10 African Countries with Highest Budget Allocation for Education
Source: https://africa.businessinsider.com/
To ensure economic stability and growth, governments must prioritize a well-planned budget and strategic resource allocation, particularly for the educational sector. A quality education system offers long-term benefits and is crucial for achieving national goals. However, government funding for education has remained largely unchanged, with spending at only 3.7% of GDP since 2012.
A 2024 UNESCO analysis shows varying levels of education funding in Africa, with some countries allocating over 20% of public spending, while others allocate less than 10%. Insufficient funding can lead to strikes and disruptions, undermining the education system, while adequate funding is essential for capital projects, research, and improving overall education quality.
Despite a decade of efforts to improve education, Africa’s learning outcomes remain a critical issue, with only 1 in 5 children aged 10 able to read and understand simple texts. To achieve SDG 4 and CESA goals, governments must increase investments in education to tackle the learning poverty crisis and ensure inclusive, quality education for all. Recent data shows that some African countries are prioritizing education by allocating a significant percentage of their annual budget to the sector.
| Rank | Countries | % of GDP | Data period |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Namibia | 10.03 | 1999 – 2022 |
| 2 | Sierra Leone | 9.44 | 2000 – 2022 |
| 3 | Lesotho | 7.51 | 1971 – 2022 |
| 4 | Mozambique | 7.03 | 1998 – 2021 |
| 5 | South Africa | 6.56 | 1987 – 2022 |
| 6 | Algeria | 6.3 | 1979 – 2021 |
| 7 | Cape Verde | 6.04 | 1998 – 2021 |
| 8 | Seychelles | 5.62 | 1970 – 2022 |
| 9 | Morocco | 5.6 | 1973 – 2022 |
| 10 | Rwanda | 5.59 | 1977 – 2022 |
Image Source: https://africa.businessinsider.com/
