Share of children in primary school age who are in school in Mexico
Mexico: Share of children in primary school age who are in school was 99.6% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Share of children in primary school age who are in school in Mexico, 1820–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics (2026); Lee and Lee (2016) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
Mexico recorded 99.6% for share of children in primary school age who are in school in 2024.
The figure is down 0.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of children in primary school age who are in school in Mexico peaked at 99.9% in 2000 and was at its lowest, 3.1%, in 1820.
That places Mexico 23rd out of 209 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top 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 Mexico, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1820 | 3.1% | — |
| 1825 | 3.9% | +26.1% |
| 1830 | 4.9% | +25.6% |
| 1835 | 6.1% | +25.3% |
| 1840 | 7.6% | +24.8% |
| 1845 | 9.4% | +24.3% |
| 1850 | 11.7% | +23.8% |
| 1855 | 14.4% | +23.1% |
| 1860 | 17.6% | +22.2% |
| 1865 | 21.3% | +21.2% |
| 1870 | 25.6% | +20.1% |
| 1875 | 27.1% | +5.7% |
| 1880 | 28.5% | +5.4% |
| 1885 | 30.0% | +5.1% |
| 1890 | 31.7% | +5.8% |
| 1895 | 33.4% | +5.3% |
| 1900 | 35.1% | +5.1% |
| 1905 | 34.5% | -1.6% |
| 1910 | 33.4% | -3.3% |
| 1915 | 35.4% | +5.9% |
| 1920 | 29.6% | -16.2% |
| 1925 | 61.9% | +108.7% |
| 1930 | 86.0% | +38.9% |
| 1935 | 65.1% | -24.2% |
| 1940 | 66.0% | +1.3% |
| 1945 | 69.0% | +4.5% |
| 1950 | 62.6% | -9.2% |
| 1955 | 73.1% | +16.7% |
| 1960 | 58.3% | -20.3% |
| 1965 | 67.0% | +15.0% |
| 1970 | 81.0% | +20.9% |
| 1975 | 87.6% | +8.1% |
| 1980 | 99.3% | +13.4% |
| 2000 | 99.9% | +0.6% |
| 2001 | 99.8% | -0.1% |
| 2002 | 99.7% | -0.1% |
| 2003 | 99.7% | -0.0% |
| 2004 | 99.7% | -0.0% |
| 2005 | 99.8% | +0.1% |
| 2006 | 99.8% | +0.0% |
| 2007 | 99.8% | +0.0% |
| 2008 | 99.9% | +0.1% |
| 2009 | 99.9% | -0.0% |
| 2010 | 99.8% | -0.0% |
| 2011 | 99.8% | -0.0% |
| 2012 | 99.8% | -0.0% |
| 2013 | 99.7% | -0.0% |
| 2014 | 99.7% | -0.0% |
| 2015 | 99.7% | -0.0% |
| 2016 | 99.7% | +0.0% |
| 2017 | 99.7% | -0.0% |
| 2018 | 99.7% | +0.1% |
| 2019 | 99.7% | -0.1% |
| 2020 | 99.7% | +0.0% |
| 2021 | 99.7% | -0.0% |
| 2022 | 99.7% | -0.0% |
| 2023 | 99.7% | -0.0% |
| 2024 | 99.6% | -0.0% |
Mexico compared with similar countries
- Mexico's 99.6% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 96.0%, 1.0× the median. (56 countries reporting)
- Mexico's 99.6% is above the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 95.1%, 1.0× the median. (38 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Share of children in primary school age who are in school in Mexico 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 | +108.7% | 29.6% | 61.9% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1820s | 3.5% | 3.1% | 3.9% | 2 |
| 1830s | 5.5% | 4.9% | 6.1% | 2 |
| 1840s | 8.5% | 7.6% | 9.4% | 2 |
| 1850s | 13.1% | 11.7% | 14.4% | 2 |
| 1860s | 19.5% | 17.6% | 21.3% | 2 |
| 1870s | 26.4% | 25.6% | 27.1% | 2 |
| 1880s | 29.3% | 28.5% | 30.0% | 2 |
| 1890s | 32.6% | 31.7% | 33.4% | 2 |
| 1900s | 34.8% | 34.5% | 35.1% | 2 |
| 1910s | 34.4% | 33.4% | 35.4% | 2 |
| 1920s | 45.8% | 29.6% | 61.9% | 2 |
| 1930s | 75.5% | 65.1% | 86.0% | 2 |
| 1940s | 67.5% | 66.0% | 69.0% | 2 |
| 1950s | 67.9% | 62.6% | 73.1% | 2 |
| 1960s | 62.6% | 58.3% | 67.0% | 2 |
| 1970s | 84.3% | 81.0% | 87.6% | 2 |
| 1980s | 99.3% | 99.3% | 99.3% | 1 |
| 2000s | 99.8% | 99.7% | 99.9% | 10 |
| 2010s | 99.7% | 99.7% | 99.8% | 10 |
| 2020s | 99.7% | 99.6% | 99.7% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Mexico
More education data for Mexico
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 868,550 (2023)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 96,349 (2025)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 2.14 million (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 2.11 million (2024)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 13.99 million (2024)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 13.19 million (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.1 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of children in primary school age who are in school in Mexico?
- Share of children in primary school age who are in school in Mexico was 99.6% 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 Mexico?
- The highest recorded value was 99.9% in 2000.
- What is the lowest share of children in primary school age who are in school recorded in Mexico?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.1% in 1820.
- How does Mexico rank for share of children in primary school age who are in school?
- Mexico ranks 23rd out of 209 countries with data for 2024.
- Is share of children in primary school age who are in school rising or falling in Mexico?
- Over the last ten years it is down 0.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Mexico 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.