Out-of-school rate for youth of upper secondary school age in Costa Rica
Costa Rica: Out-of-school rate for youth of upper secondary school age was 11.44 in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Out-of-school rate for youth of upper secondary school age in Costa Rica, 1970–2023
Source: UNICEF.
Analysis
The most recent figure for out-of-school rate for youth of upper secondary school age in Costa Rica is 11.44, measured in 2023.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 3.7% on the previous year and down 48.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, out-of-school rate for youth of upper secondary school age in Costa Rica peaked at 74.47 in 1970 and was at its lowest, 11.03, in 2022.
That places Costa Rica 23rd out of 35 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Out-of-school rate for youth of upper secondary school age in Costa Rica, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 74.47 | — |
| 1973 | 66.2 | -11.1% |
| 1975 | 65.44 | -1.1% |
| 1976 | 65.64 | +0.3% |
| 1979 | 61.86 | -5.8% |
| 1981 | 61.46 | -0.6% |
| 1982 | 62.39 | +1.5% |
| 1985 | 66.76 | +7.0% |
| 1986 | 65.97 | -1.2% |
| 1987 | 64.92 | -1.6% |
| 1989 | 62.72 | -3.4% |
| 1990 | 61.93 | -1.3% |
| 1991 | 59.74 | -3.5% |
| 1992 | 59.47 | -0.4% |
| 1993 | 58.12 | -2.3% |
| 1994 | 56.89 | -2.1% |
| 1995 | 56.78 | -0.2% |
| 1996 | 55.64 | -2.0% |
| 2011 | 23 | -58.7% |
| 2012 | 23.05 | +0.2% |
| 2013 | 22.37 | -2.9% |
| 2014 | 19.73 | -11.8% |
| 2015 | 18.73 | -5.1% |
| 2016 | 17.95 | -4.2% |
| 2017 | 20.28 | +13.0% |
| 2018 | 14.02 | -30.9% |
| 2019 | 11.81 | -15.8% |
| 2020 | 13.19 | +11.7% |
| 2021 | 12.95 | -1.9% |
| 2022 | 11.03 | -14.8% |
| 2023 | 11.44 | +3.7% |
Costa Rica compared with similar countries
- Costa Rica's 11.44 is below the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 18.67, 61% of the median. (33 countries reporting)
- Costa Rica's 11.44 is above the median for high income countries, which is 8.63, 1.3× the median. (11 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Out-of-school rate for youth of upper secondary school age in Costa Rica changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | -58.7% | 55.64 | 23 |
| 2018 | -30.9% | 20.28 | 14.02 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 66.72 | 61.86 | 74.47 | 5 |
| 1980s | 64.04 | 61.46 | 66.76 | 6 |
| 1990s | 58.37 | 55.64 | 61.93 | 7 |
| 2010s | 18.99 | 11.81 | 23.05 | 9 |
| 2020s | 12.15 | 11.03 | 13.19 | 4 |
Countries ranked near Costa Rica
More education data for Costa Rica
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 37,015 (2024)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 14,772 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 62,694 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 61,047 (2024)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 464,490 (2024)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 460,126 (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate -3.03 % change on previous year (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.0897 units per person (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is out-of-school rate for youth of upper secondary school age in Costa Rica?
- Out-of-school rate for youth of upper secondary school age in Costa Rica was 11.44 in 2023, according to UNICEF.
- What is the highest out-of-school rate for youth of upper secondary school age recorded in Costa Rica?
- The highest recorded value was 74.47 in 1970.
- What is the lowest out-of-school rate for youth of upper secondary school age recorded in Costa Rica?
- The lowest recorded value was 11.03 in 2022.
- How does Costa Rica rank for out-of-school rate for youth of upper secondary school age?
- Costa Rica ranks 23rd out of 35 countries with data for 2023.
- Is out-of-school rate for youth of upper secondary school age rising or falling in Costa Rica?
- Over the last ten years it is down 48.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Costa Rica data come from?
- The figures come from UNICEF, published as part of Out-of-school rate for youth of upper secondary school age (UNESCO). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 31 observations, free to reuse under UNICEF Terms of Use (attribution required).