Share of children in primary school age who are in school in Colombia
Colombia: Share of children in primary school age who are in school was 92.7% in 2022. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2022)
92.7%
Change on year
down 0.4%
World rank
142nd
of 209 countries
All-time high
100.0%
in 2000
All-time low
4.6%
in 1820
Years of data
53
1820–2022
Share of children in primary school age who are in school in Colombia, 1820–2022
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics (2026); Lee and Lee (2016) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2022, share of children in primary school age who are in school in Colombia stood at 92.7%.
The figure is down 0.4% on the previous year and down 5.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of children in primary school age who are in school in Colombia peaked at 100.0% in 2000 and was at its lowest, 4.6%, in 1820.
Colombia ranks 142nd 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 Colombia, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1820 | 4.6% | — |
| 1825 | 5.6% | +19.8% |
| 1830 | 6.7% | +19.6% |
| 1835 | 7.9% | +19.4% |
| 1840 | 10.2% | +28.0% |
| 1845 | 8.8% | -13.9% |
| 1850 | 8.6% | -1.3% |
| 1855 | 10.9% | +26.4% |
| 1860 | 13.2% | +20.9% |
| 1865 | 15.5% | +17.2% |
| 1870 | 17.8% | +14.7% |
| 1875 | 20.0% | +12.8% |
| 1880 | 17.4% | -13.1% |
| 1885 | 15.1% | -13.5% |
| 1890 | 17.4% | +15.3% |
| 1895 | 19.5% | +12.3% |
| 1900 | 21.7% | +11.2% |
| 1905 | 23.9% | +10.1% |
| 1910 | 26.1% | +9.2% |
| 1915 | 38.2% | +46.5% |
| 1920 | 39.1% | +2.5% |
| 1925 | 37.6% | -3.9% |
| 1930 | 36.1% | -4.0% |
| 1935 | 39.4% | +9.3% |
| 1940 | 41.1% | +4.2% |
| 1945 | 39.6% | -3.6% |
| 1950 | 43.1% | +9.0% |
| 1955 | 55.7% | +29.1% |
| 1960 | 59.0% | +5.9% |
| 1965 | 64.0% | +8.5% |
| 1970 | 69.2% | +8.2% |
| 1975 | 75.6% | +9.3% |
| 1980 | 82.0% | +8.5% |
| 2000 | 100.0% | +21.9% |
| 2001 | 100.0% | +0.0% |
| 2002 | 100.0% | +0.0% |
| 2004 | 99.6% | -0.4% |
| 2005 | 99.7% | +0.1% |
| 2006 | 99.8% | +0.2% |
| 2007 | 99.9% | +0.1% |
| 2008 | 99.8% | -0.1% |
| 2009 | 99.8% | -0.0% |
| 2010 | 99.7% | -0.0% |
| 2011 | 99.9% | +0.2% |
| 2012 | 98.3% | -1.6% |
| 2015 | 96.6% | -1.7% |
| 2016 | 94.8% | -1.9% |
| 2017 | 95.9% | +1.2% |
| 2018 | 95.3% | -0.6% |
| 2019 | 95.0% | -0.3% |
| 2020 | 93.9% | -1.1% |
| 2021 | 93.0% | -0.9% |
| 2022 | 92.7% | -0.4% |
Colombia compared with similar countries
- Colombia's 92.7% is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 96.0%, 97% of the median. (56 countries reporting)
- Colombia's 92.7% is below the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 95.1%, 97% of the median. (38 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1820s | 5.1% | 4.6% | 5.6% | 2 |
| 1830s | 7.3% | 6.7% | 7.9% | 2 |
| 1840s | 9.5% | 8.8% | 10.2% | 2 |
| 1850s | 9.8% | 8.6% | 10.9% | 2 |
| 1860s | 14.3% | 13.2% | 15.5% | 2 |
| 1870s | 18.9% | 17.8% | 20.0% | 2 |
| 1880s | 16.2% | 15.1% | 17.4% | 2 |
| 1890s | 18.4% | 17.4% | 19.5% | 2 |
| 1900s | 22.8% | 21.7% | 23.9% | 2 |
| 1910s | 32.1% | 26.1% | 38.2% | 2 |
| 1920s | 38.3% | 37.6% | 39.1% | 2 |
| 1930s | 37.8% | 36.1% | 39.4% | 2 |
| 1940s | 40.3% | 39.6% | 41.1% | 2 |
| 1950s | 49.4% | 43.1% | 55.7% | 2 |
| 1960s | 61.5% | 59.0% | 64.0% | 2 |
| 1970s | 72.4% | 69.2% | 75.6% | 2 |
| 1980s | 82.0% | 82.0% | 82.0% | 1 |
| 2000s | 99.8% | 99.6% | 100.0% | 9 |
| 2010s | 96.9% | 94.8% | 99.9% | 8 |
| 2020s | 93.2% | 92.7% | 93.9% | 3 |
Countries ranked near Colombia
- 139 East Timor 93.1% compare
- 140 Saint Lucia 93.0% compare
- 141 Trinidad and Tobago 92.8% compare
- 143 New Caledonia 92.6% compare
- 144 Panama 92.3% compare
- 145 Kazakhstan 92.1% compare
More education data for Colombia
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 190,940 (2022)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 234,939 (2022)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 963,182 (2022)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 937,684 (2022)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 4.85 million (2022)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 4.14 million (2022)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate -1.2 % change on previous year (2022)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2022)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.08 units per person (2022)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of children in primary school age who are in school in Colombia?
- Share of children in primary school age who are in school in Colombia was 92.7% 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 share of children in primary school age who are in school recorded in Colombia?
- The highest recorded value was 100.0% in 2000.
- What is the lowest share of children in primary school age who are in school recorded in Colombia?
- The lowest recorded value was 4.6% in 1820.
- How does Colombia rank for share of children in primary school age who are in school?
- Colombia ranks 142nd out of 209 countries with data for 2022.
- Is share of children in primary school age who are in school rising or falling in Colombia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 5.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Colombia 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.