Share of children in primary school age who are in school in Guatemala
Guatemala: Share of children in primary school age who are in school was 91.6% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Share of children in primary school age who are in school in Guatemala, 1820–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics (2026); Lee and Lee (2016) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
Guatemala recorded 91.6% for share of children in primary school age who are in school in 2024.
The figure is down 0.1% on the previous year and up 1.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of children in primary school age who are in school in Guatemala peaked at 97.6% in 2011 and was at its lowest, 1.6%, in 1820.
That places Guatemala 146th out of 209 countries with data for 2024, putting it 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 Guatemala, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1820 | 1.6% | — |
| 1825 | 1.9% | +21.8% |
| 1830 | 2.3% | +22.6% |
| 1835 | 2.8% | +21.9% |
| 1840 | 3.5% | +22.2% |
| 1845 | 4.2% | +21.6% |
| 1850 | 5.1% | +21.8% |
| 1855 | 6.2% | +21.2% |
| 1860 | 7.5% | +21.2% |
| 1865 | 9.1% | +20.7% |
| 1870 | 11.0% | +20.3% |
| 1875 | 13.1% | +19.9% |
| 1880 | 15.7% | +19.2% |
| 1885 | 18.6% | +18.6% |
| 1890 | 30.4% | +63.4% |
| 1895 | 33.0% | +8.6% |
| 1900 | 21.1% | -36.0% |
| 1905 | 21.6% | +2.4% |
| 1910 | 22.1% | +2.4% |
| 1915 | 25.8% | +16.8% |
| 1920 | 16.4% | -36.6% |
| 1925 | 34.5% | +110.9% |
| 1930 | 26.5% | -23.1% |
| 1935 | 28.8% | +8.4% |
| 1940 | 20.1% | -30.0% |
| 1945 | 29.2% | +45.2% |
| 1950 | 29.7% | +1.7% |
| 1955 | 35.1% | +18.2% |
| 1960 | 38.7% | +10.1% |
| 1965 | 43.0% | +11.1% |
| 1970 | 48.1% | +11.9% |
| 1971 | 49.4% | +2.6% |
| 1972 | 50.1% | +1.5% |
| 1974 | 51.2% | +2.2% |
| 1975 | 52.4% | +2.3% |
| 1978 | 56.3% | +7.5% |
| 1979 | 57.3% | +1.7% |
| 1980 | 59.6% | +4.0% |
| 1981 | 63.0% | +5.7% |
| 1982 | 60.1% | -4.6% |
| 1983 | 64.2% | +6.9% |
| 1997 | 71.2% | +10.9% |
| 1999 | 82.6% | +16.0% |
| 2000 | 84.8% | +2.8% |
| 2001 | 83.9% | -1.1% |
| 2002 | 87.3% | +4.0% |
| 2004 | 92.0% | +5.4% |
| 2005 | 93.4% | +1.5% |
| 2006 | 94.7% | +1.5% |
| 2007 | 95.8% | +1.1% |
| 2008 | 96.0% | +0.2% |
| 2011 | 97.6% | +1.6% |
| 2012 | 94.8% | -2.8% |
| 2013 | 92.6% | -2.4% |
| 2014 | 90.5% | -2.3% |
| 2015 | 89.8% | -0.7% |
| 2016 | 88.6% | -1.3% |
| 2017 | 89.3% | +0.7% |
| 2018 | 90.3% | +1.2% |
| 2019 | 90.1% | -0.3% |
| 2020 | 90.2% | +0.1% |
| 2021 | 91.5% | +1.4% |
| 2022 | 91.5% | +0.1% |
| 2023 | 91.6% | +0.1% |
| 2024 | 91.6% | -0.1% |
Guatemala compared with similar countries
- Guatemala's 91.6% is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 96.0%, 95% of the median. (56 countries reporting)
- Guatemala's 91.6% is below the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 95.1%, 96% of the median. (38 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Share of children in primary school age who are in school in Guatemala 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1925 | +110.9% | 16.4% | 34.5% |
| 1890 | +63.4% | 18.6% | 30.4% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1820s | 1.7% | 1.6% | 1.9% | 2 |
| 1830s | 2.6% | 2.3% | 2.8% | 2 |
| 1840s | 3.8% | 3.5% | 4.2% | 2 |
| 1850s | 5.7% | 5.1% | 6.2% | 2 |
| 1860s | 8.3% | 7.5% | 9.1% | 2 |
| 1870s | 12.1% | 11.0% | 13.1% | 2 |
| 1880s | 17.1% | 15.7% | 18.6% | 2 |
| 1890s | 31.7% | 30.4% | 33.0% | 2 |
| 1900s | 21.3% | 21.1% | 21.6% | 2 |
| 1910s | 24.0% | 22.1% | 25.8% | 2 |
| 1920s | 25.4% | 16.4% | 34.5% | 2 |
| 1930s | 27.6% | 26.5% | 28.8% | 2 |
| 1940s | 24.7% | 20.1% | 29.2% | 2 |
| 1950s | 32.4% | 29.7% | 35.1% | 2 |
| 1960s | 40.9% | 38.7% | 43.0% | 2 |
| 1970s | 52.1% | 48.1% | 57.3% | 7 |
| 1980s | 61.7% | 59.6% | 64.2% | 4 |
| 1990s | 76.9% | 71.2% | 82.6% | 2 |
| 2000s | 91.0% | 83.9% | 96.0% | 8 |
| 2010s | 91.5% | 88.6% | 97.6% | 9 |
| 2020s | 91.3% | 90.2% | 91.6% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Guatemala
- 143 New Caledonia 92.6% compare
- 144 Panama 92.3% compare
- 145 Kazakhstan 92.1% compare
- 147 Niue 91.6% compare
- 148 Martinique 91.5% compare
- 149 Mongolia 91.4% compare
More education data for Guatemala
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 122,548 (2024)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 247,917 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 335,306 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 328,468 (2024)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 1.13 million (2024)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 2.42 million (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 0.3948 % change on previous year (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.1317 units per person (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of children in primary school age who are in school in Guatemala?
- Share of children in primary school age who are in school in Guatemala was 91.6% 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 Guatemala?
- The highest recorded value was 97.6% in 2011.
- What is the lowest share of children in primary school age who are in school recorded in Guatemala?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.6% in 1820.
- How does Guatemala rank for share of children in primary school age who are in school?
- Guatemala ranks 146th out of 209 countries with data for 2024.
- Is share of children in primary school age who are in school rising or falling in Guatemala?
- Over the last ten years it is up 1.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Guatemala 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.