Latvia Education Spending
Government expenditure on education as % of GDP SE.XPD.TOTL.GD.ZS
Latvia's education spending was 4.63% in 2025, ranked 68th globally. This represents a 7.2% increase from 2024. Data from World Bank, covering 1990–2025.
Overview
Latvia's education spending stood at 4.63% in 2025, a rise of +0.31% from 2022. Based on recent trends, this figure is projected to reach 4.63% by 2025. Latvia ranked 68th globally.
Latvia’s public expenditure on education has risen steadily since the early 1990s, climbing from a trough of 3.58 percent of GDP in 1990 to an all‑time peak of 7.25 percent in 2013, before moderating to 4.63 percent in 2025, a level that ties it with Czechia and places it 68th globally. The post‑Soviet expansion of the education budget reflected reforms aimed at aligning the system with European standards, while the 2013 high point coincided with a broader wave of fiscal stimulus across the EU. Since then, fiscal consolidation and demographic pressures have tempered growth, keeping the share near the mid‑four‑percent range for the past decade. Compared with peers such as Portugal (4.64 percent) and São Tomé and Principe (4.58 percent), Latvia’s spending remains modest but stable. Continued investment in digital learning and vocational training could lift the share again, especially if population ageing slows and the government prioritises human‑capital development.
Data & projection
| Year | Education Spending | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025* trend | 4.63% | - | - |
| 2025 | 4.63% | +0.31% | #68 |
| 2022 | 4.32% | −0.45% | #92 |
| 2021 | 4.77% | −0.23% | #101 |
| 2020 | 5.00% | +0.41% | #107 |
| 2019 | 4.59% | +0.19% | #101 |
| 2018 | 4.39% | −0.13% | #87 |
| 2017 | 4.53% | −0.29% | #100 |
| 2016 | 4.82% | −0.64% | #101 |
| 2015 | 5.47% | −0.01% | #126 |
| 2014 | 5.47% | −1.77% | #122 |
| 2013 | 7.25% | +0.41% | #144 |
| 2012 | 6.84% | +1.60% | #133 |
| 2011 | 5.24% | +0.10% | #103 |
| 2010 | 5.14% | −0.53% | #95 |
| 2009 | 5.68% | +0.04% | #89 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Latvia matched the Export Boom Cycle pattern in 2017. Historically, 71% of countries showing this pattern (546 out of 768) saw education spending improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
Latvia's education spending was 4.63% in 2025. Ranked 68th globally. This represents a 7.2% increase from the previous year.
Latvia's education spending peaked at 7.25% in 2013.
The lowest education spending in Latvia was 3.58% in 1990.
Latvia ranks 68th globally in education spending as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is SE.XPD.TOTL.GD.ZS. Data sourced from World Bank.
Latvia's education spending is projected to reach 4.63% by 2025 based on trend extrapolation.
The education spending of Latvia in 2025 was 4.63%. This ranks 68th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_latvia_education-spending-gdp,
title = {Latvia Education Spending},
url = {https://historysaid.com/latvia/education-spending-gdp/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}