Primary, secondary and tertiary education enrollment and completion rates in Syria
Syria: Primary, secondary and tertiary education enrollment and completion rates was 81.4% in 2024. ▬ Flat
Primary, secondary and tertiary education enrollment and completion rates in Syria, 1971–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for primary, secondary and tertiary education enrollment and completion rates in Syria is 81.4%, measured in 2024.
That represents a change of up 6.0% on the previous year and up 12.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, primary, secondary and tertiary education enrollment and completion rates in Syria peaked at 120.2% in 2012 and was at its lowest, 68.6%, in 2021.
Syria ranks 204th of 217 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
Primary, secondary and tertiary education enrollment and completion rates in Syria, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1971 | 79.7% | — |
| 1972 | 83.6% | +4.9% |
| 1973 | 88.4% | +5.8% |
| 1974 | 89.8% | +1.5% |
| 1975 | 90.5% | +0.8% |
| 1976 | 91.8% | +1.4% |
| 1977 | 91.4% | -0.4% |
| 1978 | 90.8% | -0.6% |
| 1979 | 90.9% | +0.1% |
| 1980 | 92.4% | +1.6% |
| 1981 | 93.6% | +1.4% |
| 1982 | 95.5% | +2.0% |
| 1983 | 96.3% | +0.9% |
| 1984 | 98.7% | +2.5% |
| 1985 | 100.5% | +1.8% |
| 1986 | 102.5% | +2.0% |
| 1987 | 105.6% | +3.1% |
| 1988 | 105.5% | -0.1% |
| 1989 | 106.8% | +1.2% |
| 1990 | 106.5% | -0.3% |
| 1991 | 108.0% | +1.4% |
| 1992 | 108.9% | +0.8% |
| 1993 | 107.3% | -1.4% |
| 1994 | 106.5% | -0.8% |
| 1995 | 104.8% | -1.6% |
| 1996 | 103.5% | -1.2% |
| 1997 | 102.4% | -1.1% |
| 1998 | 101.3% | -1.1% |
| 1999 | 101.9% | +0.6% |
| 2000 | 102.3% | +0.4% |
| 2001 | 103.4% | +1.1% |
| 2002 | 104.7% | +1.2% |
| 2003 | 113.1% | +8.0% |
| 2004 | 114.2% | +1.0% |
| 2005 | 116.2% | +1.8% |
| 2006 | 116.5% | +0.3% |
| 2007 | 116.0% | -0.5% |
| 2008 | 115.7% | -0.2% |
| 2009 | 115.8% | +0.1% |
| 2010 | 116.7% | +0.8% |
| 2011 | 119.2% | +2.1% |
| 2012 | 120.2% | +0.8% |
| 2013 | 72.4% | -39.8% |
| 2020 | 70.4% | -2.7% |
| 2021 | 68.6% | -2.6% |
| 2022 | 72.1% | +5.2% |
| 2023 | 76.8% | +6.4% |
| 2024 | 81.4% | +6.0% |
Syria compared with similar countries
- Syria's 81.4% is below the median for low income countries, which is 96.8%, 84% of the median. (23 countries reporting)
- Syria's 81.4% is below the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 97.6%, 83% of the median. (22 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Primary, secondary and tertiary education enrollment and completion rates in Syria 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | -39.8% | 120.2% | 72.4% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 88.5% | 79.7% | 91.8% | 9 |
| 1980s | 99.8% | 92.4% | 106.8% | 10 |
| 1990s | 105.1% | 101.3% | 108.9% | 10 |
| 2000s | 111.8% | 102.3% | 116.5% | 10 |
| 2010s | 107.1% | 72.4% | 120.2% | 4 |
| 2020s | 73.8% | 68.6% | 81.4% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Syria
More education data for Syria
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 54,596 (2024)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 90,421 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 75,782 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 72,747 (2024)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 1.36 million (2024)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 2.17 million (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 0.0055 % change on previous year (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2022)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.088 units per person (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is primary, secondary and tertiary education enrollment and completion rates in Syria?
- Primary, secondary and tertiary education enrollment and completion rates in Syria was 81.4% in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest primary, secondary and tertiary education enrollment and completion rates recorded in Syria?
- The highest recorded value was 120.2% in 2012.
- What is the lowest primary, secondary and tertiary education enrollment and completion rates recorded in Syria?
- The lowest recorded value was 68.6% in 2021.
- How does Syria rank for primary, secondary and tertiary education enrollment and completion rates?
- Syria ranks 204th out of 217 countries with data for 2024.
- Is primary, secondary and tertiary education enrollment and completion rates rising or falling in Syria?
- Over the last ten years it is up 12.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Syria data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Primary, secondary and tertiary education enrollment and completion rates. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Number of children of any age group who are enrolled in primary education, expressed as a percentage of the total population of the official primary school age.