Malta: School enrollment, primary (% gross)

Key figures

What the numbers say

In 2023, Malta's school enrollment, primary (% gross) rose 0.23 percentage points on 2022 (from 97.48% to 97.71%).

Across the 21 yearly changes before that (2002 to 2022), the average change was −0.38 percentage points and a typical year strayed about 1.64 percentage points from that (the standard deviation). This year's change was 0.4 standard deviations above 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 4.44 percentage points in 2010 and the biggest yearly fall was 5 percentage points in 2009. The numbers show how large and when, not why; for the cause, look at what happened in that country in those years.

From 2014 to 2023 the straight-line trend is downward, about 0.32 percentage points a year. A straight line explains 89% 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.

A straight-line projection, tested first

Extending that straight line gives about 96.53% for 2026. We show this only because the same method, fitted on earlier years, predicted 2021 to 2023 better than "no change" would have: its average miss was 0.27%, against 0.45% for assuming no change. Treat it as a continuation of the recent pattern, not a forecast of events: it cannot see a recession, a policy change or a revision to the data.

See how a linear trend forecast works and the guide on forecasting without fooling yourself.

How it compares

In 2023, Malta had the 30th highest value of the 42 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 Malta in the 2023 ranking

• Kenya — 27th of 42: 98.25%
• Iceland — 28th of 42: 98.22%
• Russian Federation — 29th of 42: 97.75%
• Ecuador — 31st of 42: 97.25%
• North Macedonia — 32nd of 42: 96.31%
• Canada — 33rd of 42: 95.01%

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. Primary education provides children with basic reading, writing, and mathematics skills along with an elementary understanding of such subjects as history, geography, natural science, social science, art, and music.

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 23 values

School enrollment, primary (% gross) in nearby economies

• Afghanistan — 112.23% (2023)
• Algeria — 105.48% (2025)
• Bahrain — 96.88% (2024)
• Egypt, Arab Rep. — 96.71% (2024)
• Iran, Islamic Rep. — 101.96% (2023)
• Israel — 97.44% (2024)
• Jordan — 98.55% (2024)
• Kuwait — 82.36% (2021)
• Lebanon — 81.77% (2024)
• Morocco — 116.59% (2024)
• Oman

More education data for Malta

• Primary school starting age (years) — 5 (2025)
• Primary education, duration (years) — 6 (2025)
• Lower secondary school starting age (years) — 11 (2025)
• Secondary education, duration (years) — 7 (2025)
• Primary education, pupils — 27,337 (2023)
• Secondary education, pupils — 32,424 (2023)
• Tertiary education, academic staff (% female) — 39.03% (2024)
• School enrollment, preprimary (% gross) — 112.49% (2020)
• School enrollment, primary (gross), gender parity index (GPI) — 1 (2020)
• School enrollment, preprimary, female (% gross) — 112.49% (2020)

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 Malta's school enrollment, primary (% gross)?

97.71% in 2023, according to the World Bank (World Development Indicators).

How has it changed since 2001?

It is down 7.8 percentage points from 105.5% in 2001. The highest value was 105.5% in 2001 and the lowest 97.48% in 2022.

How does Malta rank?

Source

World Bank, World Development Indicators, indicator SE.PRM.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.

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