While the global primary net enrollment rate has reached nearly 90%, the stark reality remains that 244 million children and youth are still denied their right to education, highlighting both incredible progress and persistent inequality in learning access worldwide.
Key Takeaways
- In 2022, the global primary net enrolment rate reached 89.7%, up from 80.1% in 2000
- Worldwide, 62 million primary-aged children were out of school in 2021, representing 9% of the primary school-age population
- In sub-Saharan Africa, the primary net enrolment rate stood at 80.2% in 2020, compared to 99.1% in Europe and Northern America
- Global adult literacy rate for ages 15-24 was 92.5% in 2020, with females at 91.2% and males at 94.0%
- In sub-Saharan Africa, youth literacy rate (15-24) stood at 75.1% in 2022, up from 68.4% in 2010
- Worldwide, 773 million adults lacked basic literacy skills in 2021, representing 14% of the global adult population
- Globally, primary completion rate was 87.2% in 2022
- In sub-Saharan Africa, lower secondary completion rate stood at 48.5% for 2021 cohort
- Worldwide, 91% of primary-aged children reached grade 5 in 2020, up from 81% in 2000
- PISA 2022 average reading score was 476 points globally across 81 countries
- In mathematics, Shanghai-China topped PISA 2022 with 578 points, global average 472
- TIMSS 2019 grade 4 math average was 489 internationally, with Singapore at 625
- Global government expenditure on education averaged 4.5% of GDP in 2021
- OECD countries spent USD 10,463 per student on primary/secondary in 2020
- Worldwide, 69% of education budgets allocated to primary/secondary in 2022
Despite progress, millions of children globally remain out of school and unable to read proficiently.
Access and Enrollment
- In 2022, the global primary net enrolment rate reached 89.7%, up from 80.1% in 2000
- Worldwide, 62 million primary-aged children were out of school in 2021, representing 9% of the primary school-age population
- In sub-Saharan Africa, the primary net enrolment rate stood at 80.2% in 2020, compared to 99.1% in Europe and Northern America
- Globally, 244 million children and youth were out of school at primary and secondary levels in 2021
- The lower secondary net enrolment rate worldwide was 84.5% in 2022, with a gender parity index of 0.97
- In South Asia, female primary enrolment rates improved to 92.3% in 2021 from 74.5% in 2000
- Upper secondary net enrolment globally hit 64.2% in 2020, varying from 10.4% in sub-Saharan Africa to 95.6% in East Asia
- 128 million girls worldwide were out of school in 2021, accounting for 52% of all out-of-school children
- In low-income countries, primary gross enrolment ratio was 105.3% in 2022 due to over-age enrolment
- Global pre-primary enrolment reached 52.5% in 2021, with OECD countries at 96.8%
- In 2020, 85% of countries achieved at least 90% primary adjusted net enrolment rate
- Rural-urban enrolment gap in primary education averaged 12 percentage points in developing regions in 2019
- Globally, refugee children enrolment in primary school was 77% in 2022, secondary at 34%
- In Latin America and the Caribbean, secondary net enrolment rose to 87.6% in 2021
- Worldwide, children with disabilities have 50% lower primary enrolment rates than non-disabled peers in 2020
- Arab States primary net enrolment rate was 93.4% in 2022, with girls at 94.1%
- In Eastern and South-eastern Asia, upper secondary enrolment reached 89.7% in 2020
- Global indigenous children primary enrolment lagged 15 points behind national averages in 2019
- Least developed countries had 72.5% primary net enrolment in 2021
- In 2022, 60% of out-of-school children lived in conflict-affected countries
- Central and Southern Asia secondary gross enrolment ratio was 78.9% in 2020
- Globally, boys' primary enrolment exceeded girls' by 0.9 percentage points in low-income countries in 2021
- Pacific Islands primary net enrolment averaged 92.1% in 2019
- In 2020, migrant children primary enrolment was 85% in host countries
- Sub-Saharan Africa saw 33 million girls out of primary school in 2021
- Global tertiary gross enrolment ratio climbed to 40.3% in 2021
- In high-income countries, pre-primary enrolment was 97.2% in 2022
- Worldwide, nomadic children enrolment rates were below 40% in primary in 2019
- Eastern Europe and Central Asia upper secondary enrolment at 91.4% in 2020
- In 2022, 95% of countries reported improved gender parity in primary enrolment
Access and Enrollment Interpretation
While we're globally patting ourselves on the back for bringing primary enrolment to nearly 90%, a closer look reveals a tale of two planets—one where virtually every child is in a classroom and another where we’ve built a massive, intractable queue of 244 million young people, disproportionately girls and those in conflict zones, waiting for their basic right to an education.
Completion and Attainment
- Globally, primary completion rate was 87.2% in 2022
- In sub-Saharan Africa, lower secondary completion rate stood at 48.5% for 2021 cohort
- Worldwide, 91% of primary-aged children reached grade 5 in 2020, up from 81% in 2000
- Southern Asia upper secondary completion rate reached 72.1% in 2022
- Global tertiary completion rate (gross graduation ratio) was 39.4% in 2021
- In OECD countries, upper secondary attainment for 25-34 year-olds was 86.5% in 2022
- Least developed countries primary completion rate averaged 70.3% in 2020
- Latin America secondary completion rose to 75.6% in 2021
- Globally, gender parity in primary completion was 0.98 in 2022
- East Asia and Pacific tertiary gross graduation ratio hit 45.2% in 2020
- Sub-Saharan Africa girls' primary completion was 82.4% vs 88.1% boys in 2021
- In high-income countries, 50.3% of 25-64 year-olds had tertiary education in 2022
- Central and Southern Asia lower secondary completion at 65.7% in 2020
- Worldwide, over-age primary students comprised 22% of enrolment in 2019
- Arab States upper secondary completion rate was 68.9% in 2022
- Global share of population with at least secondary education (25+) was 68.4% in 2021
- In Europe, 40.2% of adults had bachelor's or equivalent in 2020
- Low-income countries tertiary attainment for 25-34 was 2.1% in 2022
- Pacific Islands primary completion averaged 88.5% in 2019
- Globally, vocational secondary completion represented 25% of upper secondary in 2021
- Indigenous peoples' secondary completion lagged 25 points in Latin America 2020
- In 2022, 85% of countries met SDG target for primary completion parity
- Rural secondary completion in developing world was 55% vs 75% urban in 2021
- Global doctoral graduation ratio was 1.4% in 2020
- Females surpassed males in tertiary completion in 70% of countries in 2022
- Conflict-affected countries secondary completion averaged 45% in 2021
Completion and Attainment Interpretation
The global report card shows promising, if uneven, progress—we’ve mostly gotten kids into the schoolhouse door worldwide, but the staircase to higher education remains steep, cracked, and perilously dependent on your zip code, gender, and the stability of your homeland.
Learning Outcomes
- PISA 2022 average reading score was 476 points globally across 81 countries
- In mathematics, Shanghai-China topped PISA 2022 with 578 points, global average 472
- TIMSS 2019 grade 4 math average was 489 internationally, with Singapore at 625
- Global PIRLS 2021 reading score for grade 4 averaged 492, Sweden highest at 549
- 85% of low-income country grade 2 students couldn't read basic text in 2021
- In sub-Saharan Africa, 89% of children couldn't read by grade 3 in 2020
- OECD PISA science average fell to 485 in 2022 from 489 in 2018
- Globally, 53% of children in low/middle-income countries fail minimum proficiency by end primary
- Singapore led TIMSS 2019 grade 8 science with 608 points, international avg 489
- Gender gap in PISA math narrowed to 5 points favoring boys in 2022
- In Latin America, PISA 2022 reading avg was 444, 32 points below OECD
- 617 million children worldwide unable to achieve minimum proficiency in reading/math 2021
- East Asia PISA math avg 536 in 2022, highest regionally
- COVID-19 caused 0.57 years learning loss globally per student by 2022
- Finland PISA reading score dropped to 490 in 2022 from 520 in 2009
- 92% of grade 5 students in India couldn't read grade 2 text in 2022 ASER
- Global early grade reading assessment showed 70% non-proficient in 2020
- Estonia topped PISA 2022 with math 510, science 526, reading 511
- Sub-Saharan Africa learning poverty rate at 91% in 2021
- PISA 2022 equity index showed high inequality in 40 countries
- TIMSS 2019 gender gap in grade 8 math was 7 points favoring girls in avg
- Global minimum proficiency in reading end of primary estimated at 52% achieving
- Japan PISA math 536, but reading declined to 516 in 2022
- Rural-urban learning gap averaged 25 PISA points in developing countries 2022
Learning Outcomes Interpretation
While the world obsesses over the top performers hitting statistical home runs, the sobering reality is that far too many children, especially in low-income countries, are striking out before they even step up to bat in basic reading and math.
Literacy Rates
- Global adult literacy rate for ages 15-24 was 92.5% in 2020, with females at 91.2% and males at 94.0%
- In sub-Saharan Africa, youth literacy rate (15-24) stood at 75.1% in 2022, up from 68.4% in 2010
- Worldwide, 773 million adults lacked basic literacy skills in 2021, representing 14% of the global adult population
- Southern Asia female adult literacy rate improved to 68.9% in 2020 from 47.8% in 2000
- Globally, the gender parity index for youth literacy was 0.95 in 2022, indicating near equality
- In least developed countries, adult literacy rate was 66.2% in 2021
- Northern Africa and Western Asia youth literacy reached 93.7% in 2020
- 67% of the world's 781 million illiterate adults were female in 2021
- Latin America and the Caribbean adult literacy rate averaged 94.5% in 2022
- In rural areas of developing countries, literacy rates were 20 points lower than urban in 2019
- East Asia and Pacific youth literacy rate was 99.6% in 2021
- Globally, indigenous peoples' literacy rates lagged 15-20 points behind national averages in 2020
- Central Asia adult literacy stood at 99.8% in 2022, one of the highest globally
- In conflict zones, youth literacy dropped by 30% compared to stable regions in 2021
- Female literacy in South Asia reached 70.2% for ages 15+ in 2020
- Worldwide, 94% of countries achieved universal youth literacy for males in 2022
- Sub-Saharan Africa female youth literacy was 76.5% in 2021
- Global illiterate population declined by 50 million between 2015 and 2020
- In low-income countries, adult male literacy was 74.1% vs 62.3% for females in 2022
- Arab States adult literacy rate hit 87.6% in 2021
- Elderly literacy (65+) globally at 78.4% in 2020, varying widely by region
- Pacific region youth literacy averaged 96.2% in 2019
- Digital literacy among youth reached 65% globally in 2022 surveys
- In Europe and Northern America, adult literacy exceeded 99% in 2021
- Functional literacy in developing countries averaged 55% for adults in 2020
Literacy Rates Interpretation
The global literacy story is one of remarkable but frustratingly uneven progress: while we've nearly closed the youth gender gap worldwide and Central Asia hits 99.8%, the fact that two-thirds of the world's 781 million illiterate adults are women and that conflict zones see a 30% literacy drop reveals that our advances remain brittle and profoundly unequal.
Resources and Funding
- Global government expenditure on education averaged 4.5% of GDP in 2021
- OECD countries spent USD 10,463 per student on primary/secondary in 2020
- Worldwide, 69% of education budgets allocated to primary/secondary in 2022
- Low-income countries education spending was 3.2% GDP in 2021
- Sub-Saharan Africa teacher salaries consumed 78% of non-capital education budget 2020
- Global pupil-teacher ratio primary averaged 23.7:1 in 2022
- In high-income countries, 15.4% of GDP went to education incl. private in 2021
- Developing regions had USD 50 per student annual spending in primary 2020
- OECD pre-primary teacher-child ratio was 1:14 in 2022
- Globally, 44% of countries met 20% national budget to education SDG in 2021
- Latin America education expenditure per student secondary USD 2,800 in 2020
- Aid to education totaled USD 13.2 billion in 2021, down 11% from 2010
- Sub-Saharan Africa pupil-teacher ratio secondary 28:1 in 2022
- Global private education spending share was 12% in 2021
- Least developed countries spent 15.4% of budget on education avg 2020
- OECD tertiary education expenditure USD 17,559 per student 2020
- In South Asia, infrastructure spending was 5% of education budget 2021
- Global trained teachers primary share 85% in 2022
- Education aid to fragile states 42% of total in 2021
- East Asia pupil-teacher primary ratio 17.2:1 in 2020
- Worldwide, digital devices in schools reached 70% coverage by 2022
- Arab States government recurrent expenditure 3.8% GDP 2021
- Classroom shortages affected 1 in 5 primary students globally 2020
- OECD non-salary current expenditure 35% of primary budget 2022
- Global scholarships covered 5 million students in 2021
- Rural schools had 30% less resources than urban globally 2021
- Tertiary institutions worldwide totaled 28,000 in 2022
Resources and Funding Interpretation
These figures paint a stark portrait of global education: a world where the fortunate few enjoy well-resourced classrooms while the majority grapple with crowded benches and bare budgets, proving that the ladder of learning is still frustratingly propped up by a student's birthplace.
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