El Salvador
El Salvador’s education financing indicators show limited public investment and significant gaps relative to international and regional benchmarks. In 2023, the country allocated 3.17% of GDP to public education, below both the 6% global target and the regional average. Education accounted for 10.25% of the national budget, far below the 20% benchmark and the regional average. Public spending per school-age person reached USD 653.54 (2023), remaining below the regional average despite recent increases.
Attendance indicators reveal near gender parity and relatively smaller wealth-based disparities, though structural inequalities persist.
Check out the international comparative figures below, and, in addition, our members’ brief featuring national-level analysis, insights, and policy recommendations.
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Public financial effort measures the share of GDP and the national budget dedicated to education. International benchmarks recommend 4–6% of GDP and 15–20% of total government spending. In El Salvador, the most recent data (2023) indicates that public education spending represented 3.17% of GDP, below both benchmarks and the regional average. Education expenditure as a share of the national budget stood at 10.25%, considerably below the 20% target and the regional average, highlighting limited prioritization of education in public spending.
Public expenditure on education as a % of GDP
Public expenditure on education as a % of total public expenditure
Public spending per school-age person was USD 653.54 in 2023, below the regional average. This limited investment per learner reflects ongoing challenges in ensuring adequate resources for quality and equitable education across the country.
Public spending per school-age person
The gender ratio was 0.95 in 2022, below the regional average, indicating near gender parity with boys and girls attending school in almost equal proportions.
The wealth parity index was 1.38 in 2022, suggesting that children from wealthier households were about 1.4 times more likely to attend school than those from the poorest households. This inequality level is below the regional average, pointing to somewhat smaller wealth-based disparities compared to many neighboring countries.