Enrolment in primary education, both sexes in Costa Rica
Costa Rica: Enrolment in primary education, both sexes was 460,126 in 2024. ▲ Rising
Latest (2024)
460,126
Change on year
down 3.0%
World rank
112th
of 218 countries
All-time high
569,513
in 1999
All-time low
342,373
in 1982
Years of data
54
1970–2024
Enrolment in primary education, both sexes in Costa Rica, 1970–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
The most recent figure for enrolment in primary education, both sexes in Costa Rica is 460,126, measured in 2024.
That represents a change of down 3.0% on the previous year and down 3.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, enrolment in primary education, both sexes in Costa Rica peaked at 569,513 in 1999 and was at its lowest, 342,373, in 1982.
That places Costa Rica 112th out of 218 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 54 years of available data.
Enrolment in primary education, both sexes in Costa Rica, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 349,378 | — |
| 1971 | 356,152 | +1.9% |
| 1972 | 365,545 | +2.6% |
| 1973 | 373,901 | +2.3% |
| 1974 | 367,901 | -1.6% |
| 1975 | 361,303 | -1.8% |
| 1976 | 365,957 | +1.3% |
| 1977 | 367,026 | +0.3% |
| 1978 | 359,680 | -2.0% |
| 1979 | 353,894 | -1.6% |
| 1980 | 348,674 | -1.5% |
| 1981 | 348,616 | -0.0% |
| 1982 | 342,373 | -1.8% |
| 1983 | 343,800 | +0.4% |
| 1984 | 350,658 | +2.0% |
| 1985 | 362,877 | +3.5% |
| 1986 | 380,384 | +4.8% |
| 1987 | 393,305 | +3.4% |
| 1988 | 409,621 | +4.1% |
| 1989 | 422,102 | +3.0% |
| 1990 | 435,205 | +3.1% |
| 1991 | 453,297 | +4.2% |
| 1992 | 471,049 | +3.9% |
| 1993 | 484,958 | +3.0% |
| 1994 | 495,879 | +2.3% |
| 1995 | 507,037 | +2.3% |
| 1996 | 518,603 | +2.3% |
| 1997 | 525,273 | +1.3% |
| 1998 | 529,637 | +0.8% |
| 1999 | 569,513 | +7.5% |
| 2000 | 551,465 | -3.2% |
| 2001 | 552,302 | +0.2% |
| 2002 | 545,509 | -1.2% |
| 2004 | 558,084 | +2.3% |
| 2005 | 542,087 | -2.9% |
| 2006 | 546,542 | +0.8% |
| 2007 | 536,436 | -1.8% |
| 2008 | 534,816 | -0.3% |
| 2009 | 531,665 | -0.6% |
| 2010 | 520,609 | -2.1% |
| 2011 | 506,961 | -2.6% |
| 2012 | 494,720 | -2.4% |
| 2013 | 480,125 | -3.0% |
| 2014 | 475,731 | -0.9% |
| 2015 | 473,447 | -0.5% |
| 2016 | 475,756 | +0.5% |
| 2017 | 472,421 | -0.7% |
| 2018 | 483,770 | +2.4% |
| 2019 | 497,065 | +2.7% |
| 2020 | 492,761 | -0.9% |
| 2021 | 487,445 | -1.1% |
| 2022 | 482,118 | -1.1% |
| 2023 | 474,484 | -1.6% |
| 2024 | 460,126 | -3.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 362,074 | 349,378 | 373,901 | 10 |
| 1980s | 370,241 | 342,373 | 422,102 | 10 |
| 1990s | 499,045 | 435,205 | 569,513 | 10 |
| 2000s | 544,323 | 531,665 | 558,084 | 9 |
| 2010s | 488,060 | 472,421 | 520,609 | 10 |
| 2020s | 479,387 | 460,126 | 492,761 | 5 |
Countries ranked near Costa Rica
More education data for Costa Rica
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 14,772 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 62,694 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 61,047 (2024)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 464,490 (2024)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 460,126 (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate -3.03 % change on previous year (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.0897 units per person (2024)
- Secondary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is enrolment in primary education, both sexes in Costa Rica?
- Enrolment in primary education, both sexes in Costa Rica was 460,126 in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest enrolment in primary education, both sexes recorded in Costa Rica?
- The highest recorded value was 569,513 in 1999.
- What is the lowest enrolment in primary education, both sexes recorded in Costa Rica?
- The lowest recorded value was 342,373 in 1982.
- How does Costa Rica rank for enrolment in primary education, both sexes?
- Costa Rica ranks 112th out of 218 countries with data for 2024.
- Is enrolment in primary education, both sexes rising or falling in Costa Rica?
- Over the last ten years it is down 3.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Costa Rica data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release