Panama: School enrollment, secondary (% gross)

Key figures

Since 1970 it is up 38.59 percentage points from 38.01% in 1970. The World Bank has no value for 4 of the years in between; the chart leaves those gaps open rather than joining across them.

What the numbers say

In 2017, Panama's school enrollment, secondary (% gross) fell 6 percentage points on 2016 (from 82.6% to 76.6%).

Across the 30 yearly changes before that (1980 to 2016), the average change was +0.57 percentage points and a typical year strayed about 1.31 percentage points from that (the standard deviation). This year's change was 5.0 standard deviations below that average, so it was unusually large compared with the rest of the record.

On record, the biggest yearly rise was 6.01 percentage points in 2016 and the biggest yearly fall was 6 percentage points in 2017. The numbers show how large and when, not why; for the cause, look at what happened in that country in those years.

From 2008 to 2017 the straight-line trend is upward, about 1.19 percentage points a year. A straight line explains 79% of the movement over 9 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 Panama in the 2017 ranking

• São Tomé and Principe — 1st of 5: 90.44%
• Lesotho — 3rd of 5: 59.36%
• Mozambique — 4th of 5: 37.24%
• Central African Republic — 5th of 5: 15.81%

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 44 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 Panama

• 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) — 6 (2025)
• Primary education, pupils — 451,308 (2024)
• School enrollment, primary (% gross) — 96.94% (2024)
• School enrollment, preprimary (% gross) — 26.97% (2020)
• School enrollment, tertiary (% gross) — 53.7% (2023)
• School enrollment, primary, private (% of total primary) — 12.61% (2024)
• School enrollment, primary, female (% gross)

Reading data like this

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Questions people ask

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

76.6% in 2017, according to the World Bank (World Development Indicators).

How has it changed since 1970?

It is up 38.59 percentage points from 38.01% in 1970. The highest value was 82.6% in 2016 and the lowest 38.01% in 1970.

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

In 2017, Panama's school enrollment, secondary (% gross) fell 6 percentage points on 2016 (from 82.6% to 76.6%). Across the 30 yearly changes before that (1980 to 2016), the average change was +0.57 percentage points and a typical year strayed about 1.31 percentage points from that (the standard deviation). This year's change was 5.0 standard deviations below that average, so it was unusually large compared with the rest of the record.

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.

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