Norway: School enrollment, secondary (% gross)

Key figures

What the numbers say

In 2024, Norway's school enrollment, secondary (% gross) fell 1.52 percentage points on 2023 (from 117.78% to 116.25%).

Across the 22 yearly changes before that (2002 to 2023), the average change was +0.15 percentage points and a typical year strayed about 1.22 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 2.34 percentage points in 2013 and the biggest yearly fall was 2.48 percentage points in 2005. The numbers show how large and when, not why; for the cause, look at what happened in that country in those years.

From 2015 to 2024 there is no clear straight-line trend: a straight line explains 15% of the movement over 10 observed years, so the value is moving around more than it is heading anywhere.

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

How it compares

In 2024, Norway had the 11th highest value of the 98 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 Norway in the 2024 ranking

• Costa Rica — 8th of 98: 121.81%
• Turks and Caicos Islands — 9th of 98: 119.73%
• Spain — 10th of 98: 118.54%
• New Zealand — 12th of 98: 114.23%
• Saudi Arabia — 13th of 98: 110.66%
• Luxembourg — 14th of 98: 108.58%

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 24 values

School enrollment, secondary (% gross) in nearby economies

• Albania — 108.36% (2024)
• Andorra — 101.92% (2024)
• Armenia — 90.95% (2024)
• Austria — 100.62% (2024)
• Azerbaijan — 91.12% (2024)
• Belarus — 94.79% (2024)
• Belgium — 142.96% (2023)
• Bosnia and Herzegovina — 87.87% (2023)
• Bulgaria — 94.78% (2024)
• Croatia — 105.03% (2023)
• Cyprus

More education data for Norway

• Primary school starting age (years) — 6 (2025)
• Primary education, duration (years) — 7 (2025)
• Lower secondary school starting age (years) — 13 (2025)
• Secondary education, duration (years) — 6 (2025)
• Primary education, pupils — 434,422 (2024)
• Secondary education, pupils — 469,508 (2024)
• School enrollment, primary (gross), gender parity index (GPI) — 1 (2020)
• School enrollment, primary and secondary (gross), gender parity index (GPI) — 0.98 (2020)
• School enrollment, secondary (gross), gender parity index (GPI) — 0.95 (2020)
• Government expenditure on education, total (% of GDP)

Reading data like this

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• Real change or random noise? A plain guide to reading your numbers — 2 min read

Questions people ask

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

116.25% in 2024, according to the World Bank (World Development Indicators).

How has it changed since 2001?

It is up 1.69 percentage points from 114.57% in 2001. The highest value was 119.94% in 2020 and the lowest 111.07% in 2009.

How does Norway rank?

11th highest of 98 economies with data for 2024.

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

In 2024, Norway's school enrollment, secondary (% gross) fell 1.52 percentage points on 2023 (from 117.78% to 116.25%). Across the 22 yearly changes before that (2002 to 2023), the average change was +0.15 percentage points and a typical year strayed about 1.22 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.

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.

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