Gender gap in primary, secondary and tertiary education in Liberia
Liberia: Gender gap in primary, secondary and tertiary education was 62.7% in 2022. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2022)
62.7%
Change on year
down 2.9%
World rank
179th
of 190 countries
All-time high
93.3%
in 2011
All-time low
0.0%
in 1820
Years of data
43
1820–2022
Gender gap in primary, secondary and tertiary education in Liberia, 1820–2022
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 Liberia is 62.7%, measured in 2022.
The figure is down 2.9% on the previous year and down 32.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, gender gap in primary, secondary and tertiary education in Liberia peaked at 93.3% in 2011 and was at its lowest, 0.0%, in 1820.
Liberia ranks 179th 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 Liberia, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1820 | 0.0% | — |
| 1825 | 0.0% | +0.0% |
| 1830 | 0.0% | +0.0% |
| 1835 | 0.0% | +100.0% |
| 1840 | 0.0% | +0.0% |
| 1845 | 0.0% | +50.0% |
| 1850 | 0.0% | +33.3% |
| 1855 | 0.1% | +50.0% |
| 1860 | 0.1% | +16.7% |
| 1865 | 0.1% | +42.9% |
| 1870 | 0.1% | +30.0% |
| 1875 | 0.2% | +23.1% |
| 1880 | 0.2% | +37.5% |
| 1885 | 0.3% | +27.3% |
| 1890 | 0.4% | +32.1% |
| 1895 | 0.5% | +32.4% |
| 1900 | 0.6% | +30.6% |
| 1905 | 0.8% | +31.2% |
| 1910 | 1.1% | +29.8% |
| 1915 | 1.4% | +31.2% |
| 1920 | 1.9% | +30.8% |
| 1925 | 2.4% | +30.5% |
| 1930 | 3.2% | +30.3% |
| 1935 | 4.1% | +30.2% |
| 1940 | 5.4% | +29.5% |
| 1945 | 6.9% | +29.1% |
| 1950 | 8.9% | +28.6% |
| 1955 | 8.5% | -4.6% |
| 1960 | 16.0% | +88.7% |
| 1965 | 20.5% | +27.8% |
| 1970 | 29.4% | +43.5% |
| 1975 | 35.6% | +21.2% |
| 1980 | 50.7% | +42.5% |
| 1999 | 38.2% | -24.7% |
| 2008 | 38.8% | +1.4% |
| 2011 | 93.3% | +140.6% |
| 2014 | 87.1% | -6.6% |
| 2015 | 83.2% | -4.5% |
| 2016 | 79.3% | -4.7% |
| 2017 | 73.3% | -7.5% |
| 2020 | 69.8% | -4.7% |
| 2021 | 64.6% | -7.6% |
| 2022 | 62.7% | -2.9% |
Liberia compared with similar countries
- Liberia's 62.7% is below the median for low income countries, which is 68.3%, 92% of the median. (23 countries reporting)
- Liberia's 62.7% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 86.4%, 73% of the median. (46 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1820s | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 2 |
| 1830s | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 2 |
| 1840s | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 2 |
| 1850s | 0.1% | 0.0% | 0.1% | 2 |
| 1860s | 0.1% | 0.1% | 0.1% | 2 |
| 1870s | 0.1% | 0.1% | 0.2% | 2 |
| 1880s | 0.2% | 0.2% | 0.3% | 2 |
| 1890s | 0.4% | 0.4% | 0.5% | 2 |
| 1900s | 0.7% | 0.6% | 0.8% | 2 |
| 1910s | 1.3% | 1.1% | 1.4% | 2 |
| 1920s | 2.2% | 1.9% | 2.4% | 2 |
| 1930s | 3.7% | 3.2% | 4.1% | 2 |
| 1940s | 6.1% | 5.4% | 6.9% | 2 |
| 1950s | 8.7% | 8.5% | 8.9% | 2 |
| 1960s | 18.2% | 16.0% | 20.5% | 2 |
| 1970s | 32.5% | 29.4% | 35.6% | 2 |
| 1980s | 50.7% | 50.7% | 50.7% | 1 |
| 1990s | 38.2% | 38.2% | 38.2% | 1 |
| 2000s | 38.8% | 38.8% | 38.8% | 1 |
| 2010s | 83.2% | 73.3% | 93.3% | 5 |
| 2020s | 65.7% | 62.7% | 69.8% | 3 |
Countries ranked near Liberia
More education data for Liberia
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 17,857 (2020)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 14,815 (2022)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 123,519 (2022)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 123,876 (2022)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 274,573 (2020)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 569,741 (2022)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate -0.417 % change on previous year (2022)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2022)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.106 units per person (2022)
Frequently asked questions
- What is gender gap in primary, secondary and tertiary education in Liberia?
- Gender gap in primary, secondary and tertiary education in Liberia was 62.7% in 2022, 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 Liberia?
- The highest recorded value was 93.3% in 2011.
- What is the lowest gender gap in primary, secondary and tertiary education recorded in Liberia?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.0% in 1820.
- How does Liberia rank for gender gap in primary, secondary and tertiary education?
- Liberia ranks 179th out of 190 countries with data for 2022.
- Is gender gap in primary, secondary and tertiary education rising or falling in Liberia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 32.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Liberia 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.
Download this data
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About this data
Share of girls of primary school age (typically 6–11 years) who are enrolled in primary education.