Primary education, pupils (% female) by country
Female pupils as a percentage of total pupils at primary level include enrollments in public and private schools.
Countries reporting
203
Highest
52.5%
Senegal
Lowest
35.5%
Somalia
Median
48.5%
Years covered
50
1970–2019
Data points
9,280
What the numbers show
Primary education, pupils (% female) is currently reported for 203 countries. The highest value is 52.5% in Senegal; the lowest is 35.5% in Somalia.
The median across all reporting countries is 48.5%, and the mean is 48.3%.
Over the past decade 131 countries rose and 70 fell. The largest increase was in Guinea-Bissau (up 19.9%), and the largest decrease in Liechtenstein (down 8.5%).
Primary education, pupils: full country ranking
| # | Country | Latest | Year | 10-year change | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Senegal | 52.5% | 2018 | up 4.7% | rising |
| 2 | Gambia | 51.8% | 2018 | up 1.3% | rising |
| 3 | Congo | 51.5% | 2012 | up 6.6% | rising |
| 4 | India | 50.9% | 2017 | up 8.4% | rising |
| 5 | Sierra Leone | 50.9% | 2018 | up 4.2% | rising |
| 6 | Kiribati | 50.8% | 2017 | up 2.1% | flat |
| 7 | Bangladesh | 50.7% | 2018 | up 0.5% | rising |
| 8 | Mauritania | 50.7% | 2018 | up 0.8% | rising |
| 9 | Nepal | 50.6% | 2019 | up 2.3% | rising |
| 10 | San Marino | 50.5% | 2018 | up 6.3% | flat |
| 11 | Uganda | 50.3% | 2017 | up 0.8% | rising |
| 12 | Zambia | 50.2% | 2017 | up 2.4% | rising |
| 13 | Oman | 50.2% | 2018 | up 2.3% | rising |
| 14 | Seychelles | 50.1% | 2018 | up 1.3% | flat |
| 15 | Iran | 50.1% | 2017 | up 3.7% | rising |
| 16 | Burundi | 50.1% | 2018 | up 2.9% | rising |
| 17 | Tanzania | 50.1% | 2018 | up 1.5% | rising |
| 18 | Malawi | 49.9% | 2018 | down 0.5% | rising |
| 19 | Madagascar | 49.8% | 2018 | up 1.2% | rising |
| 20 | Mauritius | 49.7% | 2018 | up 1.5% | flat |
| 21 | Rwanda | 49.7% | 2018 | down 2.3% | rising |
| 22 | Kenya | 49.7% | 2016 | up 1.3% | rising |
| 23 | Saint Lucia | 49.6% | 2018 | up 1.0% | flat |
| 24 | Monaco | 49.6% | 2019 | up 1.3% | flat |
| 25 | Bahamas | 49.6% | 2018 | up 0.9% | flat |
| 26 | Zimbabwe | 49.5% | 2013 | up 0.0% | rising |
| 27 | Saudi Arabia | 49.5% | 2018 | up 1.7% | rising |
| 28 | Democratic Republic of Congo | 49.5% | 2015 | up 10.5% | rising |
| 29 | Bahrain | 49.4% | 2018 | up 1.2% | rising |
| 30 | Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | 49.3% | 2018 | up 4.1% | flat |
| 31 | Ecuador | 49.3% | 2018 | down 0.1% | flat |
| 32 | Ghana | 49.3% | 2019 | up 1.6% | rising |
| 33 | Saint Kitts and Nevis | 49.3% | 2016 | down 0.9% | rising |
| 34 | Bhutan | 49.3% | 2018 | down 0.5% | rising |
| 35 | Sri Lanka | 49.2% | 2018 | up 0.3% | flat |
| 36 | Namibia | 49.2% | 2018 | down 0.6% | flat |
| 37 | Antigua and Barbuda | 49.2% | 2018 | up 1.9% | flat |
| 38 | Guyana | 49.2% | 2012 | up 0.6% | flat |
| 39 | Gibraltar | 49.2% | 2017 | up 0.9% | flat |
| 40 | Peru | 49.1% | 2018 | up 0.1% | flat |
| 41 | Equatorial Guinea | 49.1% | 2015 | up 0.8% | rising |
| 42 | Comoros | 49.1% | 2018 | up 4.2% | rising |
| 43 | Costa Rica | 49.1% | 2018 | up 1.3% | flat |
| 44 | Argentina | 49.0% | 2017 | down 0.0% | flat |
| 45 | Mexico | 49.0% | 2017 | up 0.5% | flat |
| 46 | United Arab Emirates | 49.0% | 2017 | up 1.1% | rising |
| 47 | Kazakhstan | 49.0% | 2019 | up 0.4% | flat |
| 48 | Kuwait | 49.0% | 2018 | up 0.3% | rising |
| 49 | Sweden | 49.0% | 2017 | up 0.7% | flat |
| 50 | Honduras | 49.0% | 2017 | down 0.3% | flat |
| 51 | Palestine | 49.0% | 2018 | up 0.3% | flat |
| 52 | Togo | 49.0% | 2018 | up 4.8% | rising |
| 53 | Jordan | 48.9% | 2018 | down 0.1% | rising |
| 54 | Latvia | 48.9% | 2017 | up 2.4% | flat |
| 55 | Malaysia | 48.9% | 2017 | up 0.4% | flat |
| 56 | Ukraine | 48.9% | 2018 | up 0.2% | flat |
| 57 | Qatar | 48.9% | 2018 | down 0.3% | flat |
| 58 | Singapore | 48.9% | 2017 | up 1.6% | flat |
| 59 | Lesotho | 48.9% | 2017 | down 1.1% | falling |
| 60 | Belgium | 48.9% | 2017 | down 0.1% | flat |
| 61 | Botswana | 48.9% | 2015 | down 0.9% | falling |
| 62 | Israel | 48.9% | 2017 | down 0.0% | flat |
| 63 | Liberia | 48.9% | 2017 | up 3.2% | rising |
| 64 | Marshall Islands | 48.8% | 2016 | up 1.0% | flat |
| 65 | Luxembourg | 48.8% | 2017 | up 0.2% | flat |
| 66 | Mongolia | 48.8% | 2018 | down 0.8% | flat |
| 67 | Lithuania | 48.8% | 2017 | up 1.1% | flat |
| 68 | Gabon | 48.8% | 2011 | down 1.5% | flat |
| 69 | Czechia | 48.8% | 2017 | up 0.8% | flat |
| 70 | Kyrgyzstan | 48.8% | 2018 | up 0.0% | flat |
| 71 | United Kingdom | 48.8% | 2017 | down 0.2% | flat |
| 72 | Ireland | 48.8% | 2017 | up 0.5% | flat |
| 73 | Spain | 48.8% | 2017 | up 0.9% | flat |
| 74 | Maldives | 48.8% | 2017 | up 2.0% | flat |
| 75 | Turks and Caicos Islands | 48.8% | 2018 | up 0.4% | flat |
| 76 | Finland | 48.8% | 2017 | down 0.2% | flat |
| 77 | Cyprus | 48.8% | 2017 | up 0.3% | flat |
| 78 | United States | 48.8% | 2017 | up 0.4% | flat |
| 79 | Norway | 48.8% | 2017 | up 0.1% | flat |
| 80 | Croatia | 48.8% | 2017 | up 0.1% | flat |
| 81 | Japan | 48.8% | 2017 | — | flat |
| 82 | Canada | 48.8% | 2017 | up 0.2% | flat |
| 83 | Haiti | 48.7% | 1998 | up 1.4% | rising |
| 84 | France | 48.7% | 2017 | up 0.5% | flat |
| 85 | Burkina Faso | 48.7% | 2018 | up 6.8% | rising |
| 86 | Poland | 48.7% | 2017 | up 0.3% | flat |
| 87 | Turkey | 48.7% | 2017 | up 0.9% | rising |
| 88 | Russia | 48.7% | 2017 | down 0.2% | flat |
| 89 | Bolivia | 48.7% | 2018 | down 0.4% | rising |
| 90 | Sao Tome and Principe | 48.7% | 2017 | down 1.3% | flat |
| 91 | Australia | 48.7% | 2017 | up 0.2% | flat |
| 92 | Slovakia | 48.7% | 2017 | up 0.1% | flat |
| 93 | South Africa | 48.7% | 2017 | down 0.4% | flat |
| 94 | Bermuda | 48.6% | 2015 | down 3.5% | flat |
| 95 | Netherlands | 48.6% | 2017 | up 0.7% | flat |
| 96 | New Zealand | 48.6% | 2017 | down 0.3% | flat |
| 97 | Egypt | 48.6% | 2018 | up 2.1% | rising |
| 98 | Iceland | 48.6% | 2017 | down 0.9% | flat |
| 99 | Hungary | 48.6% | 2017 | up 0.7% | flat |
| 100 | Brunei | 48.6% | 2018 | up 1.4% | flat |
| 101 | Myanmar | 48.6% | 2018 | down 2.2% | flat |
| 102 | Switzerland | 48.5% | 2017 | up 0.1% | flat |
| 103 | Germany | 48.5% | 2017 | down 0.2% | flat |
| 104 | Slovenia | 48.5% | 2017 | up 0.4% | flat |
| 105 | Bosnia and Herzegovina | 48.5% | 2018 | down 0.3% | flat |
| 106 | Greece | 48.5% | 2017 | down 0.2% | flat |
| 107 | Thailand | 48.5% | 2018 | up 0.3% | flat |
| 108 | Estonia | 48.5% | 2017 | up 0.5% | flat |
| 109 | Belarus | 48.5% | 2018 | down 0.0% | flat |
| 110 | Nauru | 48.5% | 2016 | up 3.0% | flat |
| 111 | Austria | 48.5% | 2017 | up 0.1% | flat |
| 112 | Denmark | 48.5% | 2017 | down 0.5% | flat |
| 113 | Nicaragua | 48.5% | 2010 | down 2.0% | falling |
| 114 | Bulgaria | 48.5% | 2017 | up 0.3% | flat |
| 115 | Trinidad and Tobago | 48.5% | 2010 | down 1.2% | flat |
| 116 | Uruguay | 48.5% | 2017 | up 0.3% | flat |
| 117 | Serbia | 48.4% | 2018 | down 0.8% | flat |
| 118 | Dominica | 48.4% | 2016 | down 0.5% | flat |
| 119 | Chile | 48.4% | 2017 | up 1.2% | flat |
| 120 | Panama | 48.4% | 2017 | up 0.3% | flat |
| 121 | Cayman Islands | 48.4% | 2018 | up 1.1% | flat |
| 122 | South Korea | 48.4% | 2017 | up 1.7% | flat |
| 123 | Guinea-Bissau | 48.3% | 2010 | up 19.9% | rising |
| 124 | Puerto Rico | 48.3% | 2016 | down 1.2% | flat |
| 125 | Barbados | 48.3% | 2018 | down 1.4% | flat |
| 126 | North Macedonia | 48.3% | 2017 | up 0.1% | flat |
| 127 | Uzbekistan | 48.3% | 2018 | down 0.6% | flat |
| 128 | Moldova | 48.3% | 2018 | up 0.0% | flat |
| 129 | Solomon Islands | 48.3% | 2018 | up 2.6% | rising |
| 130 | New Caledonia | 48.3% | 1991 | down 0.3% | flat |
| 131 | Venezuela | 48.3% | 2017 | up 0.0% | flat |
| 132 | Tajikistan | 48.3% | 2017 | up 0.3% | flat |
| 133 | Romania | 48.3% | 2017 | down 0.4% | flat |
| 134 | Guatemala | 48.3% | 2018 | up 0.5% | rising |
| 135 | East Timor | 48.3% | 2018 | up 1.7% | flat |
| 136 | Micronesia (country) | 48.2% | 2015 | up 0.2% | flat |
| 137 | Malta | 48.2% | 2017 | down 0.8% | flat |
| 138 | Grenada | 48.2% | 2018 | up 1.1% | flat |
| 139 | Lebanon | 48.2% | 2018 | down 0.4% | flat |
| 140 | Macao | 48.2% | 2018 | up 2.3% | flat |
| 141 | Fiji | 48.2% | 2016 | up 0.3% | flat |
| 142 | Aruba | 48.2% | 2014 | up 0.6% | flat |
| 143 | Paraguay | 48.2% | 2016 | down 0.4% | flat |
| 144 | Cambodia | 48.1% | 2018 | up 1.6% | rising |
| 145 | Suriname | 48.1% | 2018 | down 0.2% | flat |
| 146 | Colombia | 48.1% | 2018 | down 1.4% | falling |
| 147 | El Salvador | 48.1% | 2018 | down 0.1% | flat |
| 148 | Laos | 48.1% | 2018 | up 3.2% | rising |
| 149 | Portugal | 48.1% | 2017 | up 1.3% | flat |
| 150 | Mozambique | 48.1% | 2018 | up 2.9% | rising |
| 151 | Syria | 48.1% | 2013 | up 1.2% | rising |
| 152 | Jamaica | 48.1% | 2018 | down 1.6% | flat |
| 153 | Tunisia | 48.0% | 2018 | up 0.4% | rising |
| 154 | Samoa | 48.0% | 2018 | up 0.1% | flat |
| 155 | Brazil | 47.9% | 2017 | up 1.5% | flat |
| 156 | Cote d'Ivoire | 47.9% | 2018 | up 8.6% | rising |
| 157 | Philippines | 47.9% | 2017 | down 1.2% | flat |
| 158 | Vietnam | 47.8% | 2018 | up 0.1% | flat |
| 159 | Andorra | 47.8% | 2018 | up 1.4% | flat |
| 160 | Algeria | 47.8% | 2018 | up 1.1% | rising |
| 161 | American Samoa | 47.8% | 1992 | down 0.2% | flat |
| 162 | Cape Verde | 47.8% | 2018 | down 0.8% | flat |
| 163 | Hong Kong | 47.8% | 2018 | down 0.1% | flat |
| 164 | French Polynesia | 47.8% | 1996 | down 0.6% | flat |
| 165 | Sudan | 47.8% | 2017 | up 6.1% | rising |
| 166 | Italy | 47.8% | 2017 | down 1.1% | flat |
| 167 | Indonesia | 47.8% | 2018 | down 1.4% | rising |
| 168 | Belize | 47.7% | 2018 | down 1.8% | flat |
| 169 | Georgia | 47.7% | 2018 | up 1.4% | falling |
| 170 | Benin | 47.7% | 2018 | up 4.7% | rising |
| 171 | Libya | 47.7% | 2006 | down 1.7% | rising |
| 172 | Eswatini | 47.6% | 2017 | down 0.6% | flat |
| 173 | Morocco | 47.6% | 2018 | up 2.0% | rising |
| 174 | Dominican Republic | 47.6% | 2018 | up 0.3% | falling |
| 175 | Nigeria | 47.5% | 2016 | up 4.7% | rising |
| 176 | Cuba | 47.5% | 2018 | down 1.2% | flat |
| 177 | Albania | 47.4% | 2018 | down 0.9% | flat |
| 178 | Tonga | 47.4% | 2015 | up 0.2% | flat |
| 179 | Vanuatu | 47.3% | 2015 | down 0.8% | rising |
| 180 | Ethiopia | 47.1% | 2015 | up 4.5% | rising |
| 181 | Cameroon | 47.0% | 2018 | up 2.5% | rising |
| 182 | British Virgin Islands | 46.9% | 2017 | down 3.9% | flat |
| 183 | Angola | 46.9% | 2015 | up 1.6% | rising |
| 184 | Armenia | 46.7% | 2018 | down 0.1% | falling |
| 185 | Mali | 46.6% | 2018 | up 3.9% | rising |
| 186 | Liechtenstein | 46.5% | 2017 | down 8.5% | falling |
| 187 | Tuvalu | 46.5% | 2018 | down 3.0% | flat |
| 188 | Montenegro | 46.5% | 2018 | down 3.5% | flat |
| 189 | China | 46.5% | 2018 | up 0.0% | rising |
| 190 | Djibouti | 46.4% | 2019 | down 0.8% | rising |
| 191 | Azerbaijan | 46.3% | 2018 | down 1.2% | falling |
| 192 | Papua New Guinea | 46.2% | 2016 | up 4.1% | rising |
| 193 | Palau | 45.7% | 2014 | down 4.8% | flat |
| 194 | Yemen | 45.6% | 2016 | up 9.6% | rising |
| 195 | Niger | 45.6% | 2017 | up 9.8% | rising |
| 196 | Eritrea | 45.1% | 2018 | up 0.6% | flat |
| 197 | Guinea | 44.7% | 2016 | down 0.3% | rising |
| 198 | Iraq | 44.4% | 2007 | down 1.1% | rising |
| 199 | Pakistan | 44.0% | 2018 | up 0.4% | rising |
| 200 | Central African Republic | 43.6% | 2016 | up 6.3% | rising |
| 201 | Chad | 43.4% | 2016 | up 7.7% | rising |
| 202 | Afghanistan | 39.0% | 2018 | up 3.1% | rising |
| 203 | Somalia | 35.5% | 2007 | — | rising |
Regions and income groups
Aggregates are excluded from the country ranking above so that a region can never outrank a country.
- South Asia 49.7%
- South Asia (IDA & IBRD) 49.7%
- Early-demographic dividend 49.2%
- Lower middle income 49.1%
- Other small states 49.0%
- Small states 48.8%
- North America 48.8%
- OECD members 48.7%
- High income 48.7%
- IBRD only 48.7%
- Post-demographic dividend 48.7%
- Central Europe and the Baltics 48.6%
About this data
Female pupils as a percentage of total pupils at primary level include enrollments in public and private schools.