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United States · Education

Literacy, enrolment, attainment and spending.

16 indicators · 14 with data

School enrolment, primary (% gross)

% gross

117th of 165 · 1st in N. America*
School enrolment, primary (% gross)United States's school enrolment, primary (% gross) rose from 91.9 % in 1977 to 97.0 % in 2022.1980199020002010202090%95%100%105%110%97.0 %

United States's school enrolment, primary (% gross) rose from 91.9 % in 1977 to 97.0 % in 2022.

School enrolment, secondary (% gross)

% gross

65th of 140 · 2nd in N. America*
School enrolment, secondary (% gross)United States's school enrolment, secondary (% gross) rose from 84.9 % in 1977 to 97.5 % in 2022.1980199020002010202080%90%100%97.5 %

United States's school enrolment, secondary (% gross) rose from 84.9 % in 1977 to 97.5 % in 2022.

Tertiary enrolment

% gross

25th of 126 · 1st in N. America*
Tertiary enrolmentUnited States's tertiary enrolment rose from 52.9 % in 1980 to 79.4 % in 2022.1980199020002010202050%60%70%80%90%100%79.4 %

United States's tertiary enrolment rose from 52.9 % in 1980 to 79.4 % in 2022.

Children out of school, primary

children

138th of 146 · 2nd in N. America*
Children out of school, primaryUnited States's children out of school, primary rose from 135,557 in 2005 to 965,853 in 2022.20052010201520200200k400k600k800k1M965,853

United States's children out of school, primary rose from 135,557 in 2005 to 965,853 in 2022.

Primary completion rate

% of relevant age group

78th of 134 · 1st in N. America*
Primary completion rateUnited States's primary completion rate fell from 98.8 % in 2017 to 95.7 % in 2022.20172018201920202021202296%98%100%102%95.7 %

United States's primary completion rate fell from 98.8 % in 2017 to 95.7 % in 2022.

Tertiary attainment

% of population ages 25–64

8th of 45 · 2nd in N. America
Tertiary attainmentUnited States's tertiary attainment rose from 33.3 % in 1995 to 52.2 % in 2025.199520002005201020152020202530%35%40%45%50%55%52.2 %

United States's tertiary attainment rose from 33.3 % in 1995 to 52.2 % in 2025.

Tertiary educational attainment (ages 25–34)

% of population ages 25–34

13th of 45 · 2nd in N. America
Tertiary educational attainment (ages 25–34)United States's tertiary educational attainment (ages 25–34) rose from 33.6 % in 1995 to 52.8 % in 2025.199520002005201020152020202530%35%40%45%50%55%52.8 %

United States's tertiary educational attainment (ages 25–34) rose from 33.6 % in 1995 to 52.8 % in 2025.

At least upper secondary attainment (ages 25–64)

% of population ages 25–64

7th of 40 · 2nd in N. America
At least upper secondary attainment (ages 25–64)United States's at least upper secondary attainment (ages 25–64) rose from 85.8 % in 1995 to 92.3 % in 2025.199520002005201020152020202584%86%88%90%92%94%92.3 %

United States's at least upper secondary attainment (ages 25–64) rose from 85.8 % in 1995 to 92.3 % in 2025.

Expected years of schooling

years

47th of 195 · 1st in N. America
Expected years of schoolingUnited States's expected years of schooling fell from 16.0 yrs in 1994 to 15.9 yrs in 2023.1995200020052010201520201515.51616.51715.9 yrs

United States's expected years of schooling fell from 16.0 yrs in 1994 to 15.9 yrs in 2023.

Mean years of schooling (ages 25+)

years

4th of 145 · 1st in N. America
Mean years of schooling (ages 25+)United States's mean years of schooling (ages 25+) rose from 4.6 yrs in 1875 to 13.3 yrs in 2020.18751900192519501975200046810121413.3 yrs

United States's mean years of schooling (ages 25+) rose from 4.6 yrs in 1875 to 13.3 yrs in 2020.

Learning poverty

% of children at end of primary age

25th of 53 · 1st in N. America
Learning povertyUnited States's learning poverty fell from 10.2 % in 2001 to 9.7 % in 2021.20052010201520206%7%8%9%10%11%9.7 %

United States's learning poverty fell from 10.2 % in 2001 to 9.7 % in 2021.

Latest values — expand for the charts.

Latest values — expand for the charts.

No data available (2)

These indicators exist in the registry but no source reports a value for United States.

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