Gender gap in primary, secondary and tertiary education in Burkina Faso
Burkina Faso: Gender gap in primary, secondary and tertiary education was 66.3% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Gender gap in primary, secondary and tertiary education in Burkina Faso, 1971–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics (2026); Lee and Lee (2016) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for gender gap in primary, secondary and tertiary education in Burkina Faso is 66.3%, measured in 2024.
That represents a change of up 13.1% on the previous year and up 2.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, gender gap in primary, secondary and tertiary education in Burkina Faso peaked at 74.5% in 2018 and was at its lowest, 7.5%, in 1971.
Burkina Faso ranks 175th of 190 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Gender gap in primary, secondary and tertiary education in Burkina Faso, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1971 | 7.5% | — |
| 1972 | 7.9% | +5.6% |
| 1977 | 9.3% | +17.3% |
| 1978 | 9.6% | +3.7% |
| 1979 | 10.1% | +4.4% |
| 1980 | 10.8% | +7.0% |
| 1981 | 11.4% | +5.6% |
| 1982 | 12.3% | +8.3% |
| 1983 | 13.4% | +8.9% |
| 1984 | 14.2% | +6.2% |
| 1985 | 15.7% | +10.1% |
| 1986 | 17.2% | +9.6% |
| 1987 | 18.2% | +5.8% |
| 1988 | 18.6% | +2.4% |
| 1989 | 19.0% | +2.1% |
| 1991 | 20.4% | +7.2% |
| 1992 | 20.7% | +1.9% |
| 1993 | 21.5% | +3.8% |
| 1994 | 22.4% | +4.1% |
| 1995 | 23.6% | +5.1% |
| 1998 | 26.6% | +13.0% |
| 1999 | 27.4% | +3.0% |
| 2000 | 28.8% | +5.1% |
| 2001 | 30.1% | +4.3% |
| 2002 | 29.7% | -1.1% |
| 2003 | 32.1% | +8.1% |
| 2004 | 34.6% | +7.8% |
| 2005 | 39.4% | +13.8% |
| 2006 | 43.1% | +9.5% |
| 2007 | 48.4% | +12.3% |
| 2008 | 54.8% | +13.2% |
| 2009 | 58.3% | +6.3% |
| 2010 | 56.3% | -3.4% |
| 2011 | 61.2% | +8.8% |
| 2012 | 62.5% | +2.1% |
| 2013 | 63.8% | +2.1% |
| 2014 | 64.7% | +1.4% |
| 2015 | 66.1% | +2.1% |
| 2016 | 71.5% | +8.2% |
| 2017 | 72.5% | +1.4% |
| 2018 | 74.5% | +2.7% |
| 2019 | 73.5% | -1.4% |
| 2020 | 71.3% | -3.0% |
| 2021 | 71.0% | -0.4% |
| 2022 | 68.1% | -4.1% |
| 2023 | 58.6% | -13.9% |
| 2024 | 66.3% | +13.1% |
Burkina Faso compared with similar countries
- Burkina Faso's 66.3% is below the median for low income countries, which is 68.3%, 97% of the median. (23 countries reporting)
- Burkina Faso's 66.3% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 86.4%, 77% of the median. (46 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 8.9% | 7.5% | 10.1% | 5 |
| 1980s | 15.1% | 10.8% | 19.0% | 10 |
| 1990s | 23.2% | 20.4% | 27.4% | 7 |
| 2000s | 39.9% | 28.8% | 58.3% | 10 |
| 2010s | 66.7% | 56.3% | 74.5% | 10 |
| 2020s | 67.0% | 58.6% | 71.3% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Burkina Faso
More education data for Burkina Faso
- Gender gap education levels, gaps filled 66.29 (2024)
- Primary enrollment selected countries, gaps filled 65.71 (2024)
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 68,557 (2024)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 105,439 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 78,072 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 75,598 (2024)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 1.19 million (2024)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 3.07 million (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 8.2 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is gender gap in primary, secondary and tertiary education in Burkina Faso?
- Gender gap in primary, secondary and tertiary education in Burkina Faso was 66.3% in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics (2026); Lee and Lee (2016) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest gender gap in primary, secondary and tertiary education recorded in Burkina Faso?
- The highest recorded value was 74.5% in 2018.
- What is the lowest gender gap in primary, secondary and tertiary education recorded in Burkina Faso?
- The lowest recorded value was 7.5% in 1971.
- How does Burkina Faso rank for gender gap in primary, secondary and tertiary education?
- Burkina Faso ranks 175th out of 190 countries with data for 2024.
- Is gender gap in primary, secondary and tertiary education rising or falling in Burkina Faso?
- Over the last ten years it is up 2.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Burkina Faso data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics (2026); Lee and Lee (2016) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Gender gap in primary, secondary and tertiary education. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of girls of primary school age (typically 6–11 years) who are enrolled in primary education.