Persistence to last grade of primary, total in Ethiopia

Ethiopia: Persistence to last grade of primary, total was 50.5% in 2021. ▼ Falling

Latest (2021)
50.5%
World rank
166th
of 179 countries
All-time high
62.4%
in 2004
All-time low
27.9%
in 1988
Years of data
23
1981–2021

Persistence to last grade of primary, total in Ethiopia, 1981–2021

02040601981200120211981: 48.7 % of cohort1986: 49.8 % of cohort1987: 43.9 % of cohort1988: 27.9 % of cohort1993: 56.4 % of cohort1994: 50.5 % of cohort1995: 54.9 % of cohort1998: 44.2 % of cohort1999: 50.9 % of cohort2000: 61.2 % of cohort2001: 55.7 % of cohort2002: 51 % of cohort2003: 46.9 % of cohort2004: 62.4 % of cohort2005: 60.8 % of cohort2006: 57.8 % of cohort2007: 43.7 % of cohort2008: 38 % of cohort2009: 36.7 % of cohort2010: 40.7 % of cohort2011: 36.6 % of cohort2014: 38.2 % of cohort2021: 50.5 % of cohort

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

Analysis

Ethiopia recorded 50.5% for persistence to last grade of primary, total in 2021.

That represents a change of up 38.1% over ten years.

Over the whole period, persistence to last grade of primary, total in Ethiopia peaked at 62.4% in 2004 and was at its lowest, 27.9%, in 1988.

That places Ethiopia 166th out of 179 countries with data for 2021, putting it in the bottom quarter.

The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 23 years of available data.

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

Annual values for Persistence to last grade of primary, total (% of cohort) in Ethiopia, 1981 to 2021.
Year % of cohort Change
1981 48.7%
1986 49.8% +2.3%
1987 43.9% -11.8%
1988 27.9% -36.5%
1993 56.4% +102.1%
1994 50.5% -10.4%
1995 54.9% +8.7%
1998 44.2% -19.4%
1999 50.9% +15.2%
2000 61.2% +20.1%
2001 55.7% -9.0%
2002 51.0% -8.5%
2003 46.9% -8.0%
2004 62.4% +33.0%
2005 60.8% -2.6%
2006 57.8% -4.8%
2007 43.7% -24.4%
2008 38.0% -13.1%
2009 36.7% -3.4%
2010 40.7% +10.8%
2011 36.6% -10.0%
2014 38.2% +4.5%
2021 50.5% +32.1%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1980s 42.6% 27.9% 49.8% 4
1990s 51.4% 44.2% 56.4% 5
2000s 51.4% 36.7% 62.4% 10
2010s 38.5% 36.6% 40.7% 3
2020s 50.5% 50.5% 50.5% 1

Countries ranked near Ethiopia

  1. 163 Zambia 55.5% compare
  2. 164 Benin 54.1% compare
  3. 165 Malawi 54.1% compare
  4. 167 Burundi 49.7% compare
  5. 168 Iraq 49.5% compare
  6. 169 Nicaragua 48.4% compare

See the full ranking of 224 places →

More education data for Ethiopia

All data for Ethiopia →

Frequently asked questions

What is persistence to last grade of primary, total in Ethiopia?
Persistence to last grade of primary, total in Ethiopia was 50.5% 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 Ethiopia?
The highest recorded value was 62.4% in 2004.
What is the lowest persistence to last grade of primary, total recorded in Ethiopia?
The lowest recorded value was 27.9% in 1988.
How does Ethiopia rank for persistence to last grade of primary, total?
Ethiopia ranks 166th out of 179 countries with data for 2021.
Is persistence to last grade of primary, total rising or falling in Ethiopia?
Over the last ten years it is up 38.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
Where does this Ethiopia 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 Ethiopia. Statizoid, drawing on Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Retrieved 12 September 2026, from https://education.statizoid.com/stat/persistence-to-last-grade-of-primary-total-percent-of-cohort/ethiopia/

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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.