Costa Rica: School enrollment, preprimary (% gross)

Key figures

What the numbers say

In 2021, Costa Rica's school enrollment, preprimary (% gross) fell 1.93 percentage points on 2020 (from 97.17% to 95.24%).

Across the 30 yearly changes before that (1987 to 2020), the average change was +2.14 percentage points and a typical year strayed about 12.69 percentage points from that (the standard deviation). This year's change was 0.3 standard deviations below that average, so it was an ordinary year: it sits within the range of normal year-to-year movement.

On record, the biggest yearly rise was 48.29 percentage points in 1997 and the biggest yearly fall was 43.59 percentage points in 1998. The numbers show how large and when, not why; for the cause, look at what happened in that country in those years.

From 2012 to 2021 the straight-line trend is upward, about 2.53 percentage points a year. A straight line explains 73% 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

In 2021, Costa Rica had the 8th highest value of the 66 economies reporting that year. Higher is not always better: for some indicators the lowest value is the one to aim for. See the full ranking.

Closest to Costa Rica in the 2021 ranking

• Belarus — 5th of 66: 96.77%
• Peru — 6th of 66: 96.44%
• Turks and Caicos Islands — 7th of 66: 96.15%
• St. Kitts and Nevis — 9th of 66: 93.68%
• China — 10th of 66: 93.07%
• Viet Nam — 11th of 66: 92.45%

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. Preprimary education refers to programs at the initial stage of organized instruction, designed primarily to introduce very young children to a school-type environment and to provide a bridge between home and school.

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 50 values

School enrollment, preprimary (% gross) in nearby economies

• Antigua and Barbuda — 70.25% (2018)
• Argentina — 76.19% (2020)
• Aruba — 103.52% (2015)
• Bahamas, The — 39.74% (2019)
• Barbados — 75.13% (2021)
• Belize — 34.17% (2021)
• Bolivia — 78.47% (2020)
• Brazil — 85.94% (2020)
• British Virgin Islands — 87.88% (2021)
• Cayman Islands — 89.33% (2018)

More education data for Costa Rica

• Primary school starting age (years) — 6 (2025)
• Primary education, duration (years) — 6 (2025)
• Lower secondary school starting age (years) — 12 (2025)
• Secondary education, duration (years) — 5 (2025)
• Primary education, pupils — 460,126 (2024)
• Secondary education, pupils — 464,490 (2024)
• School enrollment, primary (gross), gender parity index (GPI) — 0.99 (2021)
• Primary education, teachers — 43,058 (2024)
• School enrollment, primary, private (% of total primary) — 9.99% (2024)
• School enrollment, primary and secondary (gross), gender parity index (GPI)

Reading data like this

• Where to find free public data, and how to check it before you trust it — 2 min read
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• Real change or random noise? A plain guide to reading your numbers — 2 min read

Questions people ask

What is Costa Rica's school enrollment, preprimary (% gross)?

95.24% in 2021, according to the World Bank (World Development Indicators).

How has it changed since 1970?

It is up 88.91 percentage points from 6.32% in 1970. The highest value was 97.94% in 2018 and the lowest 6.32% in 1970.

How does Costa Rica rank?

8th highest of 66 economies with data for 2021.

Is the latest change in school enrollment, preprimary (% gross) unusual for Costa Rica?

In 2021, Costa Rica's school enrollment, preprimary (% gross) fell 1.93 percentage points on 2020 (from 97.17% to 95.24%). Across the 30 yearly changes before that (1987 to 2020), the average change was +2.14 percentage points and a typical year strayed about 12.69 percentage points from that (the standard deviation). This year's change was 0.3 standard deviations below that average, so it was an ordinary year: it sits within the range of normal year-to-year movement.

Source

World Bank, World Development Indicators, indicator SE.PRE.ENRR, licensed CC BY 4.0. Original source: Stat Bulk Data Download Service, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), uri: https://uis.unesco.org/bdds, publisher: UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS) 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.

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