School enrollment, primary (% net) in North America
North America: School enrollment, primary (% net) was 95.2% in 2018. ▲ Rising
School enrollment, primary in North America, 1974–2018
Source: Stat Bulk Data Download Service, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Measured in % net.
Analysis
In 2018, school enrollment, primary in North America stood at 95.2%.
That represents a change of up 0.1% on the previous year and down 1.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, school enrollment, primary in North America peaked at 98.8% in 1991 and was at its lowest, 82.4%, in 1975.
North America ranks 11th of 43 groups on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 45 years of available data.
School enrollment, primary (% net) in North America, year by year
| Year | % net | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1974 | 82.5% | — |
| 1975 | 82.4% | -0.1% |
| 1976 | 83.3% | +1.1% |
| 1977 | 83.7% | +0.5% |
| 1978 | 84.3% | +0.7% |
| 1979 | 84.0% | -0.2% |
| 1980 | 91.1% | +8.4% |
| 1981 | 91.1% | -0.1% |
| 1982 | 93.3% | +2.5% |
| 1983 | 92.3% | -1.1% |
| 1984 | 91.5% | -0.9% |
| 1985 | 91.9% | +0.5% |
| 1986 | 93.5% | +1.8% |
| 1987 | 95.3% | +1.9% |
| 1988 | 96.4% | +1.1% |
| 1989 | 97.5% | +1.1% |
| 1990 | 98.6% | +1.1% |
| 1991 | 98.8% | +0.2% |
| 1992 | 97.9% | -0.9% |
| 1993 | 96.9% | -1.1% |
| 1994 | 96.3% | -0.6% |
| 1995 | 97.0% | +0.8% |
| 1996 | 96.1% | -1.0% |
| 1997 | 96.0% | -0.1% |
| 1998 | 95.8% | -0.2% |
| 1999 | 95.5% | -0.3% |
| 2000 | 95.4% | -0.0% |
| 2001 | 95.6% | +0.2% |
| 2002 | 94.7% | -1.0% |
| 2003 | 95.5% | +0.8% |
| 2004 | 94.8% | -0.7% |
| 2005 | 95.0% | +0.1% |
| 2006 | 95.7% | +0.7% |
| 2007 | 96.2% | +0.6% |
| 2008 | 96.3% | +0.1% |
| 2009 | 95.0% | -1.3% |
| 2010 | 93.8% | -1.3% |
| 2011 | 92.9% | -1.0% |
| 2012 | 93.3% | +0.5% |
| 2013 | 93.4% | +0.0% |
| 2014 | 93.7% | +0.4% |
| 2015 | 94.4% | +0.7% |
| 2016 | 95.5% | +1.2% |
| 2017 | 95.1% | -0.4% |
| 2018 | 95.2% | +0.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 83.4% | 82.4% | 84.3% | 6 |
| 1980s | 93.4% | 91.1% | 97.5% | 10 |
| 1990s | 96.9% | 95.5% | 98.8% | 10 |
| 2000s | 95.4% | 94.7% | 96.3% | 10 |
| 2010s | 94.1% | 92.9% | 95.5% | 9 |
Countries ranked near North America
- 8 United Kingdom 99.5% compare
- 9 French Polynesia 99.4% compare
- 10 Uruguay 99.4% compare
- 11 Aruba 99.2% compare
- 12 Argentina 99.2% compare
- 13 Sweden 99.2% compare
- 14 New Zealand 99.1% compare
More education data for North America
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.0687 units per person (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 26.20 million (2024)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate -0.2703 % change on previous year (2024)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 28.14 million (2024)
- Secondary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Population ages 15-64 64.5% (2025)
- Primary education, teachers, gaps filled 2.04 million (2024)
- Secondary education, pupils, per capita 0.0738 units per person (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is school enrollment, primary in North America?
- School enrollment, primary in North America was 95.2% in 2018, according to Stat Bulk Data Download Service, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
- What is the highest school enrollment, primary recorded in North America?
- The highest recorded value was 98.8% in 1991.
- What is the lowest school enrollment, primary recorded in North America?
- The lowest recorded value was 82.4% in 1975.
- How does North America rank for school enrollment, primary?
- North America ranks 11th out of 43 groups with data for 2018.
- Is school enrollment, primary rising or falling in North America?
- Over the last ten years it is down 1.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this North America data come from?
- The figures come from Stat Bulk Data Download Service, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), published as part of School enrollment, primary (% net). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Net enrollment rate is the ratio of children of official school age who are enrolled in school to the population of the corresponding official school age. Primary education provides children with basic reading, writing, and mathematics skills along with an elementary understanding of such subjects as history, geography, natural science, social science, art, and music.