Childinfo.org: Statistics by Area - Education - Primary School Participation and Survival

Last update: Jan 2012

Primary school participation and survival

Significant progress has been made towards universal primary education. Worldwide, 90 per cent of primary-school-age children are enrolled in school. However, challenges remain, particularly in West and Central Africa, where the net enrolment rate is 66 per cent (The State of the World’s Children 2012).

Only 14 countries in the world have extreme educational poverty at the primary level; they are in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia
Primary school net enrolment ratio/net attendance ratio

Notes: Primary net enrolment or attendance ratio. Primary net enrolment data prioritized. Primary net attendance data from surveys were used when primary net enrolment data were not available. This map is stylized and not to scale. It does not reflect a position by UNICEF on the legal status of any country or territory of the delimitation of any frontiers. The dotted line represents approximately the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir agreed upon by India and Pakistan. The final status of Jammu and Kashmir has not yet been agreed upon by the parties.
Sources: UNESCO Institute for Statistics, global databases, 2011, based on administrative data, 2009 or latest available. UNICEF global databases, 2011, based on Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys (MICS), Demographic and Heath Surveys (DHS) and other national household surveys, 2005–2010.

Girls’ education has expanded significantly, with two thirds of countries having reached gender parity in primary education. Significant girl disadvantage in primary enrolment remains in Africa.

Most countries have reached gender parity in primary education; girls remain particularly disadvantaged in many countries in Africa
Gender parity index (GPI) in primary education

Notes: Gender parity (GPI great/equal to 0.97, but less than/equal to 1.03). Close to gender parity (0.95-0.96; 1.04-1.05). Girls less likely to be enrolled (GPI<.94). Boys less likely to be enrolled (GPI>1.05). Gender parity index of secondary gross enrolment or attendance ratio. Secondary gross enrolment ratio data prioritized. Gross attendance data from surveys used when enrolment data were not available. This map is stylized and not to scale. It does not reflect a position by UNICEF on the legal status of any country or territory of the delimitation of any frontiers. The dotted line represents approximately the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir agreed upon by India and Pakistan. The final status of Jammu and Kashmir has not yet been agreed upon by the parties.
Sources: UNESCO Institute for Statistics, global databases, 2011,based on administrative data, 2009 or latest available. UNICEF global databases, 2011, based on MICS, DHS and other national household surveys, 2005–2010.

Survival rates show the challenges of keeping children in school. Eastern and Southern Africa has the lowest percentage of children reaching the last grade of primary school.

To access Primary School Participation Statistical Table please click here

To acces Survival Rate to Last Grade of Primary Statistical Table please click here

References

UNICEF, The State of the World’s Children 2012, UNICEF, New York 2012.

UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), Global Education Digest 2011: Comparing Education Statistics Across the World, UIS, Montreal 2011.