Photo: Josh Steinitz · CC BY 2.0 · via Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale
Topic 04 of 18 · Country Index 2026
Belize: Education & Knowledge
How far does a country's schooling carry its children?
Belize is placed joint 152nd of 198 countries on education & knowledge in the Country Index 2026, from 4 of its 4 key statistics. Readings behind it: Out-of-School Rate, Primary 10.68 (2024); Participation in Organised Learning One Year Before Primary 76.52 (2024).
Share
Education & Knowledge
joint152nd
of 198 countries placed
Placed from 4 of 4 key statistics
- 10.68Out-of-School Rate, Primary, 2024Out-of-school rate, primary age (%)
- 76.52Participation in Organised Learning One Year Before Primary, 2024Children one year before primary entry age in organised learning (%)
- 19.45Upper Secondary Completion Rate, 2025Upper secondary completion rate (%)
- 4.231Government Spending on Education, 2023Government expenditure on education (% of GDP)
01The evidence
The 4 key statistics that decide it
Only these place Belize on education & knowledge — one vote each. Every value is the publisher’s own, read at the edition the Country Index 2026 used — or, for a survey-based key, each country’s latest reading; the grey ticks are every other country it was compared with, lowest on the left.
Key 1 of 4
Out-of-School Rate, Primary
UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS)
Latest reading per country, 2014–2024 · Belize’s is from 2024 · CC BY-SA 4.0
10.68
Out-of-school rate, primary age (%)
Lower is better
Belize: 10.68. Across the 192 countries at their latest reading, values run from 0.004 (United Arab Emirates) to 65.6 (Equatorial Guinea); the world median is 3.691.
- World median
- 3.691
- Best in Central America
- 0.363 Mexico
- Land neighbours
- Guatemala 8.432 · Mexico 0.363
Key 2 of 4
Participation in Organised Learning One Year Before Primary
UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS)
Latest reading per country, 2014–2024 · Belize’s is from 2024 · CC BY-SA 4.0
76.52
Children one year before primary entry age in organised learning (%)
Higher is better
Belize: 76.52. Across the 187 countries at their latest reading, values run from 3.411 (Yemen) to 100 (United Arab Emirates); the world median is 85.9.
- World median
- 85.9
- Best in Central America
- 99.69 Costa Rica
- Land neighbours
- Guatemala 84.22 · Mexico 99.59
Key 3 of 4
Upper Secondary Completion Rate
UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS)
2025 edition · data for 2025 · CC BY-SA 4.0
19.45
Upper secondary completion rate (%)
Higher is better
Belize: 19.45. Across the 164 countries in this edition, values run from 2.13 (South Sudan) to 99.27 (South Korea); the world median is 64.87.
- World median
- 64.87
- Best in Central America
- 64.22 Panama
- Land neighbours
- Guatemala 40.82 · Mexico 61.6
Key 4 of 4
Government Spending on Education
UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS)
2023 edition · data for 2023 · CC BY-SA 4.0
4.231
Government expenditure on education (% of GDP)
Higher is better
Belize: 4.231. Across the 123 countries in this edition, values run from 0 (Somalia) to 16.39 (Kiribati); the world median is 3.709.
- World median
- 3.709
- Best in Central America
- 5.312 Costa Rica
- Land neighbours
- Guatemala 3.109
02Over time
Which way Belize is moving
Each key’s published value, edition by edition, beside the world median. The Country Index 2026 is the first edition of the standing, so the standing itself has no history to chart yet.
Out-of-School Rate, Primary
Out-of-school rate, primary age (%) · lower is better
BelizeWorld median
Belize rose from 2.467 in 2000 to 10.68 in 2024; the world median went from 8.642 to 3.691.
Every year’s figures
Year Belize World median 2024 10.6771 3.691 2023 11.6356 3.393 2022 8.0931 3.002 2021 4.0725 3.330 2020 0.5767 2.678 2019 0.9529 2.758 2018 0.4411 2.439 2017 0.2585 2.907 2016 0.5187 2.954 2015 0.3901 3.052 2014 0.4983 3.904 2013 0.0540 3.413 2012 0.5185 3.408 2011 1.5181 3.626 2010 1.5253 3.491 2009 1.4604 3.577 2008 0.9979 3.878 2007 0.8286 4.029 2006 0.5823 4.338 2005 0.3293 4.571 2004 1.4479 3.791 2003 1.4767 4.412 2002 — 4.144 2001 2.4144 4.051 2000 2.4667 8.642 Participation in Organised Learning One Year Before Primary
Children one year before primary entry age in organised learning (%) · higher is better
BelizeWorld median
Belize rose from 54.74 in 2000 to 76.52 in 2024; the world median went from 66.32 to 85.9.
Every year’s figures
Year Belize World median 2024 76.5 85.9 2023 53.1 87.6 2022 49.2 87.7 2021 44.2 87.0 2020 86.5 88.3 2019 84.9 88.8 2018 88.0 89.6 2017 88.4 87.4 2016 90.3 87.9 2015 90.2 88.2 2014 92.6 89.2 2013 89.0 88.0 2012 85.1 85.4 2011 83.2 86.2 2010 79.5 86.1 2009 80.1 84.8 2008 75.7 85.8 2007 74.5 86.7 2006 73.8 84.0 2005 72.2 82.2 2004 60.8 81.8 2003 57.7 78.3 2002 — 80.0 2001 61.7 80.8 2000 54.7 66.3 Upper Secondary Completion Rate
Upper secondary completion rate (%) · higher is better
BelizeWorld median
Belize rose from 8.79 in 1981 to 19.45 in 2025; the world median went from 21.9 to 64.87.
Every year’s figures
Year Belize World median 2025 19.5 64.9 2024 — 65.0 2023 — 64.2 2022 — 63.6 2021 — 62.9 2020 — 62.2 2019 — 61.5 2018 — 60.9 2017 — 60.5 2016 — 60.1 2015 — 58.9 2014 — 57.0 2013 — 54.7 2012 — 52.4 2011 — 50.9 2010 — 49.5 2009 — 48.5 2008 — 47.4 2007 — 46.2 2006 — 45.0 2005 — 43.8 2004 — 42.9 2003 — 41.6 2002 — 40.3 2001 — 39.0 2000 — 38.0 1999 — 36.9 1998 — 35.6 1997 — 34.5 1996 — 33.2 1995 — 32.9 1994 — 32.1 1993 — 31.7 1992 — 30.7 1991 — 29.9 1990 — 28.5 1989 10.7 27.2 1988 10.4 26.6 1987 10.1 25.8 1986 9.8 24.8 1985 9.6 23.7 1984 9.4 23.1 1983 9.2 22.8 1982 9.0 22.4 1981 8.8 21.9 Government Spending on Education
Government expenditure on education (% of GDP) · higher is better
BelizeWorld median
Belize rose from 3.684 in 2000 to 4.231 in 2023; the world median went from 3.886 to 3.709.
Every year’s figures
Year Belize World median 2023 4.231 3.7092 2022 4.604 4.0570 2021 5.963 4.2611 2020 5.213 4.4056 2019 5.964 4.1407 2018 6.128 4.2159 2017 5.951 4.1401 2016 5.726 4.2342 2015 5.357 4.2386 2014 5.140 4.2005 2013 5.125 4.3493 2012 5.474 4.0348 2011 5.518 3.9987 2010 5.243 4.1396 2009 4.801 4.6638 2008 4.300 4.4226 2007 — 4.1717 2006 — 4.0593 2005 — 4.0557 2004 4.010 3.9745 2003 3.901 4.1595 2002 — 4.0173 2001 4.235 4.1002 2000 3.684 3.8861
03In context
Belize beside its neighbours
A position reads best beside the countries around it. Every position below is a place among all 198 countries on education & knowledge, never a place within the region.
Belize and the countries it borders
Standing among all 198; the key columns are the publishers’ own values.
| Country | Standing | Out-of-School Rate, PrimaryOut-of-school rate, primary age (%) | Participation in Organised Learning One Year Before PrimaryChildren one year before primary entry age in organised learning (%) | Upper Secondary Completion RateUpper secondary completion rate (%) | Government Spending on EducationGovernment expenditure on education (% of GDP) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Mexico | 24th | 0.363 | 99.59 | 61.6 | — |
 Guatemala | 147th | 8.432 | 84.22 | 40.82 | 3.109 |
| Belize | =152nd | 10.68 | 76.52 | 19.45 | 4.231 |
“—”: no published reading in that edition. What a standing is
Across Central America
Every country in the sub-region, by its place among all 198.
Placed either side on education & knowledge
The countries immediately above and below Belize in the topic’s list.
04Context, no vote
Where Belize is ahead of the world, and behind
23 more statistics filed under education & knowledge, published in full and deliberately given no vote in the standing. Select a row for the publisher, the rank and the links.
Ahead of the world median2
Statistics on which Belize does better than the middle country measured.
Government Funding per Primary StudentUIS · 2022 · world median 17.8118.5317.81▲ Improved since 2012
Belize: 18.53 · world median 17.81 · Government funding per primary student (% of GDP per capita). UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), 2022 edition, data for 2022.
Published values in that edition run from 3.771 to 34.57; higher is better.
Position 30th of 68 · derived.
Gender Parity Index, Tertiary EnrolmentUIS · 2024 · world median 1.2441.4491.244▼ Worsened since 2014
Belize: 1.449 · world median 1.244 · Adjusted gender parity index, tertiary gross enrolment (1 = parity). UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0.74 to 1.83; higher is better.
Position 83rd of 95 · derived.
Behind the world median17
Statistics on which Belize does worse than the middle country measured.
Wealth Parity Index, Lower Secondary CompletionUIS · 2024 · world median 0.5290.3760.529No earlier reading
Belize: 0.376 · world median 0.529 · Adjusted wealth parity index, lower secondary completion (poorest vs richest fifth; 1 = parity). UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0.032 to 1.022; higher is better.
Out-of-School Rate, Lower Secondary AgeUIS · 2024 · world median 6.3437.1426.343▲ Improved since 2014
Belize: 7.142 · world median 6.343 · Out-of-school rate, lower secondary age (%). UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0.011 to 79.71; lower is better.
Position 54th of 116 · derived, 1st = worst.
Youth Literacy RateUIS · 2024 · world median 98.2296.1598.22No earlier reading
Belize: 96.15 · world median 98.22 · 15–24 year-olds who can read and write (%). UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 36.7 to 100; higher is better.
Mean Years of SchoolingUNDP Human Development Report Office · 2023 · world median 9.9338.7629.933▼ Worsened since 2013
Belize: 8.762 · world median 9.933 · Mean years of schooling (adults 25+). UNDP Human Development Report Office, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 1.412 to 14.3; higher is better.
Position 117th of 193 · derived.
Adult Literacy RateUIS · 2024 · world median 93.9987.8893.99No earlier reading
Belize: 87.88 · world median 93.99 · Adults 15+ who can read and write (%). UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 26.83 to 100; higher is better.
Position 110th of 172 · derived.
Primary Completion RateUIS · 2025 · world median 97.4390.2497.43▼ Worsened since 1981
Belize: 90.24 · world median 97.43 · Primary completion rate (%). UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 7.94 to 100; higher is better.
Position 107th of 165 · derived.
Qualified Teachers in Primary EducationUIS · 2024 · world median 93.6688.6793.66▲ Improved since 2014
Belize: 88.67 · world median 93.66 · Primary teachers with the minimum qualifications their country requires (%). UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 100; higher is better.
Secondary School EnrolmentUIS · 2024 · world median 93.1986.4693.19No real change since 2014
Belize: 86.46 · world median 93.19 · Gross secondary enrolment ratio (%). UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 19.87 to 158.55; higher is better.
Position 75th of 109 · derived.
Pre-Primary Net Enrolment RateUIS · 2024 · world median 65.9342.2865.93No real change since 2014
Belize: 42.28 · world median 65.93 · Net enrolment rate, pre-primary (%). UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 1.779 to 99.85; higher is better.
Position 84th of 120 · derived.
Expected Years of SchoolingUNDP Human Development Report Office · 2023 · world median 13.3411.9813.34▼ Worsened since 2013
Belize: 11.98 · world median 13.34 · Expected years of schooling. UNDP Human Development Report Office, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 5.635 to 21.69; higher is better.
Position 137th of 195 · derived.
Tertiary Enrolment RatioUIS · 2024 · world median 52.7724.8152.77▼ Worsened since 2014
Belize: 24.81 · world median 52.77 · Gross enrolment ratio, tertiary (%). UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 2.566 to 141.86; higher is better.
Position 68th of 95 · derived.
Learning PovertyWorld Bank Group and UNESCO Institute for Statistics · 2023 · world median 34.0276.4134.02No earlier reading
Belize: 76.41 · world median 34.02 · 10-year-olds who cannot read and understand a simple text (%). World Bank Group and UNESCO Institute for Statistics, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 2.331 to 98.5; lower is better.
Position 31st of 125 · derived, 1st = worst.
Minimum Proficiency in Reading, End of PrimaryUIS · 2023 · world median 60.0825.2260.08No earlier reading
Belize: 25.22 · world median 60.08 · Pupils at the end of primary reaching minimum proficiency in reading (%). UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 2 to 98.78; higher is better.
Inbound Mobility Rate, TertiaryUIS · 2024 · world median 5.4941.8645.494▼ Worsened since 2022
Belize: 1.864 · world median 5.494 · Inbound mobility rate, tertiary (%). UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 87.12; higher is better.
Position 60th of 75 · derived.
Lower Secondary Completion RateUIS · 2025 · world median 89.2145.6789.21▼ Worsened since 1981
Belize: 45.67 · world median 89.21 · Lower secondary completion rate (%). UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 13.73 to 100; higher is better.
Position 135th of 164 · derived.
School Life ExpectancyUIS · 2024 · world median 14.5912.2814.59▼ Worsened since 2014
Belize: 12.28 · world median 14.59 · School life expectancy, primary to tertiary (years). UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 7.478 to 21.01; higher is better.
Position 68th of 77 · derived.
Pupils per Qualified Teacher, PrimaryUIS · 2024 · world median 20.67158.7120.67No real change since 2014
Belize: 158.71 · world median 20.67 · Primary pupils per qualified teacher (headcount basis). UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 8.244 to 284.7; lower is better.
Position 3rd of 92 · derived, 1st = worst.
No better end4
These describe the shape of a country — more is not better or worse, only different — so they are never ahead or behind.
Female Share of STEM GraduatesUIS · 2023 · world median 35.343.0735.3No real change since 2015
Belize: 43.07 · world median 35.3 · STEM graduates who are women (%; 50 = parity). UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 8.333 to 55.96.
Outbound Mobility Ratio, TertiaryUIS · 2023 · world median 5.2799.8635.279Moved since 2013
Belize: 9.863 · world median 5.279 · Outbound mobility ratio, tertiary (% of tertiary enrolment at home). UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.333 to 1,724.
Share of Graduates from ICT ProgrammesUIS · 2023 · world median 5.6016.1055.601Moved since 2015
Belize: 6.105 · world median 5.601 · Tertiary graduates from ICT programmes (% of all graduates). UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 17.19.
Scholarly ArticlesOurResearch · 2025 · world median 2,240312,240No real change since 2022
Belize: 31 · world median 2,240 · Articles with at least one author at an institution in the country (full counting). OpenAlex (OurResearch), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 1 to 1,094,890.
No current reading for Belize
Academic Freedom Index, Bachelor's or Higher Attainment (last 2022), Female Share of Researchers, Harmonized Test Scores, Intergenerational Persistence in Education, Learning-Adjusted Years of School, Minimum Proficiency in Mathematics, End of Lower Secondary, Minimum Proficiency in Mathematics, End of Primary, Minimum Proficiency in Reading, End of Lower Secondary, Nobel Prize Laureates by Country of Birth, PISA Mathematics Performance, PISA Reading Performance, PISA Science Performance, Primary Schools with Electricity, Primary Schools with Internet for Teaching, Research and Development Spending, Researchers per Million Inhabitants, Trust in Scientists and Upper Secondary Attainment (last 2022). Listed rather than hidden, so the page can be checked against it.
“Position · derived” is this site’s ordering of the published values, 1st = best unless the row says otherwise; the publisher ranks no country on it. Rank, position and standing
05Country Index 2026
Education & Knowledge among Belize’s 16 topics
Education & Knowledge is Belize’s 15th best-placed topic of 16. Strongest first, each marker at its share of that topic’s field.
- Peace & Security11th of 1772/4 keys
- Energy21st of 1652/3 keys
- Environment & Sustainability48th of 1863/4 keys
- Gender & Equalityjoint 56th of 1833/4 keys
- Economy & Innovation76th of 1763/4 keys
- Health & Wellbeing92nd of 2004/4 keys
- Poverty & Inequality75th of 1593/3 keys
- Democracy & Civil Liberties101st of 1983/4 keys
- Risk & Resilience110th of 1934/4 keys
- Governance & Institutions111th of 1943/4 keys
- Food & Agriculture109th of 1844/4 keys
- Development & Human Capital120th of 1963/3 keys
- Work & Labourjoint 134th of 1824/4 keys
- Digital & Technology148th of 1983/4 keys
- Education & Knowledgejoint 152nd of 1984/4 keys
- Mobility & Trade152nd of 1773/4 keys
06The top of the list
Who leads on education & knowledge
The three countries placed highest of 198, and the leaders Belize can most readily be measured against.
1
United Arab EmiratesWestern Asia
1st of 198 · 2 of 4 keys
Photo: Unknown author · CC BY-SA 3.0, greyscale
2
GreeceSouthern Europe
2nd of 198 · 3 of 4 keys
Photo: User:Ggia derivative work: Jjtkk · CC BY-SA 3.0, greyscale
3
PolandEastern Europe
3rd of 198 · 3 of 4 keys
Photo: Ralf Lotys (Sicherlich) · CC BY 3.0, greyscale
Placed highest nearby
Highest placed on all 4 keys
Moldova7th4/4 keysHighest in Americas
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines11th3/4 keysHighest in Central America
Mexico24th3/4 keysThis page
Belize=152nd4/4 keys
Positions out of 198 placed on the topic. A country needs readings on enough keys to be placed, and the top of the list is often held on fewer of them.
07Questions
Belize on education & knowledge: questions answered
Every answer is built from the numbers on this page, so none can say something the page does not.
How does Belize rank on education & knowledge?
Belize is placed joint 152nd of 198 countries on Education & Knowledge in the Country Index 2026, from 4 of its 4 key statistics (Out-of-School Rate, Primary, Participation in Organised Learning One Year Before Primary, Upper Secondary Completion Rate and Government Spending on Education). The position is this site’s ordering of published statistics, not a rank any publisher printed.
What is the latest Out-of-School Rate, Primary figure for Belize?
10.68 in 2024 (out-of-school rate, primary age (%)), according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS). The world median in the same edition was 3.691.
What is the latest Participation in Organised Learning One Year Before Primary figure for Belize?
76.52 in 2024 (children one year before primary entry age in organised learning (%)), according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS). The world median in the same edition was 85.9.
How does Belize compare with Mexico on education & knowledge?
Mexico is placed 24th of 198, and Belize joint 152nd. Out-of-School Rate, Primary: Mexico 0.363, Belize 10.68; Participation in Organised Learning One Year Before Primary: Mexico 99.59, Belize 76.52; Upper Secondary Completion Rate: Mexico 61.6, Belize 19.45.
How have Belize’s education & knowledge figures changed?
Out-of-School Rate, Primary rose from 2.467 in 2000 to 10.68 in 2024; Participation in Organised Learning One Year Before Primary rose from 54.74 in 2000 to 76.52 in 2024; Upper Secondary Completion Rate rose from 8.79 in 1981 to 19.45 in 2025; Government Spending on Education rose from 3.684 in 2000 to 4.231 in 2023.
Which education & knowledge statistics are missing for Belize?
No current reading is published for Belize on Academic Freedom Index, Bachelor's or Higher Attainment, Female Share of Researchers, Harmonized Test Scores, Intergenerational Persistence in Education, Learning-Adjusted Years of School, Minimum Proficiency in Mathematics, End of Lower Secondary, Minimum Proficiency in Mathematics, End of Primary, Minimum Proficiency in Reading, End of Lower Secondary, Nobel Prize Laureates by Country of Birth, PISA Mathematics Performance, PISA Reading Performance, PISA Science Performance, Primary Schools with Electricity, Primary Schools with Internet for Teaching, Research and Development Spending, Researchers per Million Inhabitants, Trust in Scientists and Upper Secondary Attainment. They are listed rather than hidden, so the evidence on the page can be checked against it.
08Method
Method, sources and how to cite
What this topic does not measure
How much children actually learn is only partly covered. International test scores exist for a limited group of countries, and they are published here as context rather than used as a key, because a key must describe most of the world. Universities, research, and youth and adult literacy also appear as context.
How the Education & Knowledge standing is decided
A standing is this site’s ordering, named with its edition — never a publisher’s rank. 4 key statistics vote, one vote each; every country’s published value becomes a place within that key’s own field, the places are averaged, and the average is never published. A country needs 2 of the 4 keys to be placed.
The education & knowledge method, step by stepHow every standing on this site is built
The key statistics and their licences
- Out-of-School Rate, Primary — UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), CC BY-SA 4.0
- Participation in Organised Learning One Year Before Primary — UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), CC BY-SA 4.0
- Upper Secondary Completion Rate — UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), CC BY-SA 4.0
- Government Spending on Education — UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), CC BY-SA 4.0
The other 23 statistics on this page come from 4 publishers, each named beside its numbers, with every edition and licence on the datasets pages.
The standing itself is part of the Country Index 2026, published under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Photographs
Belize’s banner and the countries placed highest, from their profiles: Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale, each used under the licence named.
- Belize (banner) — Josh Steinitz, CC BY 2.0
- United Arab Emirates — Unknown author, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Greece — User:Ggia derivative work: Jjtkk, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Poland — Ralf Lotys (Sicherlich), CC BY 3.0
Cite this page
Nations Inquiry (2026). Belize: Education & Knowledge — standing and statistics, Country Index 2026. https://nationsinquiry.com/countries/belize/education