Gender gap in primary, secondary and tertiary education in Mexico
Mexico: Gender gap in primary, secondary and tertiary education was 92.1% in 1980. ◆ Volatile
Latest (1980)
92.1%
World rank
119th
of 190 countries
All-time high
92.1%
in 1980
All-time low
0.7%
in 1820
Years of data
33
1820–1980
Gender gap in primary, secondary and tertiary education in Mexico, 1820–1980
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics (2026); Lee and Lee (2016) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 1980, gender gap in primary, secondary and tertiary education in Mexico stood at 92.1%. That is the highest value across all 33 years on record.
The figure is up 13.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, gender gap in primary, secondary and tertiary education in Mexico peaked at 92.1% in 1980 and was at its lowest, 0.7%, in 1820.
Mexico ranks 119th of 190 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
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 Mexico, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1820 | 0.7% | — |
| 1825 | 0.9% | +27.0% |
| 1830 | 1.2% | +25.5% |
| 1835 | 1.5% | +27.1% |
| 1840 | 1.9% | +26.0% |
| 1845 | 2.4% | +25.9% |
| 1850 | 3.0% | +26.1% |
| 1855 | 3.8% | +26.0% |
| 1860 | 4.7% | +25.4% |
| 1865 | 5.9% | +25.3% |
| 1870 | 7.4% | +24.7% |
| 1875 | 9.2% | +24.3% |
| 1880 | 11.4% | +23.8% |
| 1885 | 14.0% | +23.1% |
| 1890 | 17.1% | +22.2% |
| 1895 | 20.7% | +20.9% |
| 1900 | 27.1% | +30.9% |
| 1905 | 27.9% | +3.0% |
| 1910 | 31.7% | +13.3% |
| 1915 | 35.4% | +11.7% |
| 1920 | 39.1% | +10.5% |
| 1925 | 42.8% | +9.5% |
| 1930 | 46.6% | +8.7% |
| 1935 | 50.3% | +8.0% |
| 1940 | 54.0% | +7.4% |
| 1945 | 57.7% | +6.9% |
| 1950 | 61.5% | +6.4% |
| 1955 | 71.9% | +17.0% |
| 1960 | 55.2% | -23.2% |
| 1965 | 66.0% | +19.5% |
| 1970 | 81.0% | +22.7% |
| 1975 | 84.2% | +3.9% |
| 1980 | 92.1% | +9.4% |
Mexico compared with similar countries
- Mexico's 92.1% is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 94.1%, 98% of the median. (52 countries reporting)
- Mexico's 92.1% is below the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 93.2%, 99% of the median. (35 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1820s | 0.8% | 0.7% | 0.9% | 2 |
| 1830s | 1.3% | 1.2% | 1.5% | 2 |
| 1840s | 2.1% | 1.9% | 2.4% | 2 |
| 1850s | 3.4% | 3.0% | 3.8% | 2 |
| 1860s | 5.3% | 4.7% | 5.9% | 2 |
| 1870s | 8.3% | 7.4% | 9.2% | 2 |
| 1880s | 12.7% | 11.4% | 14.0% | 2 |
| 1890s | 18.9% | 17.1% | 20.7% | 2 |
| 1900s | 27.5% | 27.1% | 27.9% | 2 |
| 1910s | 33.5% | 31.7% | 35.4% | 2 |
| 1920s | 41.0% | 39.1% | 42.8% | 2 |
| 1930s | 48.4% | 46.6% | 50.3% | 2 |
| 1940s | 55.9% | 54.0% | 57.7% | 2 |
| 1950s | 66.7% | 61.5% | 71.9% | 2 |
| 1960s | 60.6% | 55.2% | 66.0% | 2 |
| 1970s | 82.6% | 81.0% | 84.2% | 2 |
| 1980s | 92.1% | 92.1% | 92.1% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Mexico
- 116 Panama 92.8% compare
- 117 New Caledonia 92.4%
- 118 Mongolia 92.2%
- 120 Martinique 92.1%
- 121 Guatemala 91.6% compare
- 122 Sri Lanka 91.4% compare
More education data for Mexico
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 868,550 (2023)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 96,349 (2025)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 2.14 million (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 2.11 million (2024)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 13.99 million (2024)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 13.19 million (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.1 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is gender gap in primary, secondary and tertiary education in Mexico?
- Gender gap in primary, secondary and tertiary education in Mexico was 92.1% in 1980, 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 Mexico?
- The highest recorded value was 92.1% in 1980.
- What is the lowest gender gap in primary, secondary and tertiary education recorded in Mexico?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.7% in 1820.
- How does Mexico rank for gender gap in primary, secondary and tertiary education?
- Mexico ranks 119th out of 190 countries with data for 1980.
- Is gender gap in primary, secondary and tertiary education rising or falling in Mexico?
- Over the last ten years it is up 13.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Mexico 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.