Panama Education Spending
Government expenditure on education as % of GDP SE.XPD.TOTL.GD.ZS
Panama's education spending was 2.41% in 2025, ranked 138th globally. This represents a 2.5% decrease from 2024. Data from World Bank, covering 1970–2025.
Overview
Panama's education spending stood at 2.41% in 2025, a decline of +0.06% from 2023. Based on recent trends, this figure is projected to reach 2.41% by 2025. Panama ranked 138th globally.
Panama's education spending as a percentage of its GDP has experienced a decline over the years, with the latest available figure standing at 2.41%, ranking 138th globally. This represents a significant drop from the country's all-time peak of 4.89% in 2000, a year when Panama invested nearly 5% of its GDP in education. In contrast to its peers, such as San Marino which invests 2.48% of its GDP in education, Panama's current allocation falls short. The downward trend in education spending is a concern, considering the importance of education in fostering economic growth and human development. The all-time trough of 2.41% in 2025 underscores the need for Panama to reassess its priorities and allocate more resources to the education sector. A reversal of this trend could be achieved through increased government commitment to education, potentially driven by a shift in policy priorities or economic growth that allows for greater investment.
Data & projection
| Year | Education Spending | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026* trend | 2.16% | - | - |
| 2025* trend | 2.41% | - | - |
| 2025 | 2.41% | −0.06% | #138 |
| 2023 | 2.47% | −0.91% | #25 |
| 2022 | 3.38% | −0.33% | #56 |
| 2021 | 3.71% | −0.59% | #61 |
| 2020 | 4.30% | +1.02% | #81 |
| 2019 | 3.28% | −0.17% | #52 |
| 2018 | 3.45% | +0.07% | #57 |
| 2017 | 3.38% | +0.06% | #55 |
| 2016 | 3.32% | +0.06% | #50 |
| 2015 | 3.27% | +0.18% | #45 |
| 2014 | 3.08% | +0.01% | #40 |
| 2011 | 3.07% | −0.35% | #41 |
| 2008 | 3.43% | −0.13% | #35 |
| 2004 | 3.56% | −0.64% | #50 |
| 2003 | 4.20% | −0.06% | #56 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Panama matched the Export Boom Cycle pattern in 1994. Historically, 71% of countries showing this pattern (546 out of 768) saw education spending improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
Panama's education spending was 2.41% in 2025. Ranked 138th globally. This represents a 2.5% decrease from the previous year.
Panama's education spending peaked at 4.89% in 2000.
The lowest education spending in Panama was 2.41% in 2025.
Panama ranks 138th globally in education spending as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is SE.XPD.TOTL.GD.ZS. Data sourced from World Bank.
Panama's education spending is projected to reach 2.41% by 2025 based on trend extrapolation.
The education spending of Panama in 2025 was 2.41%. This ranks 138th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_panama_education-spending-gdp,
title = {Panama Education Spending},
url = {https://historysaid.com/panama/education-spending-gdp/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}