Gender gap in primary, secondary and tertiary education in Somalia
Somalia: Gender gap in primary, secondary and tertiary education was 11.2% in 1980. ▼ Falling
Gender gap in primary, secondary and tertiary education in Somalia, 1976–1980
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 Somalia stood at 11.2%. That is the lowest value across all 5 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 10.2% on the previous year and down 18.5% over five years.
That places Somalia 190th out of 190 countries with data for 1980, putting it in the bottom quarter.
Gender gap in primary, secondary and tertiary education in Somalia, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1976 | 13.8% | — |
| 1977 | 13.6% | -1.0% |
| 1978 | 12.5% | -8.6% |
| 1979 | 12.5% | +0.3% |
| 1980 | 11.2% | -10.2% |
Somalia compared with similar countries
- Somalia's 11.2% is below the median for low income countries, which is 68.3%, 16% of the median. (23 countries reporting)
- Somalia's 11.2% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 86.4%, 13% of the median. (46 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 13.1% | 12.5% | 13.8% | 4 |
| 1980s | 11.2% | 11.2% | 11.2% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Somalia
- 187 Tokelau 34.1%
- 188 Democratic Republic of Congo 33.7% compare
- 189 Afghanistan 15.6% compare
More education data for Somalia
- Gender gap education levels, gaps filled 11.23 (1980)
- Primary enrollment selected countries, gaps filled 14.73 (1980)
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 4,504 (2007)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 676 (1986)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 882 (1986)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 115,828 (2023)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 464,607 (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate -7.59 % change on previous year (1986)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is gender gap in primary, secondary and tertiary education in Somalia?
- Gender gap in primary, secondary and tertiary education in Somalia was 11.2% 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 Somalia?
- The highest recorded value was 13.8% in 1976.
- What is the lowest gender gap in primary, secondary and tertiary education recorded in Somalia?
- The lowest recorded value was 11.2% in 1980.
- How does Somalia rank for gender gap in primary, secondary and tertiary education?
- Somalia ranks 190th out of 190 countries with data for 1980.
- Where does this Somalia 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.