Jordan
Jordan’s education financing indicators show significant shortfalls relative to international benchmarks, despite comparatively higher per-student spending. In 2022, the country invested 3.16% of GDP in public education, below both the 6% global target and the regional average. Education represented 9.68% of the national budget, far below the 20% benchmark and also below the regional average. Public spending per school-age child was USD 592.56 (2022), which, while relatively high in absolute terms, remains under the regional average.
Attendance data indicates near gender parity, while wealth-based disparities in school access are present but less severe than in many neighboring countries.
Read our members’ education financing brief
Public financial effort assesses the share of GDP and national budget dedicated to education. Since 2015, international benchmarks have recommended 4–6% of GDP and 15–20% of the national budget. In Jordan, the latest data (2022) shows that public education expenditure accounted for 3.16% of GDP and 9.68% of the national budget, both well below global benchmarks and regional averages.
Public expenditure on education as a % of GDP
Public expenditure on education as a % of total public expenditure
Per-student spending was USD 592.56 in 2022, among the higher levels in the region, although still below the regional average. This reflects a relatively strong absolute spending capacity, though not matched by proportional commitment at the budgetary level.
Public spending per school-age person, incurrent USD
School attendance data sheds light on gender and wealth disparities.
- The gender ratio was 0.98 in 2018, above the regional average and suggesting near parity in attendance between boys and girls.
- The wealth parity index was 1.68 in 2018, meaning that children from wealthier households were about 1.7 times more likely to attend school than those from the poorest households. While inequalities persist, this is below the regional average, indicating relatively smaller wealth-based disparities compared to neighboring countries.