Share of the population with tertiary education in El Salvador

El Salvador: Share of the population with tertiary education was 6.3% in 2020. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2020)
6.3%
World rank
78th
of 111 countries
All-time high
12.2%
in 2005
All-time low
0.0%
in 1870
Years of data
31
1870–2020

Share of the population with tertiary education in El Salvador, 1870–2020

02.557.51012.51870194520201870: 0 %1875: 0 %1880: 0 %1885: 0 %1890: 0 %1895: 0 %1900: 0.1 %1905: 0.2 %1910: 0.3 %1915: 0.4 %1920: 0.4 %1925: 0.4 %1930: 0.4 %1935: 0.4 %1940: 0.4 %1945: 0.4 %1950: 0.4 %1955: 0.5 %1960: 0.5 %1965: 1.1 %1970: 2 %1975: 2.6 %1980: 4 %1985: 5.3 %1990: 7 %1995: 8.2 %2000: 10.1 %2005: 12.2 %2010: 7.3 %2015: 6.1 %2020: 6.3 %

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

Analysis

The most recent figure for share of the population with tertiary education in El Salvador is 6.3%, measured in 2020.

The figure is down 13.7% over ten years.

Over the whole period, share of the population with tertiary education in El Salvador peaked at 12.2% in 2005 and was at its lowest, 0.0%, in 1870.

That places El Salvador 78th 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 the population with tertiary education in El Salvador, year by year

Annual values for Share of the population with tertiary education in El Salvador, 1870 to 2020.
Year % Change
1870 0.0%
1875 0.0%
1880 0.0%
1885 0.0%
1890 0.0%
1895 0.0%
1900 0.1%
1905 0.2% +100.0%
1910 0.3% +50.0%
1915 0.4% +33.3%
1920 0.4% +0.0%
1925 0.4% +0.0%
1930 0.4% +0.0%
1935 0.4% +0.0%
1940 0.4% +0.0%
1945 0.4% +0.0%
1950 0.4% +0.0%
1955 0.5% +25.0%
1960 0.5% +0.0%
1965 1.1% +120.0%
1970 2.0% +81.8%
1975 2.6% +30.0%
1980 4.0% +53.8%
1985 5.3% +32.5%
1990 7.0% +32.1%
1995 8.2% +17.1%
2000 10.1% +23.2%
2005 12.2% +20.8%
2010 7.3% -40.2%
2015 6.1% -16.4%
2020 6.3% +3.3%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1870s 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 2
1880s 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 2
1890s 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 2
1900s 0.2% 0.1% 0.2% 2
1910s 0.3% 0.3% 0.4% 2
1920s 0.4% 0.4% 0.4% 2
1930s 0.4% 0.4% 0.4% 2
1940s 0.4% 0.4% 0.4% 2
1950s 0.5% 0.4% 0.5% 2
1960s 0.8% 0.5% 1.1% 2
1970s 2.3% 2.0% 2.6% 2
1980s 4.7% 4.0% 5.3% 2
1990s 7.6% 7.0% 8.2% 2
2000s 11.1% 10.1% 12.2% 2
2010s 6.7% 6.1% 7.3% 2
2020s 6.3% 6.3% 6.3% 1

Countries ranked near El Salvador

  1. 75 Barbados 7.5% compare
  2. 76 Mauritius 6.6% compare
  3. 76 Sudan 6.6% compare
  4. 78 Kuwait 6.3% compare
  5. 80 Benin 6.1% compare
  6. 81 Pakistan 5.9% compare

See the full ranking of 111 places →

More education data for El Salvador

All data for El Salvador →

Frequently asked questions

What is share of the population with tertiary education in El Salvador?
Share of the population with tertiary education in El Salvador was 6.3% 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 the population with tertiary education recorded in El Salvador?
The highest recorded value was 12.2% in 2005.
What is the lowest share of the population with tertiary education recorded in El Salvador?
The lowest recorded value was 0.0% in 1870.
How does El Salvador rank for share of the population with tertiary education?
El Salvador ranks 78th out of 111 countries with data for 2020.
Is share of the population with tertiary education rising or falling in El Salvador?
Over the last ten years it is down 13.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this El Salvador 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 the population with tertiary education. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Share of the population with tertiary education in El Salvador. Statizoid, drawing on Barro and Lee (2015); Lee and Lee (2016) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Retrieved 30 August 2026, from https://education.statizoid.com/stat/share-of-the-population-with-completed-tertiary-education/el-salvador/

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About this data

Indicator
Share of the population with tertiary 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

Percentage of the population aged 25 to 65 years who have either completed or partially completed tertiary education.