Persistence to last grade of primary, total in Colombia

Colombia: Persistence to last grade of primary, total was 91.3% in 2021. ▲ Rising

Latest (2021)
91.3%
Change on year
down 6.1%
World rank
95th
of 179 countries
All-time high
97.3%
in 2020
All-time low
36.6%
in 1971
Years of data
39
1970–2021

Persistence to last grade of primary, total in Colombia, 1970–2021

0204060801001970199520211970: 40.2 % of cohort1971: 36.6 % of cohort1972: 41.3 % of cohort1973: 37.1 % of cohort1981: 37.1 % of cohort1982: 54.6 % of cohort1983: 55 % of cohort1984: 55.1 % of cohort1985: 55.8 % of cohort1986: 60.7 % of cohort1987: 56 % of cohort1988: 56 % of cohort1989: 52.2 % of cohort1991: 72 % of cohort1992: 59.1 % of cohort1993: 62.8 % of cohort1994: 57.7 % of cohort1995: 71.5 % of cohort1998: 63.4 % of cohort1999: 66.6 % of cohort2000: 60.9 % of cohort2001: 69.4 % of cohort2004: 80.9 % of cohort2005: 80.8 % of cohort2006: 85.2 % of cohort2007: 84.7 % of cohort2009: 84.5 % of cohort2010: 87.4 % of cohort2011: 84.7 % of cohort2012: 72 % of cohort2013: 83.5 % of cohort2014: 88.3 % of cohort2015: 90 % of cohort2016: 91.7 % of cohort2017: 92.4 % of cohort2018: 95 % of cohort2019: 95.6 % of cohort2020: 97.3 % of cohort2021: 91.3 % of cohort

Source: Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Measured in % of cohort.

Analysis

The most recent figure for persistence to last grade of primary, total in Colombia is 91.3%, measured in 2021.

That represents a change of down 6.1% on the previous year and up 7.8% over ten years.

Over the whole period, persistence to last grade of primary, total in Colombia peaked at 97.3% in 2020 and was at its lowest, 36.6%, in 1971.

That places Colombia 95th out of 179 countries with data for 2021, putting it in the middle of the range.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 39 years of available data.

Persistence to last grade of primary, total in Colombia, year by year

Annual values for Persistence to last grade of primary, total (% of cohort) in Colombia, 1970 to 2021.
Year % of cohort Change
1970 40.2%
1971 36.6% -8.9%
1972 41.3% +12.9%
1973 37.1% -10.2%
1981 37.1% +0.0%
1982 54.6% +47.2%
1983 55.0% +0.7%
1984 55.1% +0.1%
1985 55.8% +1.4%
1986 60.7% +8.7%
1987 56.0% -7.7%
1988 56.0% -0.1%
1989 52.2% -6.8%
1991 72.0% +37.9%
1992 59.1% -17.9%
1993 62.8% +6.4%
1994 57.7% -8.2%
1995 71.5% +23.9%
1998 63.4% -11.3%
1999 66.6% +4.9%
2000 60.9% -8.5%
2001 69.4% +13.9%
2004 80.9% +16.5%
2005 80.8% -0.1%
2006 85.2% +5.4%
2007 84.7% -0.6%
2009 84.5% -0.2%
2010 87.4% +3.3%
2011 84.7% -3.0%
2012 72.0% -15.0%
2013 83.5% +16.0%
2014 88.3% +5.7%
2015 90.0% +2.0%
2016 91.7% +1.9%
2017 92.4% +0.8%
2018 95.0% +2.8%
2019 95.6% +0.6%
2020 97.3% +1.8%
2021 91.3% -6.1%

Colombia compared with similar countries

  • Colombia's 91.3% is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 93.8%, 97% of the median. (54 countries reporting)
  • Colombia's 91.3% is above the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 89.7%, 1.0× the median. (33 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1970s 38.8% 36.6% 41.3% 4
1980s 53.6% 37.1% 60.7% 9
1990s 64.7% 57.7% 72.0% 7
2000s 78.1% 60.9% 85.2% 7
2010s 88.0% 72.0% 95.6% 10
2020s 94.3% 91.3% 97.3% 2

Countries ranked near Colombia

  1. 92 Dominican Republic 92.2% compare
  2. 93 Guyana 92.2% compare
  3. 94 Maldives 91.9% compare
  4. 96 Tonga 91.3% compare
  5. 97 Timor-Leste 89.8% compare
  6. 98 Dominica 89.7% compare

See the full ranking of 224 places →

More education data for Colombia

All data for Colombia →

Frequently asked questions

What is persistence to last grade of primary, total in Colombia?
Persistence to last grade of primary, total in Colombia was 91.3% in 2021, according to Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
What is the highest persistence to last grade of primary, total recorded in Colombia?
The highest recorded value was 97.3% in 2020.
What is the lowest persistence to last grade of primary, total recorded in Colombia?
The lowest recorded value was 36.6% in 1971.
How does Colombia rank for persistence to last grade of primary, total?
Colombia ranks 95th out of 179 countries with data for 2021.
Is persistence to last grade of primary, total rising or falling in Colombia?
Over the last ten years it is up 7.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this Colombia data come from?
The figures come from Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), published as part of Persistence to last grade of primary, total (% of cohort). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Persistence to last grade of primary, total in Colombia. Statizoid, drawing on Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Retrieved 13 September 2026, from https://education.statizoid.com/stat/persistence-to-last-grade-of-primary-total-percent-of-cohort/colombia/

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About this data

Indicator
Persistence to last grade of primary, total (% of cohort)
Unit
% of cohort
Source
Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
224 places, 6,364 data points, 1970–2023
Last refreshed

Persistence to last grade of primary is the percentage of children enrolled in the first grade of primary school who eventually reach the last grade of primary education. The estimate is based on the reconstructed cohort method.