Chile: Government expenditure on education, total (% of government expenditure)

Key figures

Over five years it is down 2.93 percentage points from 21.31% in 2017. Since 1981 it is up 18.38 percentage points from 0% in 1981. The World Bank has no value for 11 of the years in between; the chart leaves those gaps open rather than joining across them.

What the numbers say

In 2022, Chile's government expenditure on education, total (% of government expenditure) rose 3.5 percentage points on 2021 (from 14.88% to 18.38%).

Across the 24 yearly changes before that (1994 to 2021), the average change was −0.07 percentage points and a typical year strayed about 1.2 percentage points from that (the standard deviation). This year's change was 3.0 standard deviations above that average, so it was unusually large compared with the rest of the record.

On record, the biggest yearly rise was 3.5 percentage points in 2022 and the biggest yearly fall was 4.47 percentage points in 2021. The numbers show how large and when, not why; for the cause, look at what happened in that country in those years.

From 2013 to 2022 there is no clear straight-line trend: a straight line explains 20% of the movement over 10 observed years, so the value is moving around more than it is heading anywhere.

Worked out from the yearly values above. How the checks work: standard deviation, z-scores and straight-line trends.

How it compares

In 2022, Chile had the 3rd highest value of the 44 economies reporting that year. Higher is not always better: for some indicators the lowest value is the one to aim for. See the full ranking.

Closest to Chile in the 2022 ranking

• Iran, Islamic Rep. — 1st of 44: 18.82%
• Cuba — 3rd of 44: 16.96%
• Israel — 4th of 44: 16.07%
• Iceland — 5th of 44: 15.66%

What this measures

General government expenditure on education (current, capital, and transfers) is expressed as a percentage of total general government expenditure on all sectors (including health, education, social services, etc.). It includes expenditure funded by transfers from international sources to government. General government usually refers to local, regional and central governments.

Limitations: Data on government expenditure on education may refer to spending by the ministry of education only (excluding spending on educational activities by other ministries). In addition, definitions and methods of data on total general government expenditure may differ across countries.

Regional and income-group figures are computed by the World Bank as a median.

All 31 values

Government expenditure on education, total (% of government expenditure) in nearby economies

• Antigua and Barbuda — 5.87% (2025)
• Argentina — 13.22% (2023)
• Aruba — 10.96% (2021)
• Bahamas, The — 10.62% (2025)
• Barbados — 14.19% (2025)
• Belize — 18.9% (2024)
• Bolivia — 20.16% (2024)
• Brazil — 12.93% (2022)

More education data for Chile

• Primary school starting age (years) — 6 (2025)
• Primary education, duration (years) — 6 (2025)
• Lower secondary school starting age (years) — 12 (2025)
• Secondary education, duration (years) — 6 (2025)
• Primary education, pupils — 1.49 million (2024)
• Secondary education, pupils — 1.63 million (2024)
• School enrollment, preprimary (% gross) — 84.51% (2020)
• School enrollment, primary (gross), gender parity index (GPI) — 0.97 (2020)
• School enrollment, primary and secondary (gross), gender parity index (GPI) — 0.98 (2020)
• School enrollment, secondary (gross), gender parity index (GPI)

Reading data like this

• Where to find free public data, and how to check it before you trust it — 2 min read
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• Real change or random noise? A plain guide to reading your numbers — 2 min read

Questions people ask

What is Chile's government expenditure on education, total (% of government expenditure)?

18.38% in 2022, according to the World Bank (World Development Indicators).

How has it changed since 1981?

It is up 18.38 percentage points from 0% in 1981. The highest value was 21.37% in 2018 and the lowest 0% in 1981.

How does Chile rank?

3rd highest of 44 economies with data for 2022.

Is the latest change in government expenditure on education, total (% of government expenditure) unusual for Chile?

In 2022, Chile's government expenditure on education, total (% of government expenditure) rose 3.5 percentage points on 2021 (from 14.88% to 18.38%). Across the 24 yearly changes before that (1994 to 2021), the average change was −0.07 percentage points and a typical year strayed about 1.2 percentage points from that (the standard deviation). This year's change was 3.0 standard deviations above that average, so it was unusually large compared with the rest of the record.

Source

World Bank, World Development Indicators, indicator SE.XPD.TOTL.GB.ZS, licensed CC BY 4.0. Original source: Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), uri: https://databrowser.uis.unesco.org/resources, note: The data are obtained through the UIS API. Figures are fetched from the World Bank API and refreshed monthly; see the series on data.worldbank.org. The full definition and method are in the World Bank's metadata glossary. Comparisons use the same World Bank release.

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