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

Key figures

What the numbers say

In 2024, Mali's government expenditure on education, total (% of government expenditure) fell 1.3 percentage points on 2023 (from 19.12% to 17.82%).

Across the 23 yearly changes before that (1982 to 2023), the average change was +0.76 percentage points and a typical year strayed about 3.89 percentage points from that (the standard deviation). This year's change was 0.5 standard deviations below 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 15.32 percentage points in 2000 and the biggest yearly fall was 5.78 percentage points in 2013. 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 18% 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, Mali had the 15th highest value of the 41 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 Mali in the 2024 ranking

• Belize — 12th of 41: 18.9%
• São Tomé and Principe — 13th of 41: 18.09%
• Jamaica — 14th of 41: 17.87%
• Côte d'Ivoire — 16th of 41: 17.62%
• Ethiopia — 17th of 41: 16.7%
• Curaçao — 18th of 41: 16.44%

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 28 values

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

• Angola — 6.52% (2025)
• Benin — 18.02% (2025)
• Botswana — 21.47% (2020)
• Burkina Faso — 20.3% (2023)
• Burundi — 10.29% (2025)
• Cabo Verde — 13.41% (2024)
• Cameroon — 13.83% (2024)
• Central African Republic — 9.99% (2023)

More education data for Mali

• 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)
• School enrollment, primary (gross), gender parity index (GPI) — 0.91 (2020)
• Primary education, pupils — 2.97 million (2023)
• School enrollment, primary (% gross) — 72.8% (2023)
• School enrollment, primary, female (% gross) — 69.37% (2023)
• School enrollment, primary, male (% gross) — 76.15% (2023)
• Primary education, teachers — 59,920 (2023)

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 Mali's government expenditure on education, total (% of government expenditure)?

17.82% in 2024, according to the World Bank (World Development Indicators).

How has it changed since 1981?

It is up 17.82 percentage points from 0% in 1981. The highest value was 22.4% in 2012 and the lowest 0% in 1981.

How does Mali rank?

15th highest of 41 economies with data for 2024.

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

In 2024, Mali's government expenditure on education, total (% of government expenditure) fell 1.3 percentage points on 2023 (from 19.12% to 17.82%). Across the 23 yearly changes before that (1982 to 2023), the average change was +0.76 percentage points and a typical year strayed about 3.89 percentage points from that (the standard deviation). This year's change was 0.5 standard deviations below that average, so it was an ordinary year: it sits within the range of normal year-to-year movement.

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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