Viet Nam Education Spending
Government expenditure on education as % of GDP SE.XPD.TOTL.GD.ZS
Viet Nam's education spending was 2.61% in 2025, ranked 133rd globally. This represents a 9.7% decrease from 2024. Data from World Bank, covering 2008–2025.
Overview
Viet Nam's education spending stood at 2.61% in 2025, a decline of +0.28% from 2022. Based on recent trends, this figure is projected to reach 2.61% by 2025. Viet Nam ranked 133rd globally.
Vietnam’s education spending has fallen sharply over the 16‑year series, dropping from its all‑time peak of 4.89 percent of GDP in 2008 to a trough of 2.61 percent in 2025, placing the country 133rd globally. The decline represents a reduction of roughly 2.28 percentage points, or a 46.7 percent cut relative to the 2008 level, and positions Vietnam alongside peers such as the Bahamas, which records the same 2.61 percent share, and Angola at 2.63 percent. While the early 2000s saw robust fiscal commitment to schooling, recent budgetary pressures and competing development priorities appear to have constrained further investment. The downward trajectory suggests that, without policy adjustments to raise the share of public resources devoted to education, Vietnam may continue to lag behind regional comparators that have maintained higher spending ratios, potentially affecting long‑term human‑capital outcomes.
Data & projection
| Year | Education Spending | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025* trend | 2.61% | - | - |
| 2025 | 2.61% | −0.28% | #133 |
| 2022 | 2.89% | −0.06% | #39 |
| 2021 | 2.95% | −0.27% | #32 |
| 2020 | 3.22% | +0.13% | #39 |
| 2019 | 3.08% | −0.21% | #40 |
| 2018 | 3.30% | −0.12% | #48 |
| 2017 | 3.42% | −0.05% | #56 |
| 2016 | 3.47% | +0.05% | #54 |
| 2015 | 3.42% | −0.12% | #51 |
| 2014 | 3.54% | −0.99% | #57 |
| 2013 | 4.53% | +0.12% | #85 |
| 2012 | 4.41% | +0.63% | #82 |
| 2011 | 3.78% | −0.27% | #64 |
| 2010 | 4.05% | −0.77% | #66 |
| 2009 | 4.82% | −0.07% | #62 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Viet Nam matched the Export Boom Cycle pattern in 2020. Historically, 71% of countries showing this pattern (546 out of 768) saw education spending improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
Viet Nam's education spending was 2.61% in 2025. Ranked 133rd globally. This represents a 9.7% decrease from the previous year.
Viet Nam's education spending peaked at 4.89% in 2008.
The lowest education spending in Viet Nam was 2.61% in 2025.
Viet Nam ranks 133rd globally in education spending as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is SE.XPD.TOTL.GD.ZS. Data sourced from World Bank.
Viet Nam's education spending is projected to reach 2.61% by 2025 based on trend extrapolation.
The education spending of Viet Nam in 2025 was 2.61%. This ranks 133rd in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_viet-nam_education-spending-gdp,
title = {Viet Nam Education Spending},
url = {https://historysaid.com/viet-nam/education-spending-gdp/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}