by 2025. Cuba ranked 5th globally.
Cuba’s public expenditure on education has risen steadily since the early 1990s, moving from an all‑time trough of 5.62 % of GDP in 1994 to a peak of 14.06 % in 2008, before settling at 9.87 % in 2025, which ranks the nation fifth worldwide among the 29 years of available data. The post‑Soviet “Special Period” depression forced severe budget cuts, but the government’s commitment to universal schooling and literacy campaigns drove a rapid rebound, culminating in the 2008 high point that still exceeds the current level by 4.19 percentage points. Compared with peers, Cuba’s spending is slightly above Namibia’s 9.30 % and well below Vanuatu’s 14.53 %, reflecting a relatively strong but not maximal investment in human capital. The modest decline from the 2008 peak suggests fiscal pressures, yet the upward trend since the 1990s indicates that sustained political priority could lift future allocations, especially if economic reforms broaden the tax base.
Data & projection
| Year | Education Spending | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025* trend | 9.87% | - | - |
| 2025 | 9.87% | +1.43% | #5 |
| 2022 | 8.44% | −0.94% | #158 |
| 2021 | 9.39% | −2.14% | #163 |
| 2020 | 11.52% | +2.48% | #166 |
| 2019 | 9.05% | +1.02% | #163 |
| 2018 | 8.02% | −0.42% | #163 |
| 2017 | 8.44% | −0.57% | #170 |
| 2016 | 9.01% | +0.05% | #159 |
| 2015 | 8.96% | −0.64% | #160 |
| 2014 | 9.61% | −1.06% | #158 |
| 2013 | 10.67% | −0.88% | #152 |
| 2012 | 11.55% | −1.29% | #147 |
| 2010 | 12.84% | −0.29% | #137 |
| 2009 | 13.12% | −0.93% | #115 |
| 2008 | 14.06% | +2.19% | #117 |
Analysis
Cuba's education spending was 9.87% in 2025, a rise of +1.43% from 2024. Based on trends, estimated 9.87% by 2025.
Frequently Asked Questions
Cuba's education spending was 9.87% in 2025. Ranked 5th globally. This represents a 16.9% increase from the previous year.
Cuba's education spending peaked at 14.06% in 2008.
The lowest education spending in Cuba was 5.62% in 1994.
Cuba ranks 5th globally in education spending as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is SE.XPD.TOTL.GD.ZS. Data sourced from World Bank.
Cuba's education spending is projected to reach 9.87% by 2025 based on trend extrapolation.
The education spending of Cuba in 2025 was 9.87%. This ranks 5th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_cuba_education-spending-gdp,
title = {Cuba Education Spending},
url = {https://historysaid.com/cuba/education-spending-gdp/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}