Turkey’s Education Spending Slips Behind Europe

Turkey’s long-running debate over education funding has resurfaced with fresh data revealing how the country compares internationally. A new report by the Institute for Social Studies, drawing on figures from the Turkish Statistical Institute (TÜİK), OECD, and Eurostat, shows that education spending as a share of GDP fell sharply after 2016, reaching a low point in 2022 before partially recovering in 2024.

The findings paint a detailed picture of how Turkey’s education expenditures have evolved over the past decade, and how the country ranks against European and global peers in both public spending and per-student investment.

From Peak to Decline: Education Spending’s Changing Share of GDP

According to TÜİK data cited in the study, education spending accounted for 5.2% of GDP in 2011, rising to 5.6% in 2012. The ratio remained relatively stable in the following years—5.5% in 2013, 5.7% in 2014, and 5.5% in 2015.

The high-water mark came in 2016, when the share climbed to 5.9%, marking the strongest level in the observed period.

After 2016, however, the trajectory reversed. The share declined to 5.7% in both 2018 and 2019. By 2020 it had dropped to 5.2%, followed by 4.7% in 2021. The most striking contraction came in 2022, when education spending fell to just 3.8% of GDP, its lowest level in years.

There was a moderate rebound afterward. The ratio increased to 4.2% in 2023 and reached 4.9% in 2024. Yet the report emphasizes that despite this improvement, current levels remain below the mid-2010s peak, suggesting that the earlier decline has not been fully reversed.

Public Education Spending Lags Behind European Average

When narrowing the focus to general government education expenditures, the international comparison becomes more pronounced. With public education spending amounting to 3.5% of GDP, Turkey ranks 31st among 33 European countries.

This figure places the country below the European average of 4.7%. The gap highlights structural differences in how education systems are financed across the continent.

Eurostat’s 2023 data show that Sweden leads Europe, dedicating 7.2% of GDP to education. Turkey, by contrast, occupies a position near the lower end of the table, reflecting comparatively modest state-level allocations.

The distinction between total education spending and public spending is also notable. While overall education expenditures—including both public and private sources—reached 4.9% of GDP in 2024, the public component stood at only 3.5%. This difference suggests that households and private institutions play a significant role in financing education in Turkey, offsetting more limited government contributions.

Per-Student Spending: Turkey’s Global Standing

The report also examines education spending per student, a metric frequently used to assess investment intensity at the classroom level.

According to OECD data for 2022, Turkey spent $3,386 per primary school student, calculated using purchasing power parity. This places the country 34th globally in the ranking.

The contrast with higher-spending nations is substantial.

Luxembourg tops the list with $25,482 per student, followed by Switzerland at $22,041 and Norway at $19,752. Even countries with emerging economies, such as Costa Rica, reported higher per-student expenditures at $5,272.

At the lower end of the spectrum, Mexico recorded $2,877 per student, ranking it last.

These figures underline the scale of differences in educational investment worldwide and frame Turkey’s position in a broader context.

What the Numbers Reveal About Education Investment

Taken together, the data show a country that experienced a significant contraction in education spending relative to GDP after 2016, followed by a gradual but incomplete recovery. The decline to 3.8% in 2022 marked a turning point, and while 2024’s 4.9% signals improvement, the level remains below earlier highs.

At the same time, the comparison with European peers highlights a persistent funding gap in public education expenditures. With a 3.5% share of GDP dedicated to state-funded education, Turkey trails the continental average, pointing to structural financing differences.

Meanwhile, per-student spending data provide another layer of perspective. Although Turkey is not at the bottom globally, it remains far from the levels seen in Europe’s highest-spending countries.

In the broader discussion about economic development, workforce readiness, and long-term growth, education spending as a share of GDP and per-student investment levels are key indicators. The latest report offers a data-driven foundation for understanding where Turkey stands and how its education financing model compares internationally.