United States: School enrollment, primary (% gross)

Key figures

Over five years it is down 4.85 percentage points from 101.82% in 2017. Since 1971 it is up 8.27 percentage points from 88.7% in 1971. The World Bank has no value for 16 of the years in between; the chart leaves those gaps open rather than joining across them.

What the numbers say

In 2022, United States' school enrollment, primary (% gross) fell 1.33 percentage points on 2021 (from 98.31% to 96.97%).

Across the 29 yearly changes before that (1972 to 2021), the average change was +0.39 percentage points and a typical year strayed about 1.93 percentage points from that (the standard deviation). This year's change was 0.9 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 8.94 percentage points in 1980 and the biggest yearly fall was 2 percentage points in 2021. 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 there is no clear straight-line trend: a straight line explains 17% 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

See how every economy compares in the full ranking.

Closest to United States in the 2022 ranking

• Benin — 3rd of 9: 108.04%
• Colombia — 4th of 9: 104.83%
• Cabo Verde — 5th of 9: 102.97%
• Ireland — 7th of 9: 96.48%
• Eritrea — 8th of 9: 89.73%
• Liberia — 9th of 9: 66.59%

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 36 values

School enrollment, primary (% gross) in nearby economies

• Bermuda — 92.85% (2023)
• Canada — 95.01% (2023)

More education data for United States

• 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)
• School enrollment, tertiary (% gross) — 79.36% (2022)
• School enrollment, tertiary (gross), gender parity index (GPI) — 1.32 (2022)
• School enrollment, tertiary, female (% gross) — 94.85% (2022)
• School enrollment, tertiary, male (% gross) — 64.54% (2022)
• Educational attainment, at least completed lower secondary, population 25+, total (%) (cumulative)

Reading data like this

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Questions people ask

What is United States's school enrollment, primary (% gross)?

96.97% in 2022, according to the World Bank (World Development Indicators).

How has it changed since 1971?

It is up 8.27 percentage points from 88.7% in 1971. The highest value was 104.05% in 1990 and the lowest 88.7% in 1971.

Is the latest change in school enrollment, primary (% gross) unusual for United States?

In 2022, United States' school enrollment, primary (% gross) fell 1.33 percentage points on 2021 (from 98.31% to 96.97%). Across the 29 yearly changes before that (1972 to 2021), the average change was +0.39 percentage points and a typical year strayed about 1.93 percentage points from that (the standard deviation). This year's change was 0.9 standard deviations below that average, so it was an ordinary year: it sits within the range of normal year-to-year movement.

Where does this data come from?

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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