Education Spending: Syria

Analysis# Syria Education Spending Syria allocated 5.13% of its GDP to education in 2009, representing a 43.1% increase from 1972's low of 3.584%. The country peaked at 6.481% in 2003, demonstrating significant growth during the early 2000s. Despite this historical expansion, the 2009 figure remains 1.35 percentage points below that apex, indicating a decline in relative education investment over the subsequent six years. The period from 2002 to 2004 marked a notable surge, with spending jumping from 5.27% to 6.481% before retreating to 5.371%. Following this peak, a consistent downward trend emerged, dropping from 4.865% in 2007 to 4.595% in 2008 before rebounding slightly to 5.13% in 2009. This volatility suggests fluctuating policy priorities during the late 2000s, with education spending failing to sustain its early-decade momentum.