Share of children in primary school age who are in school in Nicaragua
Nicaragua: Share of children in primary school age who are in school was 93.3% in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Share of children in primary school age who are in school in Nicaragua, 1820–2023
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics (2026); Lee and Lee (2016) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
Nicaragua recorded 93.3% for share of children in primary school age who are in school in 2023.
The figure is down 2.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of children in primary school age who are in school in Nicaragua peaked at 99.0% in 2005 and was at its lowest, 1.0%, in 1820.
Nicaragua ranks 135th 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 Nicaragua, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1820 | 1.0% | — |
| 1825 | 1.2% | +26.5% |
| 1830 | 1.6% | +25.8% |
| 1835 | 2.0% | +26.3% |
| 1840 | 2.5% | +25.9% |
| 1845 | 3.1% | +25.8% |
| 1850 | 3.9% | +25.6% |
| 1855 | 4.9% | +25.5% |
| 1860 | 6.2% | +25.0% |
| 1865 | 7.7% | +24.7% |
| 1870 | 9.5% | +24.1% |
| 1875 | 11.8% | +23.5% |
| 1880 | 14.4% | +22.8% |
| 1885 | 17.6% | +22.0% |
| 1890 | 18.1% | +3.0% |
| 1895 | 18.7% | +2.9% |
| 1900 | 19.2% | +2.8% |
| 1905 | 17.8% | -7.2% |
| 1910 | 16.4% | -7.8% |
| 1915 | 26.1% | +59.2% |
| 1920 | 23.5% | -10.0% |
| 1925 | 23.0% | -2.1% |
| 1930 | 25.1% | +9.1% |
| 1935 | 27.2% | +8.3% |
| 1940 | 29.3% | +7.7% |
| 1945 | 34.9% | +19.3% |
| 1950 | 40.6% | +16.2% |
| 1955 | 52.2% | +28.6% |
| 1960 | 62.2% | +19.1% |
| 1965 | 65.0% | +4.6% |
| 1970 | 54.3% | -16.4% |
| 1971 | 56.4% | +3.8% |
| 1972 | 55.4% | -1.6% |
| 1973 | 55.8% | +0.7% |
| 1974 | 55.4% | -0.8% |
| 1975 | 57.1% | +3.0% |
| 1976 | 58.1% | +1.8% |
| 1977 | 57.1% | -1.6% |
| 1978 | 55.2% | -3.3% |
| 1980 | 64.1% | +16.1% |
| 1982 | 63.0% | -1.8% |
| 1983 | 63.5% | +0.9% |
| 1984 | 62.0% | -2.4% |
| 1985 | 66.0% | +6.5% |
| 1986 | 64.7% | -2.1% |
| 1987 | 66.1% | +2.3% |
| 1988 | 66.3% | +0.3% |
| 1989 | 64.7% | -2.4% |
| 1990 | 67.4% | +4.1% |
| 1991 | 70.2% | +4.1% |
| 1992 | 73.7% | +5.1% |
| 1993 | 74.6% | +1.1% |
| 1994 | 75.4% | +1.1% |
| 1995 | 73.4% | -2.7% |
| 1996 | 72.2% | -1.5% |
| 1999 | 81.7% | +13.1% |
| 2000 | 84.7% | +3.7% |
| 2001 | 88.6% | +4.6% |
| 2002 | 95.5% | +7.9% |
| 2004 | 98.9% | +3.5% |
| 2005 | 99.0% | +0.1% |
| 2006 | 97.0% | -2.1% |
| 2007 | 96.2% | -0.8% |
| 2008 | 96.8% | +0.6% |
| 2010 | 95.5% | -1.3% |
| 2023 | 93.3% | -2.3% |
Nicaragua compared with similar countries
- Nicaragua's 93.3% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 93.7%, 100% of the median. (46 countries reporting)
- Nicaragua's 93.3% is below the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 95.1%, 98% 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 Nicaragua 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1915 | +59.2% | 16.4% | 26.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1820s | 1.1% | 1.0% | 1.2% | 2 |
| 1830s | 1.8% | 1.6% | 2.0% | 2 |
| 1840s | 2.8% | 2.5% | 3.1% | 2 |
| 1850s | 4.4% | 3.9% | 4.9% | 2 |
| 1860s | 6.9% | 6.2% | 7.7% | 2 |
| 1870s | 10.6% | 9.5% | 11.8% | 2 |
| 1880s | 16.0% | 14.4% | 17.6% | 2 |
| 1890s | 18.4% | 18.1% | 18.7% | 2 |
| 1900s | 18.5% | 17.8% | 19.2% | 2 |
| 1910s | 21.3% | 16.4% | 26.1% | 2 |
| 1920s | 23.3% | 23.0% | 23.5% | 2 |
| 1930s | 26.2% | 25.1% | 27.2% | 2 |
| 1940s | 32.1% | 29.3% | 34.9% | 2 |
| 1950s | 46.4% | 40.6% | 52.2% | 2 |
| 1960s | 63.6% | 62.2% | 65.0% | 2 |
| 1970s | 56.1% | 54.3% | 58.1% | 9 |
| 1980s | 64.5% | 62.0% | 66.3% | 9 |
| 1990s | 73.6% | 67.4% | 81.7% | 8 |
| 2000s | 94.6% | 84.7% | 99.0% | 8 |
| 2010s | 95.5% | 95.5% | 95.5% | 1 |
| 2020s | 93.3% | 93.3% | 93.3% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Nicaragua
- 132 San Marino 93.9% compare
- 133 Georgia 93.8% compare
- 134 Nauru 93.4% compare
- 136 China 93.3% compare
- 137 Montserrat 93.3% compare
- 138 Seychelles 93.2% compare
More education data for Nicaragua
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 12,739 (2023)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 85,306 (2022)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 132,281 (2023)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 131,337 (2023)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 463,660 (2023)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 880,080 (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 0.9095 % change on previous year (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.129 units per person (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of children in primary school age who are in school in Nicaragua?
- Share of children in primary school age who are in school in Nicaragua was 93.3% in 2023, 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 Nicaragua?
- The highest recorded value was 99.0% in 2005.
- What is the lowest share of children in primary school age who are in school recorded in Nicaragua?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.0% in 1820.
- How does Nicaragua rank for share of children in primary school age who are in school?
- Nicaragua ranks 135th out of 209 countries with data for 2023.
- Is share of children in primary school age who are in school rising or falling in Nicaragua?
- Over the last ten years it is down 2.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Nicaragua 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.