Suriname Education Spending
Government expenditure on education as % of GDP SE.XPD.TOTL.GD.ZS
Suriname's education spending was 0.77% in 2025, ranked 165th globally. This represents a 73.2% decrease from 2024. Data from World Bank, covering 2015–2025.
Overview
Suriname's education spending stood at 0.77% in 2025, a decline of +2.10% from 2023. Based on recent trends, this figure is projected to reach 0.77% by 2025. Suriname ranked 165th globally.
Suriname's education spending as a percentage of its GDP has experienced a significant decline over the past decade, with the latest available data from the World Bank indicating a mere 0.77 percent of GDP, ranking the country 165th globally. In contrast, its peer country Lao PDR, which ranked 143rd, spent 0.83 percent of its GDP on education in 2025. The country's education spending peaked at 6.78 percent in 2019, a stark contrast to the current trough of 0.77 percent in 2025. This downward trend is concerning, particularly considering that education is a critical driver of human capital development and long-term economic growth. The decline in education spending may be attributed to various factors, including budget constraints and shifting priorities. To reverse this trend, Suriname would need to allocate a significant portion of its budget to education, similar to its peer countries, and implement policies that promote education as a national priority. A sustained increase in education spending is essential to enhance the country's human capital and improve its economic competitiveness.
Data & projection
| Year | Education Spending | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026* trend | -0.13% | - | - |
| 2025* trend | 0.77% | - | - |
| 2025 | 0.77% | −2.10% | #165 |
| 2023 | 2.87% | −0.57% | #37 |
| 2022 | 3.43% | −0.70% | #58 |
| 2021 | 4.13% | −0.45% | #76 |
| 2020 | 4.58% | −2.19% | #96 |
| 2019 | 6.78% | +1.86% | #156 |
| 2018 | 4.92% | −0.54% | #116 |
| 2017 | 5.46% | −0.18% | #138 |
| 2016 | 5.64% | +0.11% | #132 |
| 2015 | 5.53% | – | #130 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Suriname matched the Fiscal Dominance Trap pattern in 2023. Historically, 72% of countries showing this pattern (278 out of 386) saw education spending improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
Suriname's education spending was 0.77% in 2025. Ranked 165th globally. This represents a 73.2% decrease from the previous year.
Suriname's education spending peaked at 6.78% in 2019.
The lowest education spending in Suriname was 0.77% in 2025.
Suriname ranks 165th globally in education spending as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is SE.XPD.TOTL.GD.ZS. Data sourced from World Bank.
Suriname's education spending is projected to reach 0.77% by 2025 based on trend extrapolation.
The education spending of Suriname in 2025 was 0.77%. This ranks 165th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_suriname_education-spending-gdp,
title = {Suriname Education Spending},
url = {https://historysaid.com/suriname/education-spending-gdp/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}