Global primary enrollment stands at 102 percent. Learning poverty reaches 70 percent across sub-Saharan Africa. UNESCO and World Bank figures detail how enrollment gaps, school closures, and funding shortfalls affect outcomes worldwide.
Key Takeaways
- The global out-of-school rate for upper secondary is 20% in 2022 (UNESCO UIS out-of-school estimates)
- In the 2022–2023 school year, global gross enrollment rate (primary) was about 102% (including out-of-age enrollment) (UNESCO UIS)
- In 2022, primary school attendance was 84% in low-income countries compared with 91% globally for primary-age children (UNESCO UIS)
- Refugees account for 7% of the total global out-of-school population in age bands 3–18 (UNESCO/UNHCR education in emergencies estimates)
- 22% of schools globally lack basic electricity for instruction (UNESCO GEM 2020/2021 household and school access analysis)
- 34% of households with children aged 6–17 lack internet access needed for remote learning during COVID-19 (UNICEF global estimate, 2021)
- 73% of countries reported learning losses among students due to COVID-19-related school closures (UNESCO survey, 2022)
- 1.6 billion learners were affected by school closures at the peak of COVID-19 in 2020
- $142 billion: estimated annual learning poverty-related economic loss in low- and middle-income countries attributable to educational shortfalls (World Bank learning poverty economics overview)
- In 2021, education received 8.6% of total bilateral ODA for social infrastructure and services (OECD/DAC, summarized in Education at a Glance 2023)
- $10 billion: estimated additional annual funding gap to achieve universal primary and secondary education in low-income countries (World Bank education financing estimates)
- 90% of students in low- and middle-income countries did not achieve minimum reading proficiency in 2022 (UNESCO Institute for Statistics learning poverty estimates)
- 38% of primary-age students worldwide were in school systems that lacked foundational reading assessment in 2021 (UNESCO data in GEM Report)
- In 2023, the World Bank estimated learning poverty was 70% in sub-Saharan Africa
- 56% of governments reported using some form of digital learning platforms for remote instruction during COVID-19 (UNESCO report on distance learning, 2020/2021)
Learning losses and learning poverty remain widespread, even as out of school rates and digital access improve.
Related reading
01 · Category
Enrollment & Access4 stats
01
The global out-of-school rate for upper secondary is 20% in 2022 (UNESCO UIS out-of-school estimates)
02
In the 2022–2023 school year, global gross enrollment rate (primary) was about 102% (including out-of-age enrollment) (UNESCO UIS)
03
In 2022, primary school attendance was 84% in low-income countries compared with 91% globally for primary-age children (UNESCO UIS)
04
Upper secondary completion worldwide was about 60% in 2022 (UNESCO UIS/GEM estimates)
Interpretation
Enrollment & Access Interpretation
Enrollment and access are improving at the primary level, with the global gross enrollment rate reaching about 102% in 2022–2023, but large gaps remain across the education pipeline, including an upper secondary out-of-school rate of 20% in 2022 and only about 60% upper secondary completion worldwide.
02 · Category
Equity & Inclusion7 stats
01
Refugees account for 7% of the total global out-of-school population in age bands 3–18 (UNESCO/UNHCR education in emergencies estimates)
02
22% of schools globally lack basic electricity for instruction (UNESCO GEM 2020/2021 household and school access analysis)
03
34% of households with children aged 6–17 lack internet access needed for remote learning during COVID-19 (UNICEF global estimate, 2021)
04
10% of the world’s population lives with a disability and more likely to face education barriers (WHO estimate, used in education inclusion frameworks)
05
UNESCO estimates that 244 million children and youth were affected by conflict in 2022 (UNESCO education and conflict overview)
06
In 2021, 75% of low-income countries reported shortages of qualified teachers (UNESCO UIS/GEM evidence)
07
In 2022, about 40% of teachers globally have received no training in digital tools (UNESCO survey results summarized in global education technology reports)
Interpretation
Equity & Inclusion Interpretation
Across Equity and Inclusion, the data shows that learning access is uneven on multiple fronts, from 7% of out-of-school children and youth being refugees to 22% of schools without basic electricity and 34% of households lacking internet for remote learning, all of which compounds barriers for conflict-affected students, people with disabilities, and low-income countries facing teacher shortages.
03 · Category
Out Of School2 stats
01
73% of countries reported learning losses among students due to COVID-19-related school closures (UNESCO survey, 2022)
02
1.6 billion learners were affected by school closures at the peak of COVID-19 in 2020
Interpretation
Out Of School Interpretation
For the out of school angle, the data shows that learning losses hit 73% of countries and that 1.6 billion learners were affected at the COVID-19 peak, underscoring how closures rapidly pushed large populations outside normal schooling and into widespread educational disruption.
More related reading
04 · Category
Financing & Costs4 stats
01
$142 billion: estimated annual learning poverty-related economic loss in low- and middle-income countries attributable to educational shortfalls (World Bank learning poverty economics overview)
02
In 2021, education received 8.6% of total bilateral ODA for social infrastructure and services (OECD/DAC, summarized in Education at a Glance 2023)
03
$10 billion: estimated additional annual funding gap to achieve universal primary and secondary education in low-income countries (World Bank education financing estimates)
04
45% of countries reported that education budgets were affected by COVID-19 in 2021 (UNESCO/World Bank survey evidence summarized in policy briefs)
Interpretation
Financing & Costs Interpretation
Financing and costs remain a major constraint, with an estimated $142 billion in learning-poverty losses tied to inadequate education in low and middle income countries and only 8.6% of bilateral ODA for social infrastructure and services going to education, while an additional $10 billion a year is needed to reach universal primary and secondary education and 45% of countries reported that COVID-19 disrupted education budgets in 2021.
05 · Category
Learning Outcomes3 stats
01
90% of students in low- and middle-income countries did not achieve minimum reading proficiency in 2022 (UNESCO Institute for Statistics learning poverty estimates)
02
38% of primary-age students worldwide were in school systems that lacked foundational reading assessment in 2021 (UNESCO data in GEM Report)
03
In 2023, the World Bank estimated learning poverty was 70% in sub-Saharan Africa
Interpretation
Learning Outcomes Interpretation
Learning outcomes remain deeply compromised as shown by 90% of students in low and middle income countries failing to reach minimum reading proficiency in 2022 and 70% learning poverty in sub Saharan Africa in 2023, revealing that insufficient reading skills persist as a core barrier to education quality.
06 · Category
Edtech & Digital5 stats
01
56% of governments reported using some form of digital learning platforms for remote instruction during COVID-19 (UNESCO report on distance learning, 2020/2021)
02
The global LMS market reached about $26.2 billion in 2023 with continued growth (MarketsandMarkets or similar market research)
03
The global virtual classroom market size was estimated at about $5.5 billion in 2022 (Grand View Research)
04
The global education services outsourcing (ESO) market was estimated at about $120–$130 billion in 2023 (industry estimates cited by ResearchAndMarkets/IMARC)
05
$6.1 billion: global spending on tutoring and education technology for tutoring services in 2023 (Business Research Company report cited)
Interpretation
Edtech & Digital Interpretation
As digital learning rapidly scaled during and after COVID 19, with 56% of governments using digital platforms for remote instruction, the Edtech and digital education markets followed suit with strong investment growth such as the $26.2 billion global LMS market in 2023 and $6.1 billion spent on tutoring and education technology in 2023.
report visual · Key figures
Gaps in access, attendance, and completion
Key education indicators show substantial shortfalls across access, participation, and completion—especially for upper secondary and in lower-income settings.
20%
The global out-of-school rate for upper secondary is 20% in 2022 (UNESCO UIS out-of-school estimates)
84%
In 2022, primary school attendance was 84% in low-income countries compared with 91% globally for primary-age children (
60%
Upper secondary completion worldwide was about 60% in 2022 (UNESCO UIS/GEM estimates)
102%
In the 2022–2023 school year, global gross enrollment rate (primary) was about 102% (including out-of-age enrollment) (U
90%
90% of students in low- and middle-income countries did not achieve minimum reading proficiency in 2022 (UNESCO Institut
source-verifieduis.unesco.org · unesdoc.unesco.org2022
Reference
Cite This Report
This report is designed to be cited. We maintain stable URLs and versioned verification dates. Copy the format appropriate for your publication below.
APA
Elena Vasquez. (2026, February 13). World Education Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/world-education-statistics
MLA
Elena Vasquez. "World Education Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/world-education-statistics.
Chicago
Elena Vasquez. 2026. "World Education Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/world-education-statistics.
Sources & references
25 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level
+11 additional datasets cited (not shown individually)