Share of children in primary school age who are in school in Liberia
Liberia: Share of children in primary school age who are in school was 61.7% in 2022. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2022)
61.7%
Change on year
down 4.4%
World rank
200th
of 209 countries
All-time high
96.1%
in 2011
All-time low
0.2%
in 1820
Years of data
43
1820–2022
Share of children in primary school age who are in school in Liberia, 1820–2022
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics (2026); Lee and Lee (2016) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
Liberia recorded 61.7% for share of children in primary school age who are in school in 2022.
The figure is down 4.4% on the previous year and down 35.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of children in primary school age who are in school in Liberia peaked at 96.1% in 2011 and was at its lowest, 0.2%, in 1820.
That places Liberia 200th out of 209 countries with data for 2022, putting it in the bottom quarter.
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 Liberia, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1820 | 0.2% | — |
| 1825 | 0.2% | +25.0% |
| 1830 | 0.3% | +28.0% |
| 1835 | 0.4% | +28.1% |
| 1840 | 0.5% | +26.8% |
| 1845 | 0.7% | +25.0% |
| 1850 | 0.8% | +27.7% |
| 1855 | 1.0% | +25.3% |
| 1860 | 1.3% | +26.9% |
| 1865 | 1.7% | +26.5% |
| 1870 | 2.1% | +25.7% |
| 1875 | 2.6% | +26.2% |
| 1880 | 3.3% | +25.7% |
| 1885 | 4.2% | +25.8% |
| 1890 | 5.2% | +25.3% |
| 1895 | 7.8% | +48.2% |
| 1900 | 12.8% | +64.9% |
| 1905 | 15.2% | +18.7% |
| 1910 | 17.6% | +15.4% |
| 1915 | 14.7% | -16.2% |
| 1920 | 10.9% | -26.3% |
| 1925 | 6.1% | -44.1% |
| 1930 | 10.4% | +72.0% |
| 1935 | 8.8% | -16.2% |
| 1940 | 9.4% | +7.5% |
| 1945 | 7.9% | -16.2% |
| 1950 | 15.9% | +102.2% |
| 1955 | 19.2% | +20.1% |
| 1960 | 27.6% | +44.0% |
| 1965 | 36.5% | +32.3% |
| 1970 | 49.8% | +36.6% |
| 1975 | 55.2% | +10.7% |
| 1980 | 67.6% | +22.6% |
| 1999 | 44.2% | -34.7% |
| 2008 | 40.4% | -8.5% |
| 2011 | 96.1% | +137.7% |
| 2014 | 88.6% | -7.8% |
| 2015 | 86.4% | -2.5% |
| 2016 | 79.6% | -7.8% |
| 2017 | 73.6% | -7.6% |
| 2020 | 68.6% | -6.7% |
| 2021 | 64.6% | -5.9% |
| 2022 | 61.7% | -4.4% |
Liberia compared with similar countries
- Liberia's 61.7% is below the median for low income countries, which is 69.5%, 89% of the median. (23 countries reporting)
- Liberia's 61.7% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 84.5%, 73% of the median. (46 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1820s | 0.2% | 0.2% | 0.2% | 2 |
| 1830s | 0.4% | 0.3% | 0.4% | 2 |
| 1840s | 0.6% | 0.5% | 0.7% | 2 |
| 1850s | 0.9% | 0.8% | 1.0% | 2 |
| 1860s | 1.5% | 1.3% | 1.7% | 2 |
| 1870s | 2.4% | 2.1% | 2.6% | 2 |
| 1880s | 3.8% | 3.3% | 4.2% | 2 |
| 1890s | 6.5% | 5.2% | 7.8% | 2 |
| 1900s | 14.0% | 12.8% | 15.2% | 2 |
| 1910s | 16.2% | 14.7% | 17.6% | 2 |
| 1920s | 8.5% | 6.1% | 10.9% | 2 |
| 1930s | 9.6% | 8.8% | 10.4% | 2 |
| 1940s | 8.7% | 7.9% | 9.4% | 2 |
| 1950s | 17.6% | 15.9% | 19.2% | 2 |
| 1960s | 32.0% | 27.6% | 36.5% | 2 |
| 1970s | 52.5% | 49.8% | 55.2% | 2 |
| 1980s | 67.6% | 67.6% | 67.6% | 1 |
| 1990s | 44.2% | 44.2% | 44.2% | 1 |
| 2000s | 40.4% | 40.4% | 40.4% | 1 |
| 2010s | 84.8% | 73.6% | 96.1% | 5 |
| 2020s | 65.0% | 61.7% | 68.6% | 3 |
Countries ranked near Liberia
- 197 Burkina Faso 65.7% compare
- 198 Angola 63.2% compare
- 199 Central African Republic 62.1% compare
- 201 Eritrea 59.6% compare
- 202 Niger 59.6% compare
- 203 Cape Verde 58.2% compare
More education data for Liberia
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 17,857 (2020)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 14,815 (2022)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 123,519 (2022)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 123,876 (2022)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 274,573 (2020)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 569,741 (2022)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate -0.417 % change on previous year (2022)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2022)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.106 units per person (2022)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of children in primary school age who are in school in Liberia?
- Share of children in primary school age who are in school in Liberia was 61.7% 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 Liberia?
- The highest recorded value was 96.1% in 2011.
- What is the lowest share of children in primary school age who are in school recorded in Liberia?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.2% in 1820.
- How does Liberia rank for share of children in primary school age who are in school?
- Liberia ranks 200th out of 209 countries with data for 2022.
- Is share of children in primary school age who are in school rising or falling in Liberia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 35.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Liberia 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.