Share of population with no formal education in Cuba

Cuba: Share of population with no formal education was 2.0% in 2020. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2020)
2.0%
World rank
66th
of 111 countries
All-time high
96.8%
in 1870
All-time low
2.0%
in 2020
Years of data
31
1870–2020

Share of population with no formal education in Cuba, 1870–2020

0204060801001870194520201870: 96.8 %1875: 96 %1880: 95 %1885: 93.7 %1890: 91.9 %1895: 89.1 %1900: 80 %1905: 68 %1910: 62.4 %1915: 52.9 %1920: 47.9 %1925: 41.3 %1930: 34.3 %1935: 30.4 %1940: 27.7 %1945: 25.8 %1950: 23.8 %1955: 22.7 %1960: 20.8 %1965: 17.9 %1970: 12.3 %1975: 7 %1980: 3.6 %1985: 5.3 %1990: 6.5 %1995: 7.1 %2000: 6.7 %2005: 5 %2010: 3.5 %2015: 2.8 %2020: 2 %

Source: Barro and Lee (2015); Lee and Lee (2016) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.

Analysis

Cuba recorded 2.0% for share of population with no formal education in 2020. That is the lowest value across all 31 years on record.

That represents a change of down 42.9% over ten years.

Over the whole period, share of population with no formal education in Cuba peaked at 96.8% in 1870 and was at its lowest, 2.0%, in 2020.

That places Cuba 66th out of 111 countries with data for 2020, putting it in the middle of the range.

The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.

Share of population with no formal education in Cuba, year by year

Annual values for Share of population with no formal education in Cuba, 1870 to 2020.
Year % Change
1870 96.8%
1875 96.0% -0.8%
1880 95.0% -1.0%
1885 93.7% -1.4%
1890 91.9% -1.9%
1895 89.1% -3.0%
1900 80.0% -10.2%
1905 68.0% -15.0%
1910 62.4% -8.2%
1915 52.9% -15.2%
1920 47.9% -9.5%
1925 41.3% -13.8%
1930 34.3% -16.9%
1935 30.4% -11.4%
1940 27.7% -8.9%
1945 25.8% -6.9%
1950 23.8% -7.8%
1955 22.7% -4.6%
1960 20.8% -8.4%
1965 17.9% -13.9%
1970 12.3% -31.3%
1975 7.0% -43.1%
1980 3.6% -48.6%
1985 5.3% +47.2%
1990 6.5% +22.6%
1995 7.1% +9.2%
2000 6.7% -5.6%
2005 5.0% -25.4%
2010 3.5% -30.0%
2015 2.8% -20.0%
2020 2.0% -28.6%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1870s 96.4% 96.0% 96.8% 2
1880s 94.3% 93.7% 95.0% 2
1890s 90.5% 89.1% 91.9% 2
1900s 74.0% 68.0% 80.0% 2
1910s 57.6% 52.9% 62.4% 2
1920s 44.6% 41.3% 47.9% 2
1930s 32.3% 30.4% 34.3% 2
1940s 26.8% 25.8% 27.7% 2
1950s 23.2% 22.7% 23.8% 2
1960s 19.4% 17.9% 20.8% 2
1970s 9.7% 7.0% 12.3% 2
1980s 4.5% 3.6% 5.3% 2
1990s 6.8% 6.5% 7.1% 2
2000s 5.8% 5.0% 6.7% 2
2010s 3.1% 2.8% 3.5% 2
2020s 2.0% 2.0% 2.0% 1

Countries ranked near Cuba

  1. 64 Portugal 2.4% compare
  2. 65 Malaysia 2.2% compare
  3. 66 Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of 2.0% compare
  4. 68 Austria 1.9% compare
  5. 68 South Africa 1.9% compare
  6. 68 Zimbabwe 1.9% compare

See the full ranking of 111 places →

More education data for Cuba

All data for Cuba →

Frequently asked questions

What is share of population with no formal education in Cuba?
Share of population with no formal education in Cuba was 2.0% in 2020, according to Barro and Lee (2015); Lee and Lee (2016) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
What is the highest share of population with no formal education recorded in Cuba?
The highest recorded value was 96.8% in 1870.
What is the lowest share of population with no formal education recorded in Cuba?
The lowest recorded value was 2.0% in 2020.
How does Cuba rank for share of population with no formal education?
Cuba ranks 66th out of 111 countries with data for 2020.
Is share of population with no formal education rising or falling in Cuba?
Over the last ten years it is down 42.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this Cuba data come from?
The figures come from Barro and Lee (2015); Lee and Lee (2016) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of population with no formal education. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Share of population with no formal education in Cuba. Statizoid, drawing on Barro and Lee (2015); Lee and Lee (2016) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Retrieved 31 August 2026, from https://education.statizoid.com/stat/share-of-population-15-years-and-older-with-no-education/cuba/

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About this data

Indicator
Share of population with no formal education
Unit
%
Source
Barro and Lee (2015); Lee and Lee (2016) – with major processing by Our World in Data
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage
111 places, 3,441 data points, 1870–2020
Last refreshed

The share of adults aged between 15 and 64 years old with no formal education.