Nicaragua
The figures from Nicaragua, tracked since 2000, highlight persistent challenges in mobilizing sufficient and sustainable public investment in education. The latest available data (2023) indicates that 2.87% of GDP was allocated to public education—well below the international benchmark of 4–6% and under the regional average. Education accounted for 17.69% of total government expenditure, also below the 20% target, although slightly above the regional average. Public spending per school-age person was USD 266.80 (2023), below regional levels, reflecting constrained fiscal capacity and limited resources for education quality and equity. Moreover, Nicaragua has not published school attendance data since at least 2016, which limits the ability to assess progress toward inclusive and equitable access to education.
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Nicaragua’s public financial effort toward education remains modest, despite the sector receiving a relatively high share of the national budget. In 2023, 2.87% of GDP and 17.69% of total government expenditure were devoted to public education—both below international reference targets.
Public expenditure on education as a % of GDP
Public expenditure on education as a % of total public expenditure
The per capita spending of USD 266.80 per school-age person is below the regional average, signaling significant financing gaps that constrain system expansion and quality improvement.
Public spending per school-age person
Nicaragua has not published school attendance data since at least 2016, which limits the ability to assess progress toward inclusive and equitable access to education.