Gender gap in primary, secondary and tertiary education in United States
United States: Gender gap in primary, secondary and tertiary education was 96.2% in 2022. ▲ Rising
Latest (2022)
96.2%
Change on year
up 0.4%
World rank
75th
of 190 countries
All-time high
100.0%
in 1870
All-time low
41.6%
in 1820
Years of data
52
1820–2022
Gender gap in primary, secondary and tertiary education in United States, 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 United States is 96.2%, measured in 2022.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.4% on the previous year and down 0.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, gender gap in primary, secondary and tertiary education in United States peaked at 100.0% in 1870 and was at its lowest, 41.6%, in 1820.
United States ranks 75th of 190 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 52 years of available data.
Gender gap in primary, secondary and tertiary education in United States, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1820 | 41.6% | — |
| 1825 | 42.9% | +3.2% |
| 1830 | 49.0% | +14.0% |
| 1835 | 55.0% | +12.3% |
| 1840 | 62.0% | +12.7% |
| 1845 | 68.9% | +11.2% |
| 1850 | 75.9% | +10.1% |
| 1855 | 88.0% | +16.0% |
| 1860 | 93.3% | +6.0% |
| 1865 | 96.7% | +3.6% |
| 1870 | 100.0% | +3.4% |
| 1875 | 100.0% | +0.0% |
| 1880 | 100.0% | +0.0% |
| 1885 | 100.0% | +0.0% |
| 1890 | 100.0% | +0.0% |
| 1895 | 100.0% | +0.0% |
| 1900 | 100.0% | +0.0% |
| 1905 | 100.0% | +0.0% |
| 1910 | 100.0% | +0.0% |
| 1915 | 100.0% | +0.0% |
| 1920 | 100.0% | +0.0% |
| 1925 | 100.0% | +0.0% |
| 1930 | 99.1% | -0.9% |
| 1935 | 98.2% | -0.9% |
| 1940 | 97.4% | -0.9% |
| 1945 | 96.1% | -1.3% |
| 1950 | 100.0% | +4.0% |
| 1955 | 100.0% | +0.0% |
| 1960 | 95.9% | -4.1% |
| 1965 | 95.9% | +0.0% |
| 1970 | 95.9% | +0.0% |
| 1975 | 94.0% | -2.0% |
| 1980 | 94.0% | +0.0% |
| 1986 | 96.1% | +2.2% |
| 1987 | 96.6% | +0.5% |
| 1990 | 97.3% | +0.8% |
| 1991 | 96.9% | -0.4% |
| 1993 | 96.1% | -0.8% |
| 1994 | 96.5% | +0.4% |
| 1995 | 97.6% | +1.1% |
| 1996 | 96.3% | -1.3% |
| 1999 | 98.4% | +2.1% |
| 2005 | 99.7% | +1.4% |
| 2013 | 96.9% | -2.9% |
| 2014 | 98.3% | +1.5% |
| 2015 | 98.1% | -0.2% |
| 2016 | 99.6% | +1.5% |
| 2018 | 99.4% | -0.2% |
| 2019 | 99.2% | -0.2% |
| 2020 | 98.0% | -1.2% |
| 2021 | 95.8% | -2.2% |
| 2022 | 96.2% | +0.4% |
United States compared with similar countries
- United States's 96.2% is below the median for high income countries, which is 97.4%, 99% of the median. (64 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1820s | 42.3% | 41.6% | 42.9% | 2 |
| 1830s | 52.0% | 49.0% | 55.0% | 2 |
| 1840s | 65.4% | 62.0% | 68.9% | 2 |
| 1850s | 82.0% | 75.9% | 88.0% | 2 |
| 1860s | 95.0% | 93.3% | 96.7% | 2 |
| 1870s | 100.0% | 100.0% | 100.0% | 2 |
| 1880s | 100.0% | 100.0% | 100.0% | 2 |
| 1890s | 100.0% | 100.0% | 100.0% | 2 |
| 1900s | 100.0% | 100.0% | 100.0% | 2 |
| 1910s | 100.0% | 100.0% | 100.0% | 2 |
| 1920s | 100.0% | 100.0% | 100.0% | 2 |
| 1930s | 98.7% | 98.2% | 99.1% | 2 |
| 1940s | 96.7% | 96.1% | 97.4% | 2 |
| 1950s | 100.0% | 100.0% | 100.0% | 2 |
| 1960s | 95.9% | 95.9% | 95.9% | 2 |
| 1970s | 95.0% | 94.0% | 95.9% | 2 |
| 1980s | 95.5% | 94.0% | 96.6% | 3 |
| 1990s | 97.0% | 96.1% | 98.4% | 7 |
| 2000s | 99.7% | 99.7% | 99.7% | 1 |
| 2010s | 98.6% | 96.9% | 99.6% | 6 |
| 2020s | 96.7% | 95.8% | 98.0% | 3 |
Countries ranked near United States
- 72 North Macedonia 96.5% compare
- 73 Qatar 96.4% compare
- 74 Sao Tome and Principe 96.3% compare
- 76 Greece 96.0% compare
- 77 Papua New Guinea 96.0% compare
- 78 Bahrain 95.9% compare
More education data for United States
- Gender gap education levels, gaps filled 96.21 (2022)
- Primary enrollment selected countries, gaps filled 96.02 (2022)
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 1.74 million (2023)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 419,732 (2023)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 4.34 million (2023)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 4.14 million (2023)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 25.35 million (2023)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 23.83 million (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 1.33 % change on previous year (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is gender gap in primary, secondary and tertiary education in United States?
- Gender gap in primary, secondary and tertiary education in United States was 96.2% 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 United States?
- The highest recorded value was 100.0% in 1870.
- What is the lowest gender gap in primary, secondary and tertiary education recorded in United States?
- The lowest recorded value was 41.6% in 1820.
- How does United States rank for gender gap in primary, secondary and tertiary education?
- United States ranks 75th out of 190 countries with data for 2022.
- Is gender gap in primary, secondary and tertiary education rising or falling in United States?
- Over the last ten years it is down 0.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this United States 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.