Persistence to last grade of primary, total (% of cohort) by country
Persistence to last grade of primary is the percentage of children enrolled in the first grade of primary school who eventually reach the last grade of primary education. The estimate is based on the reconstructed cohort method.
Countries reporting
179
Highest
100.0%
Japan
Lowest
8.4%
Guinea-Bissau
Median
92.7%
Years covered
54
1970–2023
Data points
6,364
What the numbers show
Persistence to last grade of primary, total (% of cohort) is currently reported for 179 countries. The highest value is 100.0% in Japan; the lowest is 8.4% in Guinea-Bissau.
The median across all reporting countries is 92.7%, and the mean is 83.9%.
The gap between the highest and lowest reporting country is a factor of about 12.
Over the past decade 104 countries rose and 68 fell. The largest increase was in Chad (up 142.2%), and the largest decrease in Palestine (down 80.9%).
Persistence to last grade of primary, total: full country ranking
| # | Country | Latest | Year | 10-year change | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Japan | 100.0% | 1998 | up 0.1% | flat |
| 2 | Spain | 99.9% | 2021 | up 2.9% | rising |
| 3 | Italy | 99.9% | 2022 | up 1.0% | flat |
| 4 | Bulgaria | 99.8% | 2023 | up 2.0% | flat |
| 5 | Poland | 99.8% | 2023 | up 2.0% | flat |
| 6 | Egypt | 99.8% | 2020 | up 3.8% | rising |
| 7 | Slovakia | 99.7% | 2023 | up 1.9% | flat |
| 8 | Croatia | 99.7% | 2022 | up 0.5% | flat |
| 9 | Denmark | 99.7% | 2023 | up 0.2% | flat |
| 10 | Oman | 99.6% | 2023 | up 1.0% | rising |
| 11 | Switzerland | 99.6% | 2021 | up 0.2% | rising |
| 12 | Chile | 99.6% | 2023 | up 0.0% | rising |
| 13 | Greece | 99.5% | 2022 | up 9.8% | flat |
| 14 | Austria | 99.5% | 2023 | up 0.0% | rising |
| 15 | Czechia | 99.5% | 2021 | up 0.2% | flat |
| 16 | Montenegro | 99.5% | 2021 | up 23.6% | rising |
| 17 | Serbia | 99.4% | 2021 | up 1.0% | flat |
| 18 | Singapore | 99.4% | 2022 | up 0.7% | rising |
| 19 | Estonia | 99.4% | 2023 | up 1.8% | flat |
| 20 | Slovenia | 99.4% | 2022 | down 0.2% | flat |
| 21 | Norway | 99.3% | 2021 | up 0.9% | flat |
| 22 | Azerbaijan | 99.3% | 2023 | up 2.1% | flat |
| 23 | Macao | 99.3% | 2023 | up 1.1% | flat |
| 24 | Portugal | 99.3% | 2020 | — | rising |
| 25 | United Kingdom | 99.3% | 2020 | up 1.7% | flat |
| 26 | Finland | 99.3% | 2023 | down 0.4% | flat |
| 27 | Russia | 99.1% | 2018 | up 3.1% | flat |
| 28 | Turkey | 99.0% | 2022 | up 9.9% | flat |
| 29 | Tajikistan | 99.0% | 2016 | down 0.0% | flat |
| 30 | South Korea | 98.9% | 2023 | down 0.5% | flat |
| 31 | Iceland | 98.9% | 2019 | up 0.8% | flat |
| 32 | Mexico | 98.9% | 2023 | up 3.3% | rising |
| 33 | Lithuania | 98.6% | 2023 | up 1.5% | flat |
| 34 | Mongolia | 98.6% | 2018 | up 8.5% | rising |
| 35 | Sweden | 98.6% | 2023 | down 1.0% | flat |
| 36 | Thailand | 98.5% | 2017 | — | rising |
| 37 | Armenia | 98.5% | 2022 | up 4.5% | flat |
| 38 | Hungary | 98.3% | 2023 | up 0.1% | flat |
| 39 | Indonesia | 98.2% | 2017 | up 22.8% | rising |
| 40 | Israel | 98.2% | 2023 | down 1.1% | flat |
| 41 | Uzbekistan | 98.1% | 2020 | up 0.0% | flat |
| 42 | France | 98.0% | 1999 | up 1.6% | rising |
| 43 | Sri Lanka | 97.9% | 2022 | down 0.6% | rising |
| 44 | Cyprus | 97.9% | 2021 | up 3.7% | flat |
| 45 | Belarus | 97.9% | 2023 | down 0.5% | rising |
| 46 | Kyrgyzstan | 97.7% | 2020 | up 2.5% | flat |
| 47 | Argentina | 97.6% | 2022 | up 3.2% | rising |
| 48 | Tunisia | 97.3% | 2020 | up 2.6% | rising |
| 49 | Kazakhstan | 97.1% | 2019 | down 1.7% | rising |
| 50 | Brunei | 97.0% | 2019 | up 0.9% | rising |
| 51 | Georgia | 96.9% | 2023 | down 1.8% | flat |
| 52 | China | 96.8% | 2020 | — | rising |
| 53 | Bolivia | 96.8% | 2023 | up 2.2% | rising |
| 54 | Paraguay | 96.7% | 2023 | up 15.0% | rising |
| 55 | San Marino | 96.6% | 2023 | down 1.7% | flat |
| 56 | Germany | 96.5% | 2012 | down 2.0% | flat |
| 57 | Bahrain | 96.4% | 2023 | down 1.4% | rising |
| 58 | Malta | 96.3% | 2021 | up 2.0% | rising |
| 59 | Liechtenstein | 96.3% | 2020 | up 21.2% | rising |
| 60 | Trinidad and Tobago | 96.1% | 2022 | up 7.6% | rising |
| 61 | Romania | 96.1% | 2022 | up 2.1% | flat |
| 62 | Belize | 96.1% | 2023 | up 1.5% | rising |
| 63 | Vietnam | 96.0% | 2014 | up 12.7% | rising |
| 64 | Bosnia and Herzegovina | 95.7% | 2022 | up 15.6% | rising |
| 65 | Hong Kong | 95.6% | 2023 | down 2.9% | flat |
| 66 | Moldova | 95.5% | 2023 | up 0.4% | flat |
| 67 | Saint Kitts and Nevis | 95.4% | 2014 | up 41.6% | rising |
| 68 | South Africa | 95.4% | 2022 | up 19.7% | rising |
| 69 | Seychelles | 95.3% | 2023 | down 1.5% | rising |
| 70 | Jordan | 95.2% | 2023 | down 2.8% | rising |
| 71 | Cape Verde | 94.9% | 2021 | up 6.3% | rising |
| 72 | Qatar | 94.7% | 2021 | down 3.1% | flat |
| 73 | Barbados | 94.7% | 2022 | up 1.4% | flat |
| 74 | Latvia | 94.7% | 2023 | up 1.2% | flat |
| 75 | Iran | 94.7% | 2022 | down 1.6% | rising |
| 76 | Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | 94.6% | 2017 | up 38.0% | rising |
| 77 | Ecuador | 94.4% | 2023 | up 0.7% | rising |
| 78 | New Caledonia | 94.3% | 1989 | up 13.7% | rising |
| 79 | Costa Rica | 94.3% | 2023 | up 4.3% | rising |
| 80 | Netherlands | 94.1% | 1984 | down 2.0% | flat |
| 81 | Botswana | 94.0% | 2012 | up 11.9% | rising |
| 82 | Ukraine | 93.6% | 2023 | down 5.0% | flat |
| 83 | Philippines | 93.4% | 2023 | up 0.6% | rising |
| 84 | Fiji | 93.1% | 2023 | down 4.2% | flat |
| 85 | Peru | 93.1% | 2016 | up 3.8% | rising |
| 86 | North Macedonia | 93.0% | 2022 | down 4.1% | flat |
| 87 | Morocco | 93.0% | 2023 | up 4.2% | rising |
| 88 | Kenya | 93.0% | 2014 | up 19.8% | rising |
| 89 | Lebanon | 92.7% | 2022 | down 0.6% | flat |
| 90 | Sao Tome and Principe | 92.7% | 2016 | up 23.5% | flat |
| 91 | Algeria | 92.7% | 2021 | down 0.1% | rising |
| 92 | Dominican Republic | 92.2% | 2023 | up 17.3% | rising |
| 93 | Guyana | 92.2% | 2011 | up 41.6% | rising |
| 94 | Maldives | 91.9% | 2023 | up 11.9% | flat |
| 95 | Colombia | 91.3% | 2021 | up 7.8% | rising |
| 96 | Tonga | 91.3% | 2019 | up 1.0% | flat |
| 97 | East Timor | 89.8% | 2018 | up 21.0% | rising |
| 98 | Dominica | 89.7% | 2021 | up 2.1% | rising |
| 99 | El Salvador | 89.3% | 2023 | up 8.1% | rising |
| 100 | Cuba | 89.0% | 2023 | down 7.7% | rising |
| 101 | Uruguay | 88.8% | 2022 | down 10.2% | rising |
| 102 | Bhutan | 88.7% | 2016 | up 1.5% | rising |
| 103 | Samoa | 88.6% | 2019 | up 15.7% | flat |
| 104 | Ghana | 88.4% | 2021 | up 12.1% | rising |
| 105 | Syria | 88.4% | 2023 | down 5.1% | rising |
| 106 | Kiribati | 87.9% | 2023 | — | rising |
| 107 | Zimbabwe | 87.6% | 2019 | up 13.8% | rising |
| 108 | Venezuela | 87.3% | 2023 | down 3.8% | rising |
| 109 | Grenada | 86.9% | 1984 | up 30.6% | rising |
| 110 | Albania | 86.7% | 2023 | down 12.2% | flat |
| 111 | Guatemala | 86.6% | 2023 | up 20.7% | rising |
| 112 | Kuwait | 85.7% | 2020 | down 10.7% | flat |
| 113 | Malaysia | 85.2% | 2023 | down 9.6% | flat |
| 114 | Aruba | 85.0% | 2021 | down 8.7% | falling |
| 115 | Bermuda | 84.2% | 2005 | — | falling |
| 116 | Namibia | 84.1% | 2017 | up 1.9% | rising |
| 117 | Marshall Islands | 83.4% | 2021 | down 0.0% | flat |
| 118 | Eswatini | 83.2% | 2018 | down 0.8% | rising |
| 119 | Laos | 82.1% | 2019 | up 15.5% | rising |
| 120 | Libya | 81.6% | 1980 | down 8.1% | falling |
| 121 | Brazil | 80.6% | 2003 | up 8.9% | rising |
| 122 | Eritrea | 80.0% | 2017 | up 9.1% | flat |
| 123 | Honduras | 79.9% | 2023 | up 5.9% | rising |
| 124 | Cambodia | 79.7% | 2019 | up 29.9% | rising |
| 125 | Tanzania | 78.6% | 2019 | down 3.5% | flat |
| 126 | Luxembourg | 78.4% | 2020 | down 7.6% | falling |
| 127 | Gambia | 78.2% | 2020 | up 24.1% | flat |
| 128 | Belgium | 77.8% | 1987 | up 13.5% | rising |
| 129 | Vanuatu | 77.1% | 2020 | up 7.9% | rising |
| 130 | Solomon Islands | 74.8% | 2018 | down 0.5% | flat |
| 131 | Myanmar | 74.8% | 2009 | up 35.5% | rising |
| 132 | India | 74.2% | 2023 | down 9.3% | rising |
| 133 | Sudan | 74.2% | 2018 | down 2.2% | flat |
| 134 | United Arab Emirates | 73.9% | 2020 | down 24.6% | flat |
| 135 | Nepal | 73.5% | 2016 | up 19.2% | rising |
| 136 | Democratic Republic of Congo | 73.3% | 2020 | up 34.6% | rising |
| 137 | Chad | 73.0% | 2017 | up 142.2% | rising |
| 138 | Djibouti | 72.7% | 2022 | down 4.2% | rising |
| 139 | Mauritius | 72.2% | 2023 | down 26.5% | flat |
| 140 | Comoros | 70.9% | 2013 | up 28.0% | rising |
| 141 | Congo | 70.3% | 2007 | up 86.2% | falling |
| 142 | Suriname | 70.1% | 2020 | down 17.6% | rising |
| 143 | Lesotho | 69.9% | 2022 | up 23.2% | rising |
| 144 | Yemen | 69.5% | 2012 | down 0.9% | flat |
| 145 | Rwanda | 67.1% | 2023 | up 94.2% | flat |
| 146 | Panama | 66.7% | 2022 | down 28.5% | rising |
| 147 | Jamaica | 66.4% | 2022 | down 22.9% | flat |
| 148 | Bangladesh | 66.2% | 2009 | — | rising |
| 149 | Andorra | 66.1% | 2020 | down 6.5% | falling |
| 150 | Guinea | 65.9% | 2013 | down 13.2% | rising |
| 151 | Cote d'Ivoire | 65.8% | 2021 | down 19.9% | falling |
| 152 | Pakistan | 65.3% | 2018 | up 7.5% | rising |
| 153 | Mauritania | 64.9% | 2016 | up 19.1% | falling |
| 154 | Bahamas | 64.8% | 2012 | down 20.4% | flat |
| 155 | Nigeria | 64.4% | 2009 | down 25.4% | falling |
| 156 | Senegal | 63.5% | 2023 | down 3.1% | falling |
| 157 | Togo | 62.6% | 2023 | up 18.5% | rising |
| 158 | Cameroon | 61.8% | 2023 | down 5.9% | falling |
| 159 | Mali | 61.6% | 2011 | down 18.8% | rising |
| 160 | Gabon | 59.8% | 2002 | up 13.3% | rising |
| 161 | Saint Lucia | 59.1% | 2022 | down 34.0% | falling |
| 162 | Papua New Guinea | 56.2% | 1997 | down 4.4% | falling |
| 163 | Zambia | 55.5% | 2012 | down 32.8% | falling |
| 164 | Benin | 54.1% | 2021 | down 8.7% | flat |
| 165 | Malawi | 54.1% | 2013 | up 59.8% | rising |
| 166 | Ethiopia | 50.5% | 2021 | up 38.1% | falling |
| 167 | Burundi | 49.7% | 2019 | down 11.5% | falling |
| 168 | Iraq | 49.5% | 1999 | down 14.8% | falling |
| 169 | Nicaragua | 48.4% | 2007 | up 5.4% | rising |
| 170 | Central African Republic | 46.6% | 2011 | — | flat |
| 171 | Niger | 44.6% | 2023 | down 30.7% | flat |
| 172 | Mozambique | 43.1% | 2019 | up 21.5% | rising |
| 173 | Sierra Leone | 39.9% | 2019 | down 16.4% | falling |
| 174 | Uganda | 35.5% | 2016 | up 11.5% | falling |
| 175 | Haiti | 32.2% | 1985 | down 4.5% | falling |
| 176 | Madagascar | 31.6% | 2018 | down 36.1% | rising |
| 177 | Burkina Faso | 31.0% | 2022 | down 55.1% | flat |
| 178 | Palestine | 18.6% | 2023 | down 80.9% | falling |
| 179 | Guinea-Bissau | 8.4% | 1987 | down 37.9% | falling |
Regions and income groups
Aggregates are excluded from the country ranking above so that a region can never outrank a country.
- Central Europe and the Baltics 98.9%
- Europe & Central Asia (IDA & IBRD countries) 98.5%
- Europe & Central Asia 98.2%
- Europe & Central Asia (excluding high income) 98.2%
- European Union 97.7%
- Euro area 97.3%
- East Asia & Pacific (IDA & IBRD countries) 95.5%
- East Asia & Pacific (excluding high income) 95.5%
- East Asia & Pacific 95.5%
- Late-demographic dividend 95.5%
- OECD members 94.1%
- Upper middle income 93.9%
About this data
Persistence to last grade of primary is the percentage of children enrolled in the first grade of primary school who eventually reach the last grade of primary education. The estimate is based on the reconstructed cohort method.