Guatemala: Current education expenditure, primary (% of total expenditure in primary public institutions)

Key figures

What the numbers say

In 2024, Guatemala's current education expenditure, primary (% of total expenditure in primary public institutions) rose 0.49 percentage points on 2023 (from 95.38% to 95.87%).

Across the 16 yearly changes before that (2006 to 2023), the average change was −1.34 percentage points and a typical year strayed about 4.23 percentage points from that (the standard deviation). This year's change was 0.4 standard deviations above that average, so it was an ordinary year: it sits within the range of normal year-to-year movement.

On record, the biggest yearly rise was 4.16 percentage points in 2007 and the biggest yearly fall was 11.98 percentage points in 2008. The numbers show how large and when, not why; for the cause, look at what happened in that country in those years.

From 2015 to 2024 there is no clear straight-line trend: a straight line explains 1% 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 2024, Guatemala had the 6th highest value of the 14 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 Guatemala in the 2024 ranking

• Togo — 3rd of 14: 97.61%
• Paraguay — 4th of 14: 97.4%
• South Africa — 5th of 14: 96.47%
• Oman — 7th of 14: 95.18%
• Bolivia — 8th of 14: 95.1%
• Jordan — 9th of 14: 94.85%

What this measures

Current expenditure is expressed as a percentage of direct expenditure in public educational institutions (instructional and non-instructional) of the specified level of education. Financial aid to students and other transfers are excluded from direct expenditure. Current expenditure is consumed within the current year and would have to be renewed if needed in the following year. It includes staff compensation and current expenditure other than for staff compensation (ex. on teaching materials, ancillary services and administration).

Limitations: The indicator depends on comprehensive and accurate data regarding government expenditure by type and nature of spending. In some cases, data on total government expenditure on education only includes the Ministry of Education, excluding other ministries that may also allocate part of their budget to educational services.

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

All 20 values

Current education expenditure, primary (% of total expenditure in primary public institutions) in nearby economies

• Argentina — 94.85% (2023)
• Aruba — 100% (2016)
• Barbados — 98.05% (2023)
• Bolivia — 95.1% (2024)
• Brazil — 94.18% (2022)
• Chile — 96.57% (2022)
• Costa Rica — 98.81% (2023)
• Dominican Republic

More education data for Guatemala

• Primary school starting age (years) — 7 (2025)
• Primary education, duration (years) — 6 (2025)
• Lower secondary school starting age (years) — 13 (2025)
• Secondary education, duration (years) — 6 (2025)
• Primary education, pupils — 2.42 million (2024)
• School enrollment, primary (% gross) — 101.49% (2024)
• School enrollment, primary, female (% gross) — 100.56% (2024)
• School enrollment, primary, male (% gross) — 102.4% (2024)
• Primary education, teachers — 122,362 (2024)
• Secondary education, pupils — 1.13 million (2024)

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 Guatemala's current education expenditure, primary (% of total expenditure in primary public institutions)?

95.87% in 2024, according to the World Bank (World Development Indicators).

How has it changed since 2001?

It is down 4.13 percentage points from 100% in 2001. The highest value was 100% in 2001 and the lowest 83.11% in 2008.

How does Guatemala rank?

6th highest of 14 economies with data for 2024.

Is the latest change in current education expenditure, primary (% of total expenditure in primary public institutions) unusual for Guatemala?

Source

World Bank, World Development Indicators, indicator SE.XPD.CPRM.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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