Singapore's current education expenditure, primary (% of total expenditure in primary public institutions) was 99.11% in 2023, the latest year in the World Bank's World Development Indicators. That is up 13.46 percentage points from 85.65% in 2013.
Key figures
| Value | Year | |
|---|---|---|
| Latest | 99.11% | 2023 |
| Five years earlier | 89.72% | 2018 |
| Ten years earlier | 85.65% | 2013 |
| Highest | 99.11% | 2023 |
| Lowest | 83.37% | 2012 |
| Average since 2016 | 92.79% | 2016–2023 |
| First recorded | 87.96% | 2008 |
What the numbers say
In 2023, Singapore's current education expenditure, primary (% of total expenditure in primary public institutions) rose 2.14 percentage points on 2022 (from 96.97% to 99.11%).
Across the 11 yearly changes before that (2009 to 2022), the average change was +0.64 percentage points and a typical year strayed about 3.7 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 4.44 percentage points in 2011 and the biggest yearly fall was 8.65 percentage points in 2012. The numbers show how large and when, not why; for the cause, look at what happened in that country in those years.
From 2016 to 2023 the straight-line trend is upward, about 1.64 percentage points a year. A straight line explains 94% of the movement over 8 observed years.
Worked out from the yearly values above. How the checks work: standard deviation, z-scores and straight-line trends.
How it compares
In 2023, Singapore had the 2nd highest value of the 10 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.
| Value | Year | |
|---|---|---|
| Singapore | 99.11% | 2023 |
| High income | 92.84% | 2022 |
Closest to Singapore in the 2023 ranking
- St. Lucia — 1st of 10: 100%
- Costa Rica — 3rd of 10: 98.81%
- Andorra — 4th of 10: 98.32%
- Barbados — 5th of 10: 98.05%
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 14 values
| Year | Current education expenditure, primary (% of total expenditure in primary public institutions) |
|---|---|
| 2023 | 99.11 |
| 2022 | 96.97 |
| 2021 | 94.69 |
| 2020 | 92.24 |
| 2019 | 93.78 |
| 2018 | 89.72 |
| 2017 | 88.17 |
| 2016 | 87.64 |
| 2015 | no data |
| 2014 | no data |
Current education expenditure, primary (% of total expenditure in primary public institutions) in nearby economies
- Japan — 86.94% (2021)
- Malaysia — 98.79% (2021)
- Mongolia — 89.36% (2017)
- New Zealand — 83.21% (2023)
More education data for Singapore
- 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) — 4 (2025)
- Government expenditure on education, total (% of GDP) — 2.19% (2024)
- Preprimary education, duration (years) — 6 (2025)
- Primary education, pupils — 238,816 (2023)
- Primary education, teachers — 16,639 (2023)
- Secondary education, pupils — 163,746 (2023)
- Primary education, teachers (% female) — 80.55% (2023)
Reading data like this
Questions people ask
- What is Singapore's current education expenditure, primary (% of total expenditure in primary public institutions)?
- 99.11% in 2023, according to the World Bank (World Development Indicators).
- How has it changed since 2008?
- It is up 11.15 percentage points from 87.96% in 2008. The highest value was 99.11% in 2023 and the lowest 83.37% in 2012.
- How does Singapore rank?
- 2nd highest of 10 economies with data for 2023.
- Is the latest change in current education expenditure, primary (% of total expenditure in primary public institutions) unusual for Singapore?
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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