Puerto Rico (US) Education Spending
Government expenditure on education as % of GDP SE.XPD.TOTL.GD.ZS
Puerto Rico (US)'s education spending was 4.24% in 2025, ranked 80th globally. This represents a 0.8% decrease from 2024. Data from World Bank, covering 1971–2025.
Overview
Puerto Rico (US)'s education spending stood at 4.24% in 2025, a decline of +0.04% from 2024. Based on recent trends, this figure is projected to reach 4.24% by 2025. Puerto Rico (US) ranked 80th globally.
Puerto Rico's education spending has exhibited significant fluctuations over the past five decades. At its peak in 1974, education spending reached 7.29 percent of the country's GDP, a level that has yet to be surpassed. Conversely, the lowest point occurred in 2018, when it plummeted to 2.60 percent. This stark contrast is evident when compared to peer countries such as Mauritius, which has maintained a consistent level of education spending, currently ranking 4th globally at 4.32 percent. Puerto Rico's education spending has shown a downward trend since 2018, with the latest available data indicating a value of 4.24 percent in 2025. This decline raises concerns about the island's education sector and its ability to provide quality education to its citizens. A significant increase in education spending would be necessary to improve the trajectory, which could be facilitated by sustained economic growth or increased government investment in education.
Data & projection
| Year | Education Spending | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2027* trend | 4.34% | - | - |
| 2026* trend | 4.29% | - | - |
| 2025* trend | 4.24% | - | - |
| 2025 | 4.24% | −0.04% | #80 |
| 2024 | 4.27% | +0.00% | #14 |
| 2023 | 4.27% | +0.41% | #78 |
| 2022 | 3.86% | +0.13% | #77 |
| 2021 | 3.73% | −0.56% | #63 |
| 2020 | 4.29% | +0.96% | #79 |
| 2019 | 3.33% | +0.72% | #53 |
| 2018 | 2.60% | −0.12% | #28 |
| 2017 | 2.73% | −0.06% | #33 |
| 2016 | 2.78% | −0.56% | #28 |
| 2015 | 3.34% | −2.73% | #49 |
| 2014 | 6.07% | −0.41% | #138 |
| 2013 | 6.48% | −0.20% | #136 |
| 1978 | 6.68% | +0.29% | #47 |
| 1977 | 6.39% | −0.75% | #47 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Puerto Rico (US) matched the Stagflation Risk pattern in 1981. Historically, 38% of countries showing this pattern (117 out of 307) saw education spending improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
Puerto Rico (US)'s education spending was 4.24% in 2025. Ranked 80th globally. This represents a 0.8% decrease from the previous year.
Puerto Rico (US)'s education spending peaked at 7.29% in 1974.
The lowest education spending in Puerto Rico (US) was 2.60% in 2018.
Puerto Rico (US) ranks 80th globally in education spending as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is SE.XPD.TOTL.GD.ZS. Data sourced from World Bank.
Puerto Rico (US)'s education spending is projected to reach 4.24% by 2025 based on trend extrapolation.
The education spending of Puerto Rico (US) in 2025 was 4.24%. This ranks 80th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_puerto-rico-us_education-spending-gdp,
title = {Puerto Rico (US) Education Spending},
url = {https://historysaid.com/puerto-rico-us/education-spending-gdp/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}