Share of children achieving minimum proficiency in reading and math at each education level in Costa Rica
Costa Rica: Share of children achieving minimum proficiency in reading and math at each education level was 20.4% in 2022. ▼ Falling
Share of children achieving minimum proficiency in reading and math at each education level in Costa Rica, 2009–2022
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for share of children achieving minimum proficiency in reading and math at each education level in Costa Rica is 20.4%, measured in 2022. That is the lowest value across all 5 years on record.
The figure is down 19.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of children achieving minimum proficiency in reading and math at each education level in Costa Rica peaked at 27.9% in 2018 and was at its lowest, 20.4%, in 2022.
Costa Rica ranks 48th of 51 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
Share of children achieving minimum proficiency in reading and math at each education level in Costa Rica, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2009 | 26.1% | — |
| 2012 | 25.3% | -3.3% |
| 2015 | 25.0% | -0.9% |
| 2018 | 27.9% | +11.5% |
| 2022 | 20.4% | -26.9% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 26.1% | 26.1% | 26.1% | 1 |
| 2010s | 26.1% | 25.0% | 27.9% | 3 |
| 2020s | 20.4% | 20.4% | 20.4% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Costa Rica
More education data for Costa Rica
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 460,126 (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate -3.03 % change on previous year (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.0897 units per person (2024)
- Secondary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 460,126 (2024)
- Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number), annual growth -3.03 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number), per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number), per capita 0.0897 units per person (2024)
- Enrolment in primary education, female (number), gaps filled 225,537 (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of children achieving minimum proficiency in reading and math at each education level in Costa Rica?
- Share of children achieving minimum proficiency in reading and math at each education level in Costa Rica was 20.4% in 2022, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of children achieving minimum proficiency in reading and math at each education level recorded in Costa Rica?
- The highest recorded value was 27.9% in 2018.
- What is the lowest share of children achieving minimum proficiency in reading and math at each education level recorded in Costa Rica?
- The lowest recorded value was 20.4% in 2022.
- How does Costa Rica rank for share of children achieving minimum proficiency in reading and math at each education level?
- Costa Rica ranks 48th out of 51 countries with data for 2022.
- Is share of children achieving minimum proficiency in reading and math at each education level rising or falling in Costa Rica?
- Over the last ten years it is down 19.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Costa Rica data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of children achieving minimum proficiency in reading and math at each education level. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of children who achieve minimum math proficiency by the end of lower secondary education. This data accounts for school completion rates to estimate skills for all children, not just those in school.