Education By Country Statistics

GITNUXREPORT 2026

Education By Country Statistics

Even with primary enrollment at 89% globally in 2022, nearly 1 in 7 children were still out of school in 2019 and completion rates drop sharply from 96% in primary to 62% in lower secondary, with big country swings from 93% in the Czech Republic to 87% in India and 95% in Kenya. Follow how spending, staffing needs, and learning gaps collide from the OECD’s 485 science score baseline to “learning poverty” of 18% in high income countries, and see why country by country the path to getting students through school looks so different.

38 statistics38 sources9 sections7 min readUpdated today

Key Statistics

Statistic 1

1 in 7 children globally were out of school in 2019 (UNICEF, based on UIS and UNESCO estimates).

Statistic 2

Net enrollment ratio in primary education was 89% globally in 2022 (World Bank EdStats/UNESCO UIS summary).

Statistic 3

93% of children were enrolled in primary school in the Czech Republic in 2022 (World Bank EdStats).

Statistic 4

87% of children were enrolled in primary school in India in 2022 (World Bank EdStats).

Statistic 5

95% of children were enrolled in primary school in Kenya in 2022 (World Bank EdStats).

Statistic 6

91% of children were enrolled in primary school in Bangladesh in 2022 (World Bank EdStats).

Statistic 7

96% of students completed primary education globally in 2022 (World Bank EdStats indicator for completion rate).

Statistic 8

62% of students completed lower secondary education globally in 2022 (World Bank EdStats completion rate indicator).

Statistic 9

64% of students were enrolled in secondary education in the United States in 2022 (World Bank EdStats gross enrollment ratio for secondary).

Statistic 10

52% of students were enrolled in secondary education in India in 2022 (World Bank EdStats).

Statistic 11

34% of students were enrolled in secondary education in Ethiopia in 2022 (World Bank EdStats).

Statistic 12

In 2021, the global pupil-teacher ratio for primary education was 17:1 (World Bank EdStats indicator).

Statistic 13

In 2021, the global pupil-teacher ratio for lower secondary education was 16:1 (World Bank EdStats).

Statistic 14

In 2022, UNESCO estimated 20 million teachers were needed globally by 2030 to achieve education goals (UNESCO staffing needs estimate).

Statistic 15

In 2022, Ukraine experienced about 5.8 million school-age children affected by displacement and disrupted schooling (UNICEF situation reporting).

Statistic 16

In 2020, schools globally were closed for an average of 26 weeks due to COVID-19 (UNESCO/World Bank synthesis reporting on closure duration).

Statistic 17

In 2020, 120,000 education facilities were reported closed globally at one point during the COVID-19 pandemic (UNESCO tracking dashboard summary).

Statistic 18

485 points in science was the OECD average score in PISA 2022 (OECD).

Statistic 19

In South Africa, 12% of students are at or above proficiency level 3 in reading in PISA 2022 (OECD).

Statistic 20

In 2022, learning poverty was 18% in high-income countries (World Bank estimate).

Statistic 21

The global adult literacy rate was 86% in 2016 (UIS baseline commonly reported by UNESCO).

Statistic 22

47% of adults aged 16-74 in France were assessed at proficiency levels 1 or below in literacy in the ALL in PIAAC (2015-2016), the lowest levels of adult literacy.

Statistic 23

In 2021, primary education expenditure per student in the UK was about $8,300 (OECD Education at a Glance indicator).

Statistic 24

In 2021, the United Kingdom spent 4.4% of GDP on education (OECD Education at a Glance dataset).

Statistic 25

In 2022, education accounted for about 6.1% of total official development assistance (OECD DAC).

Statistic 26

In 2021, global household out-of-pocket expenditure on education represented 31% of total education spending in many low-income contexts (World Bank education financing analysis).

Statistic 27

In 2020, private expenditure on education represented 42% of total education expenditure in the Philippines (World Bank education expenditure analysis using UNESCO/UIS).

Statistic 28

In 2024, the global education technology market was forecast to reach $28.0 billion (industry forecast cited by a vendor research summary).

Statistic 29

In 2023, the global market for Learning Management Systems (LMS) was estimated at $11.0 billion (vendor research market sizing summary).

Statistic 30

In 2023, the global market for student information systems (SIS) was estimated at $2.6 billion (industry research market sizing).

Statistic 31

1.4% of learners in grades 1-12 were enrolled in pre-primary education in the United States in 2022, down from 1.5% in 2021.

Statistic 32

63% of students were enrolled in secondary education in Colombia in 2022.

Statistic 33

1.7 million students worldwide (about 1 in 10 of all out-of-school children) were in conflict-affected settings in 2022 according to UNESCO estimates.

Statistic 34

28% of teachers in Ghana were not fully qualified in 2018 (teacher training shortfall).

Statistic 35

94% of schools in South Korea reported having an ICT policy in 2022 according to OECD/education survey results.

Statistic 36

92% of schools in Finland reported having access to the internet for instructional purposes in 2022 (OECD TALIS education survey).

Statistic 37

US$ 9,600 per student (current US$) was spent on primary education in Germany in 2021 according to OECD Education at a Glance.

Statistic 38

In 2022, the Czech Republic spent 4.1% of GDP on education (public and private sources), including public education spending.

Sources
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Isabelle Moreau

Written by Isabelle Moreau·Edited by Kevin O'Brien·Fact-checked by Maya Johansson

Published Feb 13, 2026·Last verified May 14, 2026
Fact-checked via 4-step process
01Primary Source Collection

Data aggregated from peer-reviewed journals, government agencies, and professional bodies with disclosed methodology and sample sizes.

02Editorial Curation

Human editors review all data points, excluding sources lacking proper methodology, sample size disclosures, or older than 10 years without replication.

03AI-Powered Verification

Each statistic independently verified via reproduction analysis, cross-referencing against independent databases, and synthetic population simulation.

04Human Cross-Check

Final human editorial review of all AI-verified statistics. Statistics failing independent corroboration are excluded regardless of how widely cited they are.

Read our full methodology →

Statistics that fail independent corroboration are excluded.

One in seven children were out of school in 2019, yet completion and enrollment figures vary dramatically by country, with the Czech Republic at 93% primary enrollment in 2022 while India sits at 87%. The gaps do not stop at access, because learning outcomes and staffing needs also diverge, from OECD PISA performance to UNESCO estimates of millions of teachers needed by 2030. Education By Country brings these measures together so you can see how enrollment, spending, and learning connect, or fail to.

Key Takeaways

  • 1 in 7 children globally were out of school in 2019 (UNICEF, based on UIS and UNESCO estimates).
  • Net enrollment ratio in primary education was 89% globally in 2022 (World Bank EdStats/UNESCO UIS summary).
  • 93% of children were enrolled in primary school in the Czech Republic in 2022 (World Bank EdStats).
  • In 2021, the global pupil-teacher ratio for primary education was 17:1 (World Bank EdStats indicator).
  • In 2021, the global pupil-teacher ratio for lower secondary education was 16:1 (World Bank EdStats).
  • In 2022, UNESCO estimated 20 million teachers were needed globally by 2030 to achieve education goals (UNESCO staffing needs estimate).
  • 485 points in science was the OECD average score in PISA 2022 (OECD).
  • In South Africa, 12% of students are at or above proficiency level 3 in reading in PISA 2022 (OECD).
  • In 2022, learning poverty was 18% in high-income countries (World Bank estimate).
  • In 2021, primary education expenditure per student in the UK was about $8,300 (OECD Education at a Glance indicator).
  • In 2021, the United Kingdom spent 4.4% of GDP on education (OECD Education at a Glance dataset).
  • In 2022, education accounted for about 6.1% of total official development assistance (OECD DAC).
  • In 2024, the global education technology market was forecast to reach $28.0 billion (industry forecast cited by a vendor research summary).
  • In 2023, the global market for Learning Management Systems (LMS) was estimated at $11.0 billion (vendor research market sizing summary).
  • In 2023, the global market for student information systems (SIS) was estimated at $2.6 billion (industry research market sizing).

Globally, many children still miss school and completion trails behind enrollment, even as key ratios improve.

Access & Enrollment

11 in 7 children globally were out of school in 2019 (UNICEF, based on UIS and UNESCO estimates).[1]
Verified
2Net enrollment ratio in primary education was 89% globally in 2022 (World Bank EdStats/UNESCO UIS summary).[2]
Verified
393% of children were enrolled in primary school in the Czech Republic in 2022 (World Bank EdStats).[3]
Directional
487% of children were enrolled in primary school in India in 2022 (World Bank EdStats).[4]
Verified
595% of children were enrolled in primary school in Kenya in 2022 (World Bank EdStats).[5]
Verified
691% of children were enrolled in primary school in Bangladesh in 2022 (World Bank EdStats).[6]
Single source
796% of students completed primary education globally in 2022 (World Bank EdStats indicator for completion rate).[7]
Single source
862% of students completed lower secondary education globally in 2022 (World Bank EdStats completion rate indicator).[8]
Directional
964% of students were enrolled in secondary education in the United States in 2022 (World Bank EdStats gross enrollment ratio for secondary).[9]
Verified
1052% of students were enrolled in secondary education in India in 2022 (World Bank EdStats).[10]
Directional
1134% of students were enrolled in secondary education in Ethiopia in 2022 (World Bank EdStats).[11]
Directional

Access & Enrollment Interpretation

Across the Access and Enrollment picture, primary school participation is high with global net enrollment at 89% in 2022 and 96% of children completing primary, yet the transition to later schooling drops sharply as lower secondary completion falls to 62% globally and secondary enrollment ranges from 64% in the United States down to 34% in Ethiopia in 2022.

System Capacity

1In 2021, the global pupil-teacher ratio for primary education was 17:1 (World Bank EdStats indicator).[12]
Single source
2In 2021, the global pupil-teacher ratio for lower secondary education was 16:1 (World Bank EdStats).[13]
Verified
3In 2022, UNESCO estimated 20 million teachers were needed globally by 2030 to achieve education goals (UNESCO staffing needs estimate).[14]
Single source
4In 2022, Ukraine experienced about 5.8 million school-age children affected by displacement and disrupted schooling (UNICEF situation reporting).[15]
Single source
5In 2020, schools globally were closed for an average of 26 weeks due to COVID-19 (UNESCO/World Bank synthesis reporting on closure duration).[16]
Verified
6In 2020, 120,000 education facilities were reported closed globally at one point during the COVID-19 pandemic (UNESCO tracking dashboard summary).[17]
Single source

System Capacity Interpretation

With global pupil teacher ratios still as high as 17:1 in primary and 16:1 in lower secondary and UNESCO estimating a need for 20 million more teachers by 2030, system capacity pressures are being compounded by large-scale disruptions such as 26 weeks of average school closures in 2020 and 120,000 education facilities temporarily closed during COVID-19.

Learning Outcomes

1485 points in science was the OECD average score in PISA 2022 (OECD).[18]
Verified
2In South Africa, 12% of students are at or above proficiency level 3 in reading in PISA 2022 (OECD).[19]
Verified
3In 2022, learning poverty was 18% in high-income countries (World Bank estimate).[20]
Verified
4The global adult literacy rate was 86% in 2016 (UIS baseline commonly reported by UNESCO).[21]
Single source
547% of adults aged 16-74 in France were assessed at proficiency levels 1 or below in literacy in the ALL in PIAAC (2015-2016), the lowest levels of adult literacy.[22]
Verified

Learning Outcomes Interpretation

Across education systems, learning outcomes remain uneven as shown by OECD science scoring averaging 485 points while only 12% of South African students reach reading proficiency level 3 or above and learning poverty is still 18% in high income countries.

Funding & Spending

1In 2021, primary education expenditure per student in the UK was about $8,300 (OECD Education at a Glance indicator).[23]
Directional
2In 2021, the United Kingdom spent 4.4% of GDP on education (OECD Education at a Glance dataset).[24]
Single source
3In 2022, education accounted for about 6.1% of total official development assistance (OECD DAC).[25]
Verified
4In 2021, global household out-of-pocket expenditure on education represented 31% of total education spending in many low-income contexts (World Bank education financing analysis).[26]
Verified
5In 2020, private expenditure on education represented 42% of total education expenditure in the Philippines (World Bank education expenditure analysis using UNESCO/UIS).[27]
Verified

Funding & Spending Interpretation

For the Funding & Spending angle, the data shows education financing is heavily shaped by public and household contributions, with the UK spending 4.4% of GDP on education while globally households still cover 31% of spending in many low-income settings and the Philippines relies on private outlays for 42% of total education expenditure.

Enrollment Rates

11.4% of learners in grades 1-12 were enrolled in pre-primary education in the United States in 2022, down from 1.5% in 2021.[31]
Verified
263% of students were enrolled in secondary education in Colombia in 2022.[32]
Verified

Enrollment Rates Interpretation

In the enrollment rates data, pre-primary enrollment in the United States slipped from 1.5% in 2021 to 1.4% in 2022, while Colombia reported 63% of students enrolled in secondary education in 2022.

Out Of School

11.7 million students worldwide (about 1 in 10 of all out-of-school children) were in conflict-affected settings in 2022 according to UNESCO estimates.[33]
Verified

Out Of School Interpretation

In 2022, UNESCO estimated that 1.7 million out-of-school students worldwide, about 1 in 10, were living in conflict-affected settings, underscoring how insecurity directly drives children into the out-of-school category.

Teacher Capacity

128% of teachers in Ghana were not fully qualified in 2018 (teacher training shortfall).[34]
Directional
294% of schools in South Korea reported having an ICT policy in 2022 according to OECD/education survey results.[35]
Verified
392% of schools in Finland reported having access to the internet for instructional purposes in 2022 (OECD TALIS education survey).[36]
Single source

Teacher Capacity Interpretation

In the teacher capacity category, the sharp contrast in preparedness stands out as Ghana had 28% of teachers not fully qualified in 2018 while South Korea and Finland reported very high levels of school-level ICT support in 2022 with 94% and 92% of schools respectively having relevant policies or internet access for instruction.

Education Finance

1US$ 9,600 per student (current US$) was spent on primary education in Germany in 2021 according to OECD Education at a Glance.[37]
Verified
2In 2022, the Czech Republic spent 4.1% of GDP on education (public and private sources), including public education spending.[38]
Verified

Education Finance Interpretation

In the education finance space, Germany’s primary education spending reached US$9,600 per student in 2021, while the Czech Republic devoted 4.1% of GDP to education in 2022, showing how countries finance schooling through both per-student outlays and overall economic shares.

How We Rate Confidence

Models

Every statistic is queried across four AI models (ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Perplexity). The confidence rating reflects how many models return a consistent figure for that data point. Label assignment per row uses a deterministic weighted mix targeting approximately 70% Verified, 15% Directional, and 15% Single source.

Single source
ChatGPTClaudeGeminiPerplexity

Only one AI model returns this statistic from its training data. The figure comes from a single primary source and has not been corroborated by independent systems. Use with caution; cross-reference before citing.

AI consensus: 1 of 4 models agree

Directional
ChatGPTClaudeGeminiPerplexity

Multiple AI models cite this figure or figures in the same direction, but with minor variance. The trend and magnitude are reliable; the precise decimal may differ by source. Suitable for directional analysis.

AI consensus: 2–3 of 4 models broadly agree

Verified
ChatGPTClaudeGeminiPerplexity

All AI models independently return the same statistic, unprompted. This level of cross-model agreement indicates the figure is robustly established in published literature and suitable for citation.

AI consensus: 4 of 4 models fully agree

Models

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APA
Isabelle Moreau. (2026, February 13). Education By Country Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/education-by-country-statistics
MLA
Isabelle Moreau. "Education By Country Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/education-by-country-statistics.
Chicago
Isabelle Moreau. 2026. "Education By Country Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/education-by-country-statistics.

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