Education Spending: Thailand
Thailand's education spending is currently 2.521 % of GDP as of 2023. # Thailand Education Spending Thailand allocated 2.
Current (2023)
2.521 % of GDP
-3.5% y/y
Peak (2000)
5.253 % of GDP
Low (1974)
2.147 % of GDP
Source
World Bank World Development Indicators
1971–2023 · 49 pts
Education Spending — Thailand
1971 — 2023
Education Spending — Thailand
Analysis# Thailand Education Spending
Thailand allocated 2.521% of its GDP to education in 2023, representing a significant contraction from its all-time peak of 5.253% in 2000. Since 1971, education spending has declined 17.8% relative to economic output, though it remains above the historical low of 2.147% recorded in 1974. The current level reflects Thailand's lowest investment in education across five decades of available data.
A sharp downward shift occurred between 2014 and 2023, when spending dropped from 3.919% to 2.521%—a decline of nearly 36% in less than a decade. This period of sustained cuts accelerated Thailand's retreat from the education priorities of the early 2000s. The trajectory suggests continued pressure on education funding, with no clear indicators of policy reversal in the recent data.
Historical Data
49 Rows| Year | Value | Change % |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 2.521 % of GDP | -3.48% |
| 2022 | 2.612 % of GDP | -12.41% |
| 2021 | 2.982 % of GDP | -5.42% |
| 2020 | 3.153 % of GDP | +4.33% |
| 2019 | 3.022 % of GDP | -5.50% |
| 2018 | 3.198 % of GDP | -7.71% |
| 2017 | 3.465 % of GDP | -8.04% |
| 2016 | 3.768 % of GDP | -2.48% |
| 2015 | 3.864 % of GDP | -1.40% |
| 2014 | 3.919 % of GDP | -4.97% |
| 2013 | 4.124 % of GDP | -9.10% |
| 2012 | 4.537 % of GDP | -5.60% |
| 2011 | 4.806 % of GDP | +37.00% |
| 2010 | 3.508 % of GDP | -9.17% |
| 2009 | 3.862 % of GDP | +10.06% |
| 2008 | 3.509 % of GDP | -2.61% |
| 2007 | 3.603 % of GDP | -11.04% |
| 2006 | 4.05 % of GDP | +2.82% |
| 2005 | 3.939 % of GDP | -2.28% |
| 2004 | 4.031 % of GDP | +8.19% |
Show all 49 rows
| Year | Value | Change % |
|---|---|---|
| 2003 | 3.726 % of GDP | -3.60% |
| 2002 | 3.865 % of GDP | -19.78% |
| 2001 | 4.818 % of GDP | -8.28% |
| 2000 | 5.253 % of GDP | +8.69% |
| 1999 | 4.833 % of GDP | +4.47% |
| 1998 | 4.626 % of GDP | +1.07% |
| 1997 | 4.577 % of GDP | +30.77% |
| 1996 | 3.5 % of GDP | +11.29% |
| 1995 | 3.145 % of GDP | -7.64% |
| 1994 | 3.405 % of GDP | +11.82% |
| 1992 | 3.045 % of GDP | -1.42% |
| 1991 | 3.089 % of GDP | +23.46% |
| 1989 | 2.502 % of GDP | -9.12% |
| 1988 | 2.753 % of GDP | -11.65% |
| 1987 | 3.116 % of GDP | -8.57% |
| 1986 | 3.408 % of GDP | -0.84% |
| 1984 | 3.437 % of GDP | -0.78% |
| 1983 | 3.464 % of GDP | +5.80% |
| 1982 | 3.274 % of GDP | +13.56% |
| 1981 | 2.883 % of GDP | +11.96% |
| 1980 | 2.575 % of GDP | -9.49% |
| 1979 | 2.845 % of GDP | -11.51% |
| 1977 | 3.215 % of GDP | +6.56% |
| 1976 | 3.017 % of GDP | +26.71% |
| 1975 | 2.381 % of GDP | +10.90% |
| 1974 | 2.147 % of GDP | -15.94% |
| 1973 | 2.554 % of GDP | -15.68% |
| 1972 | 3.029 % of GDP | -1.21% |
| 1971 | 3.066 % of GDP | — |
Related Data
Other Metrics
For Thailand
Compare Education Spending
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Demographics
People & population data