Share of the world's population with formal basic education in Spain
Spain: Share of the world's population with formal basic education was 1.4% in 2020. ◆ Volatile
Share of the world's population with formal basic education in Spain, 1950–2020
Source: World Bank (2024); van Zanden, J. et al.; Wittgenstein Centre (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for share of the world's population with formal basic education in Spain is 1.4%, measured in 2020. That is the lowest value across all 15 years on record.
The figure is down 24.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of the world's population with formal basic education in Spain peaked at 22.1% in 1950 and was at its lowest, 1.4%, in 2020.
Spain ranks 13th of 25 countries on this measure, 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 world's population with formal basic education in Spain, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 22.1% | — |
| 1955 | 18.7% | -15.3% |
| 1960 | 15.5% | -17.3% |
| 1965 | 12.7% | -18.0% |
| 1970 | 10.3% | -18.8% |
| 1975 | 8.2% | -20.9% |
| 1980 | 6.5% | -20.5% |
| 1985 | 5.2% | -19.7% |
| 1990 | 4.2% | -19.7% |
| 1995 | 3.4% | -19.4% |
| 2000 | 2.7% | -18.9% |
| 2005 | 2.2% | -19.8% |
| 2010 | 1.8% | -18.1% |
| 2015 | 1.5% | -17.2% |
| 2020 | 1.4% | -9.0% |
Spain compared with similar countries
- Spain's 1.4% is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 0.1%, 11.2× the median. (10 countries reporting)
- Spain's 1.4% is above the median for high income countries, which is 0.1%, 13.5× the median. (13 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 20.4% | 18.7% | 22.1% | 2 |
| 1960s | 14.1% | 12.7% | 15.5% | 2 |
| 1970s | 9.2% | 8.2% | 10.3% | 2 |
| 1980s | 5.9% | 5.2% | 6.5% | 2 |
| 1990s | 3.8% | 3.4% | 4.2% | 2 |
| 2000s | 2.5% | 2.2% | 2.7% | 2 |
| 2010s | 1.6% | 1.5% | 1.8% | 2 |
| 2020s | 1.4% | 1.4% | 1.4% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Spain
More education data for Spain
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 344,203 (2024)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 37,817 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 570,954 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 538,977 (2024)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 3.71 million (2024)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 2.83 million (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate -1.08 % change on previous year (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.058 units per person (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of the world's population with formal basic education in Spain?
- Share of the world's population with formal basic education in Spain was 1.4% in 2020, according to World Bank (2024); van Zanden, J. et al.; Wittgenstein Centre (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of the world's population with formal basic education recorded in Spain?
- The highest recorded value was 22.1% in 1950.
- What is the lowest share of the world's population with formal basic education recorded in Spain?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.4% in 2020.
- How does Spain rank for share of the world's population with formal basic education?
- Spain ranks 13th out of 25 countries with data for 2020.
- Is share of the world's population with formal basic education rising or falling in Spain?
- Over the last ten years it is down 24.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Spain data come from?
- The figures come from World Bank (2024); van Zanden, J. et al.; Wittgenstein Centre (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of the world's population with formal basic education. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of people aged 15 or older who have not received some kind of formal primary, secondary, or tertiary education.