Share of children in primary school age who are in school in Brazil
Brazil: Share of children in primary school age who are in school was 97.8% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Share of children in primary school age who are in school in Brazil, 1820–2024
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 share of children in primary school age who are in school in Brazil is 97.8%, measured in 2024. That is the highest value across all 45 years on record.
That represents a change of up 1.2% on the previous year and up 2.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of children in primary school age who are in school in Brazil peaked at 97.8% in 2024 and was at its lowest, 0.9%, in 1820.
Brazil ranks 80th of 209 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Share of children in primary school age who are in school in Brazil, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1820 | 0.9% | — |
| 1825 | 1.1% | +26.7% |
| 1830 | 1.4% | +25.7% |
| 1835 | 1.7% | +25.5% |
| 1840 | 2.2% | +25.6% |
| 1845 | 2.7% | +25.5% |
| 1850 | 3.4% | +25.5% |
| 1855 | 4.2% | +25.0% |
| 1860 | 5.3% | +24.9% |
| 1865 | 6.6% | +24.5% |
| 1870 | 8.2% | +24.1% |
| 1875 | 9.3% | +13.3% |
| 1880 | 9.9% | +6.8% |
| 1885 | 9.8% | -1.4% |
| 1890 | 9.6% | -1.5% |
| 1895 | 11.7% | +21.1% |
| 1900 | 13.7% | +17.4% |
| 1905 | 15.7% | +14.8% |
| 1910 | 17.1% | +8.9% |
| 1915 | 18.5% | +8.1% |
| 1920 | 19.9% | +7.6% |
| 1925 | 28.9% | +44.9% |
| 1930 | 29.5% | +2.1% |
| 1935 | 32.9% | +11.6% |
| 1940 | 38.0% | +15.6% |
| 1945 | 54.6% | +43.6% |
| 1950 | 37.8% | -30.7% |
| 1955 | 44.5% | +17.9% |
| 1960 | 76.7% | +72.1% |
| 1965 | 87.1% | +13.7% |
| 1970 | 62.0% | -28.9% |
| 1975 | 71.0% | +14.5% |
| 1980 | 81.0% | +14.1% |
| 2012 | 93.5% | +15.5% |
| 2013 | 95.5% | +2.1% |
| 2014 | 95.6% | +0.1% |
| 2015 | 95.2% | -0.4% |
| 2016 | 95.6% | +0.4% |
| 2017 | 95.8% | +0.2% |
| 2018 | 95.3% | -0.5% |
| 2019 | 96.1% | +0.8% |
| 2020 | 95.9% | -0.2% |
| 2021 | 95.2% | -0.7% |
| 2022 | 96.7% | +1.5% |
| 2024 | 97.8% | +1.2% |
Brazil compared with similar countries
- Brazil's 97.8% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 96.0%, 1.0× the median. (56 countries reporting)
- Brazil's 97.8% is above the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 95.1%, 1.0× the median. (38 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1820s | 1.0% | 0.9% | 1.1% | 2 |
| 1830s | 1.5% | 1.4% | 1.7% | 2 |
| 1840s | 2.4% | 2.2% | 2.7% | 2 |
| 1850s | 3.8% | 3.4% | 4.2% | 2 |
| 1860s | 6.0% | 5.3% | 6.6% | 2 |
| 1870s | 8.7% | 8.2% | 9.3% | 2 |
| 1880s | 9.8% | 9.8% | 9.9% | 2 |
| 1890s | 10.6% | 9.6% | 11.7% | 2 |
| 1900s | 14.7% | 13.7% | 15.7% | 2 |
| 1910s | 17.8% | 17.1% | 18.5% | 2 |
| 1920s | 24.4% | 19.9% | 28.9% | 2 |
| 1930s | 31.2% | 29.5% | 32.9% | 2 |
| 1940s | 46.3% | 38.0% | 54.6% | 2 |
| 1950s | 41.2% | 37.8% | 44.5% | 2 |
| 1960s | 81.9% | 76.7% | 87.1% | 2 |
| 1970s | 66.5% | 62.0% | 71.0% | 2 |
| 1980s | 81.0% | 81.0% | 81.0% | 1 |
| 2010s | 95.3% | 93.5% | 96.1% | 8 |
| 2020s | 96.4% | 95.2% | 97.8% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Brazil
More education data for Brazil
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 1.02 million (2024)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 1.44 million (2011)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 2.71 million (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 2.59 million (2024)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 21.50 million (2024)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 15.11 million (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate -0.1454 % change on previous year (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.0713 units per person (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of children in primary school age who are in school in Brazil?
- Share of children in primary school age who are in school in Brazil was 97.8% in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics (2026); Lee and Lee (2016) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of children in primary school age who are in school recorded in Brazil?
- The highest recorded value was 97.8% in 2024.
- What is the lowest share of children in primary school age who are in school recorded in Brazil?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.9% in 1820.
- How does Brazil rank for share of children in primary school age who are in school?
- Brazil ranks 80th out of 209 countries with data for 2024.
- Is share of children in primary school age who are in school rising or falling in Brazil?
- Over the last ten years it is up 2.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Brazil 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 Share of children in primary school age who are in school. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of children of primary school age (typically 6–11 years) who are enrolled in primary education.