Colombia: School enrollment, secondary (% gross)

Key figures

What the numbers say

In 2022, Colombia's school enrollment, secondary (% gross) fell 1.41 percentage points on 2021 (from 102.99% to 101.57%).

Across the 17 yearly changes before that (2005 to 2021), the average change was +1.18 percentage points and a typical year strayed about 1.9 percentage points from that (the standard deviation). This year's change was 1.4 standard deviations below that average, so it was larger than a typical year, though not out of the range seen before.

On record, the biggest yearly rise was 4.04 percentage points in 2009 and the biggest yearly fall was 3.97 percentage points in 2012. The numbers show how large and when, not why; for the cause, look at what happened in that country in those years.

From 2013 to 2022 the straight-line trend is upward, about 0.62 percentage points a year. A straight line explains 85% of the movement over 10 observed years.

Worked out from the yearly values above. How the checks work: standard deviation, z-scores and straight-line trends.

How it compares

See how every economy compares in the full ranking.

Closest to Colombia in the 2022 ranking

• Ireland — 1st of 8: 130.61%
• United States — 3rd of 8: 97.47%
• Cabo Verde — 4th of 8: 96.43%
• Viet Nam — 5th of 8: 93.41%

What this measures

Gross enrollment ratio is the ratio of total enrollment, regardless of age, to the population of the age group that officially corresponds to the level of education shown. Secondary education completes the provision of basic education that began at the primary level, and aims at laying the foundations for lifelong learning and human development, by offering more subject- or skill-oriented instruction using more specialized teachers.

Limitations: Enrollment indicators are based on annual school surveys, but do not necessarily reflect actual attendance or dropout rates during the year. Also, the length of education differs across countries and can influence enrollment rates, although the International Standard Classification of Education (ISCED) tries to minimize the difference. For example, a shorter duration for primary education tends to increase the rate; a longer one to decrease it (in part because older children are more at risk of dropping out). Moreover, age at enrollment may be inaccurately estimated or misstated, especially in communities where registration of births is not strictly enforced.

Regional and income-group figures are computed by the World Bank as a weighted average.

All 21 values

School enrollment, secondary (% gross) in nearby economies

• Antigua and Barbuda — 108.88% (2023)
• Argentina — 105.58% (2023)
• Aruba — 124.38% (2024)
• Bahamas, The — 79.49% (2024)
• Barbados — 104.37% (2024)
• Belize — 86.46% (2024)
• Bolivia — 90.53% (2024)
• Brazil — 104.15% (2024)
• British Virgin Islands — 75.58% (2024)
• Cayman Islands — 84.76% (2024)

More education data for Colombia

• Primary school starting age (years) — 6 (2025)
• Primary education, duration (years) — 5 (2025)
• Lower secondary school starting age (years) — 11 (2025)
• Secondary education, duration (years) — 6 (2025)
• Primary education, pupils — 4.14 million (2022)
• Primary education, teachers — 180,781 (2022)
• School enrollment, primary (gross), gender parity index (GPI) — 0.97 (2020)
• Secondary education, pupils — 4.85 million (2022)
• Primary education, pupils (% female) — 48.13% (2018)
• Pupil-teacher ratio, primary — 23.3 (2018)

Reading data like this

• Where to find free public data, and how to check it before you trust it — 2 min read
• Data analysis examples: 6 worked from one dataset — 3 min read
• Real change or random noise? A plain guide to reading your numbers — 2 min read

Questions people ask

What is Colombia's school enrollment, secondary (% gross)?

101.57% in 2022, according to the World Bank (World Development Indicators).

How has it changed since 2000?

It is up 25.17 percentage points from 76.4% in 2000. The highest value was 102.99% in 2021 and the lowest 76.4% in 2000.

Is the latest change in school enrollment, secondary (% gross) unusual for Colombia?

In 2022, Colombia's school enrollment, secondary (% gross) fell 1.41 percentage points on 2021 (from 102.99% to 101.57%). Across the 17 yearly changes before that (2005 to 2021), the average change was +1.18 percentage points and a typical year strayed about 1.9 percentage points from that (the standard deviation). This year's change was 1.4 standard deviations below that average, so it was larger than a typical year, though not out of the range seen before.

Where does this data come from?

The World Bank's World Development Indicators, licensed CC BY 4.0. Original source: Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), uri: https://databrowser.uis.unesco.org/resources, note: The data are obtained through the UIS API..

Source

World Bank, World Development Indicators, indicator SE.SEC.ENRR, licensed CC BY 4.0. Original source: Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), uri: https://databrowser.uis.unesco.org/resources, note: The data are obtained through the UIS API. Figures are fetched from the World Bank API and refreshed monthly; see the series on data.worldbank.org. The full definition and method are in the World Bank's metadata glossary. Comparisons use the same World Bank release.

Want to ask your own questions of data like this? Try AnalyzeIt: upload a file or ask about public data in plain words, and every figure comes with its working.