United States: School enrollment, secondary (gross), gender parity index (GPI)

Key figures

Over five years it is down 3.13% from 1.01 in 2015 (0.63% a year on average, compounded). Since 1972 it is up 74.28% from 0.56 in 1972 (1.16% a year on average, compounded). The World Bank has no value for 24 of the years in between; the chart leaves those gaps open rather than joining across them.

What the numbers say

In 2020, United States' school enrollment, secondary (gross), gender parity index (GPI) fell 0.00417 on 2019 (from 0.98 to 0.98).

Across the 16 yearly changes before that (1982 to 2019), the average change was −0.00177 and a typical year strayed about 0.01 from that (the standard deviation). This year's change was 0.2 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 0.02 in 1995 and the biggest yearly fall was 0.02 in 2016. 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 2020 the straight-line trend is downward, about 0.00439 a year. A straight line explains 81% of the movement over 8 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 2020, United States had the 51st highest value of the 65 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 United States in the 2020 ranking

• Italy — 48th of 65: 0.99
• Austria — 49th of 65: 0.98
• St. Lucia — 50th of 65: 0.98
• Bulgaria — 52nd of 65: 0.98
• Liberia — 53rd of 65: 0.98
• Lithuania — 54th of 65: 0.97

What this measures

Gender parity index for gross enrollment ratio in secondary education is the ratio of girls to boys enrolled at secondary level in public and private schools.

Regional and income-group figures are computed by the World Bank as a weighted average.

All 25 values

School enrollment, secondary (gross), gender parity index (GPI) in nearby economies

• Bermuda — 1.12 (2015)
• Canada — 1.01 (2020)

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

• 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 United States's school enrollment, secondary (gross), gender parity index (GPI)?

0.98 in 2020, according to the World Bank (World Development Indicators).

How has it changed since 1972?

It is up 74.28% from 0.56 in 1972 (1.16% a year on average, compounded). The highest value was 1.05 in 1981 and the lowest 0.56 in 1972.

How does United States rank?

51st highest of 65 economies with data for 2020.

Is the latest change in school enrollment, secondary (gross), gender parity index (GPI) unusual for United States?

In 2020, United States' school enrollment, secondary (gross), gender parity index (GPI) fell 0.00417 on 2019 (from 0.98 to 0.98). Across the 16 yearly changes before that (1982 to 2019), the average change was −0.00177 and a typical year strayed about 0.01 from that (the standard deviation). This year's change was 0.2 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.ENR.SECO.FM.ZS, 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.

Want to ask your own questions of data like this? Try AnalyzeIt: upload a file or ask about public data in plain words, and every figure comes with its working.