Survival rate to Grade 5 of primary education, both sexes in Ethiopia

Ethiopia: Survival rate to Grade 5 of primary education, both sexes was 55.5% in 2021. ▲ Rising

Latest (2021)
55.5%
World rank
156th
of 165 countries
All-time high
68.8%
in 2004
All-time low
31.1%
in 1988
Years of data
23
1981–2021

Survival rate to Grade 5 of primary education, both sexes in Ethiopia, 1981–2021

02040601981200120211981: 50.1 %1986: 52.4 %1987: 46.3 %1988: 31.1 %1993: 58.1 %1994: 51.1 %1995: 55.3 %1998: 49 %1999: 56.5 %2000: 64.6 %2001: 60.4 %2002: 56 %2003: 53.6 %2004: 68.8 %2005: 65.6 %2006: 64.4 %2007: 50.8 %2008: 45.7 %2009: 43.4 %2010: 48.6 %2011: 44.1 %2014: 44.1 %2021: 55.5 %

Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.

Analysis

In 2021, survival rate to grade 5 of primary education, both sexes in Ethiopia stood at 55.5%.

The figure is up 25.9% over ten years.

Over the whole period, survival rate to grade 5 of primary education, both sexes in Ethiopia peaked at 68.8% in 2004 and was at its lowest, 31.1%, in 1988.

Ethiopia ranks 156th of 165 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 23 years of available data.

Survival rate to Grade 5 of primary education, both sexes in Ethiopia, year by year

Annual values for Survival rate to Grade 5 of primary education, both sexes (%) in Ethiopia, 1981 to 2021.
Year % Change
1981 50.1%
1986 52.4% +4.6%
1987 46.3% -11.6%
1988 31.1% -32.9%
1993 58.1% +86.9%
1994 51.1% -12.1%
1995 55.3% +8.1%
1998 49.0% -11.3%
1999 56.5% +15.2%
2000 64.6% +14.4%
2001 60.4% -6.5%
2002 56.0% -7.3%
2003 53.6% -4.2%
2004 68.8% +28.2%
2005 65.6% -4.7%
2006 64.4% -1.8%
2007 50.8% -21.0%
2008 45.7% -10.2%
2009 43.4% -4.9%
2010 48.6% +11.9%
2011 44.1% -9.3%
2014 44.1% +0.0%
2021 55.5% +25.8%

Ethiopia compared with similar countries

  • Ethiopia's 55.5% is below the median for low income countries, which is 61.1%, 91% of the median. (21 countries reporting)
  • Ethiopia's 55.5% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 74.6%, 74% of the median. (43 countries reporting)

Biggest year-on-year movements

Years where Survival rate to Grade 5 of primary education, both sexes in Ethiopia changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.

YearChange FromTo
1993 +86.9% 31.1% 58.1%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1980s 45.0% 31.1% 52.4% 4
1990s 54.0% 49.0% 58.1% 5
2000s 57.3% 43.4% 68.8% 10
2010s 45.6% 44.1% 48.6% 3
2020s 55.5% 55.5% 55.5% 1

Countries ranked near Ethiopia

  1. 153 Central African Republic 56.7% compare
  2. 154 Mali 56.5% compare
  3. 155 Mozambique 56.4% compare
  4. 157 Niger 53.5% compare
  5. 158 Nicaragua 51.4% compare
  6. 159 Sierra Leone 49.1% compare

See the full ranking of 165 places →

More education data for Ethiopia

All data for Ethiopia →

Frequently asked questions

What is survival rate to grade 5 of primary education, both sexes in Ethiopia?
Survival rate to grade 5 of primary education, both sexes in Ethiopia was 55.5% in 2021, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
What is the highest survival rate to grade 5 of primary education, both sexes recorded in Ethiopia?
The highest recorded value was 68.8% in 2004.
What is the lowest survival rate to grade 5 of primary education, both sexes recorded in Ethiopia?
The lowest recorded value was 31.1% in 1988.
How does Ethiopia rank for survival rate to grade 5 of primary education, both sexes?
Ethiopia ranks 156th out of 165 countries with data for 2021.
Is survival rate to grade 5 of primary education, both sexes rising or falling in Ethiopia?
Over the last ten years it is up 25.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this Ethiopia data come from?
The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Survival rate to Grade 5 of primary education, both sexes (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Survival rate to Grade 5 of primary education, both sexes in Ethiopia. Statizoid, drawing on UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Retrieved 13 September 2026, from https://education.statizoid.com/stat/survival-rate-to-grade-5-of-primary-education-both-sexes-percent/ethiopia/

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About this data

Indicator
Survival rate to Grade 5 of primary education, both sexes (%)
Unit
%
Source
UNESCO Institute for Statistics
Licence
CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics)
Coverage
165 places, 3,695 data points, 1970–2023
Last refreshed

February 2026 Data Release