Photo: Henry Zbyszynski from Capitola California, USA · CC BY 2.0 · via Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale
Topic 04 of 18 · Country Index 2026
Costa Rica: Education & Knowledge
How far does a country's schooling carry its children?
Costa Rica is placed 53rd 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 4.486 (2024); Participation in Organised Learning One Year Before Primary 99.69 (2024).
Share
Education & Knowledge
53rd
of 198 countries placed
Placed from 4 of 4 key statistics
- 4.486Out-of-School Rate, Primary, 2024Out-of-school rate, primary age (%)
- 99.69Participation in Organised Learning One Year Before Primary, 2024Children one year before primary entry age in organised learning (%)
- 57.98Upper Secondary Completion Rate, 2025Upper secondary completion rate (%)
- 5.312Government Spending on Education, 2023Government expenditure on education (% of GDP)
01The evidence
The 4 key statistics that decide it
Only these place Costa Rica 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 · Costa Rica’s is from 2024 · CC BY-SA 4.0
4.486
Out-of-school rate, primary age (%)
Lower is better
Costa Rica: 4.486. 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
- Nicaragua 6.656 · Panama 7.698
Key 2 of 4
Participation in Organised Learning One Year Before Primary
UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS)
Latest reading per country, 2014–2024 · Costa Rica’s is from 2024 · CC BY-SA 4.0
99.69
Children one year before primary entry age in organised learning (%)
Higher is better
Costa Rica: 99.69. 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
- Nicaragua 85.13 · Panama 76.68
Key 3 of 4
Upper Secondary Completion Rate
UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS)
2025 edition · data for 2025 · CC BY-SA 4.0
57.98
Upper secondary completion rate (%)
Higher is better
Costa Rica: 57.98. 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
- Nicaragua 39.5 · Panama 64.22
Key 4 of 4
Government Spending on Education
UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS)
2023 edition · data for 2023 · CC BY-SA 4.0
5.312
Government expenditure on education (% of GDP)
Higher is better
Costa Rica: 5.312. 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
- Nicaragua 2.87 · Panama 2.472
02Over time
Which way Costa Rica 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
Costa RicaWorld median
Costa Rica rose from 3.033 in 2011 to 4.486 in 2024; the world median went from 3.626 to 3.691.
Every year’s figures
Year Costa Rica World median 2024 4.49 3.691 2023 4.73 3.393 2022 5.99 3.002 2021 6.12 3.330 2020 5.30 2.678 2019 4.72 2.758 2018 6.55 2.439 2017 9.90 2.907 2016 7.77 2.954 2015 8.53 3.052 2014 9.13 3.904 2013 6.59 3.413 2012 4.70 3.408 2011 3.03 3.626 2010 — 3.491 2009 — 3.577 2008 — 3.878 2007 — 4.029 2006 — 4.338 2005 — 4.571 2004 — 3.791 2003 — 4.412 2002 — 4.144 2001 — 4.051 2000 — 8.642 Participation in Organised Learning One Year Before Primary
Children one year before primary entry age in organised learning (%) · higher is better
Costa RicaWorld median
Costa Rica rose from 87.4 in 2011 to 99.69 in 2024; the world median went from 86.19 to 85.9.
Every year’s figures
Year Costa Rica World median 2024 99.7 85.9 2023 97.7 87.6 2022 95.2 87.7 2021 95.0 87.0 2020 93.7 88.3 2019 90.1 88.8 2018 92.1 89.6 2017 82.9 87.4 2016 82.4 87.9 2015 90.6 88.2 2014 89.8 89.2 2013 85.6 88.0 2012 84.7 85.4 2011 87.4 86.2 2010 — 86.1 2009 — 84.8 2008 — 85.8 2007 — 86.7 2006 — 84.0 2005 — 82.2 2004 — 81.8 2003 — 78.3 2002 — 80.0 2001 — 80.8 2000 — 66.3 Upper Secondary Completion Rate
Upper secondary completion rate (%) · higher is better
Costa RicaWorld median
Costa Rica rose from 37.25 in 2000 to 57.98 in 2025; the world median went from 38 to 64.87.
Every year’s figures
Year Costa Rica World median 2025 58.0 64.9 2024 57.4 65.0 2023 56.8 64.2 2022 56.3 63.6 2021 55.8 62.9 2020 55.2 62.2 2019 54.6 61.5 2018 54.1 60.9 2017 53.3 60.5 2016 52.4 60.1 2015 51.6 58.9 2014 50.9 57.0 2013 50.1 54.7 2012 49.4 52.4 2011 48.3 50.9 2010 47.1 49.5 2009 45.5 48.5 2008 43.9 47.4 2007 42.7 46.2 2006 41.7 45.0 2005 41.0 43.8 2004 40.1 42.9 2003 39.3 41.6 2002 38.3 40.3 2001 37.8 39.0 2000 37.3 38.0 Government Spending on Education
Government expenditure on education (% of GDP) · higher is better
Costa RicaWorld median
Costa Rica rose from 4.667 in 2000 to 5.312 in 2023; the world median went from 3.886 to 3.709.
Every year’s figures
Year Costa Rica World median 2023 5.312 3.7092 2022 5.547 4.0570 2021 6.248 4.2611 2020 6.629 4.4056 2019 6.738 4.1407 2018 6.770 4.2159 2017 7.070 4.1401 2016 6.894 4.2342 2015 6.873 4.2386 2014 6.680 4.2005 2013 6.687 4.3493 2012 6.582 4.0348 2011 6.380 3.9987 2010 6.566 4.1396 2009 6.010 4.6638 2008 4.887 4.4226 2007 4.634 4.1717 2006 4.616 4.0593 2005 — 4.0557 2004 4.891 3.9745 2003 5.134 4.1595 2002 5.150 4.0173 2001 4.832 4.1002 2000 4.667 3.8861
03In context
Costa Rica 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.
Costa Rica 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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Costa Rica | 53rd | 4.486 | 99.69 | 57.98 | 5.312 |
 Nicaragua | 146th | 6.656 | 85.13 | 39.5 | 2.87 |
 Panama | =152nd | 7.698 | 76.68 | 64.22 | 2.472 |
“—”: 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 Costa Rica in the topic’s list.
04Context, no vote
Where Costa Rica is ahead of the world, and behind
32 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 median11
Statistics on which Costa Rica does better than the middle country measured.
Pre-Primary Net Enrolment RateUIS · 2024 · world median 65.9399.1765.93▲ Improved since 2014
Costa Rica: 99.17 · 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 4th of 120 · derived.
Academic Freedom IndexV-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg · 2025 · world median 0.6190.9150.619▲ Improved since 2015
Costa Rica: 0.915 · world median 0.619 · Academic freedom index (0–1). V-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.019 to 0.978; higher is better.
Position 13th of 176 · derived.
Secondary School EnrolmentUIS · 2024 · world median 93.19121.8193.19No real change since 2014
Costa Rica: 121.81 · 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 9th of 109 · derived.
Expected Years of SchoolingUNDP Human Development Report Office · 2023 · world median 13.3416.3513.34▲ Improved since 2013
Costa Rica: 16.35 · 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 39th of 195 · derived.
Wealth Parity Index, Lower Secondary CompletionUIS · 2024 · world median 0.5290.8760.529No earlier reading
Costa Rica: 0.876 · 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.
Government Funding per Primary StudentUIS · 2022 · world median 17.8120.3417.81▼ Worsened since 2012
Costa Rica: 20.34 · 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 21st of 68 · derived.
Adult Literacy RateUIS · 2024 · world median 93.9997.4193.99No earlier reading
Costa Rica: 97.41 · 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 54th of 172 · derived.
Learning-Adjusted Years of SchoolWorld Bank Group · 2020 · world median 7.9418.9937.941▲ Improved since 2010
Costa Rica: 8.993 · world median 7.941 · Learning-adjusted years of school (0–14). World Bank Group, 2020 edition, data for 2020.
Published values in that edition run from 2.207 to 12.81; higher is better.
Position 57th of 172 · derived.
Intergenerational Persistence in EducationWorld Bank Group · 2017 · world median 0.4460.3980.446No earlier reading
Costa Rica: 0.398 · world median 0.446 · Correlation between own and parents' years of schooling, born 1980–89 (0–1). World Bank Group, 2017 edition, data for 2017.
Published values in that edition run from 0.123 to 0.66; lower is better.
Position 103rd of 153 · derived, 1st = worst.
Primary Completion RateUIS · 2025 · world median 97.4398.9497.43▲ Improved since 2015
Costa Rica: 98.94 · 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 60th of 165 · derived.
Harmonized Test ScoresWorld Bank Group · 2020 · world median 414.32428.56414.32▲ Improved since 2010
Costa Rica: 428.56 · world median 414.32 · Harmonized test score (TIMSS-equivalent points; 300 = minimum, 625 = advanced attainment). World Bank Group, 2020 edition, data for 2020.
Published values in that edition run from 304.92 to 575.27; higher is better.
Position 73rd of 172 · derived.
Behind the world median14
Statistics on which Costa Rica does worse than the middle country measured.
Minimum Proficiency in Reading, End of PrimaryUIS · 2023 · world median 60.085460.08No earlier reading
Costa Rica: 54 · 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.
Out-of-School Rate, Lower Secondary AgeUIS · 2024 · world median 6.3437.5726.343▲ Improved since 2014
Costa Rica: 7.572 · 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 52nd of 116 · derived, 1st = worst.
Minimum Proficiency in Reading, End of Lower SecondaryUIS · 2022 · world median 58.5952.9358.59No earlier reading
Costa Rica: 52.93 · world median 58.59 · Students at the end of lower secondary reaching minimum proficiency in reading (%). UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), 2022 edition, data for 2022.
Published values in that edition run from 5.043 to 88.83; higher is better.
Researchers per Million InhabitantsUIS · 2024 · world median 701.95507.76701.95No earlier reading
Costa Rica: 507.76 · world median 701.95 · Researchers per million inhabitants (full-time equivalent). UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 1.446 to 18,130; higher is better.
Position 82nd of 145 · derived.
Mean Years of SchoolingUNDP Human Development Report Office · 2023 · world median 9.9338.8459.933▼ Worsened since 2013
Costa Rica: 8.845 · 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 116th of 193 · derived.
Lower Secondary Completion RateUIS · 2025 · world median 89.2174.389.21No real change since 2015
Costa Rica: 74.3 · 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 101st of 164 · derived.
PISA Reading PerformanceOECD · 2022 · world median 440.35415.23440.35▲ Improved since 2012
Costa Rica: 415.23 · world median 440.35 · Mean reading score. OECD, 2022 edition, data for 2022.
Published values in that edition run from 328.84 to 542.55; higher is better.
Position 49th of 79 · derived.
PISA Science PerformanceOECD · 2022 · world median 446.93410.99446.93▲ Improved since 2012
Costa Rica: 410.99 · world median 446.93 · Mean science score. OECD, 2022 edition, data for 2022.
Published values in that edition run from 347.1 to 561.43; higher is better.
Position 54th of 79 · derived.
Research and Development SpendingUIS · 2023 · world median 0.8140.3370.814▼ Worsened since 2013
Costa Rica: 0.337 · world median 0.814 · Gross domestic expenditure on R&D (% of GDP). UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.006 to 6.346; higher is better.
Position 59th of 84 · derived.
Minimum Proficiency in Mathematics, End of PrimaryUIS · 2023 · world median 43.820.943.8No earlier reading
Costa Rica: 20.9 · world median 43.8 · Pupils at the end of primary reaching minimum proficiency in mathematics (%). UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 1.8 to 93.42; higher is better.
Minimum Proficiency in Mathematics, End of Lower SecondaryUIS · 2023 · world median 48.928.1648.9No earlier reading
Costa Rica: 28.16 · world median 48.9 · Students at the end of lower secondary reaching minimum proficiency in mathematics (%). UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.73 to 91.73; higher is better.
Upper Secondary AttainmentUIS · 2023 · world median 65.7642.465.76No real change since 2013
Costa Rica: 42.4 · world median 65.76 · Adults 25+ who completed upper secondary or higher (%). UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 5.26 to 97.89; higher is better.
Position 69th of 95 · derived.
PISA Mathematics PerformanceOECD · 2022 · world median 442.09384.58442.09▲ Improved since 2012
Costa Rica: 384.58 · world median 442.09 · Mean mathematics score. OECD, 2022 edition, data for 2022.
Published values in that edition run from 336.4 to 574.66; higher is better.
Position 61st of 79 · derived.
Youth Literacy RateUIS · 2024 · world median 98.2280.5598.22No earlier reading
Costa Rica: 80.55 · 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.
Level with the median, or no median to compare1
Learning PovertyWorld Bank Group and UNESCO Institute for Statistics · 2023 · world median 34.0234.0234.02No earlier reading
Costa Rica: 34.02 · 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 63rd of 125 · derived, 1st = worst.
No better end6
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 ResearchersUIS · 2024 · world median 38.1742.8838.17No earlier reading
Costa Rica: 42.88 · world median 38.17 · Researchers who are women (% of headcount; 50 = parity). UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 76.54.
Trust in ScientistsWellcome Trust · 2020 · world median 34.3540.834.35Moved since 2018
Costa Rica: 40.8 · world median 34.35 · People aged 15+ who trust scientists in their country 'a lot' (%). Wellcome Trust, 2020 edition, data for 2020.
Published values in that edition run from 9.335 to 72.35.
Share of Graduates from ICT ProgrammesUIS · 2023 · world median 5.6016.1415.601Moved since 2015
Costa Rica: 6.141 · 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 2,2403,4572,240No real change since 2022
Costa Rica: 3,457 · 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.
Female Share of STEM GraduatesUIS · 2023 · world median 35.334.7135.3Moved since 2015
Costa Rica: 34.71 · 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.
Nobel Prize Laureates by Country of BirthNobel Prize Outreach · 2025 · world median 212No earlier reading
Costa Rica: 1 · world median 2 · Laureates born in the country, 1901 to date (people). Nobel Prize Outreach, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 1 to 296.
No current reading for Costa Rica
Bachelor's or Higher Attainment (last 2020), Gender Parity Index, Tertiary Enrolment (last 2019), Inbound Mobility Rate, Tertiary (last 2018), Outbound Mobility Ratio, Tertiary (last 2019), Primary Schools with Electricity (last 2020), Primary Schools with Internet for Teaching (last 2020), Pupils per Qualified Teacher, Primary (last 2020), Qualified Teachers in Primary Education (last 2020), School Life Expectancy (last 2019) and Tertiary Enrolment Ratio (last 2019). 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 Costa Rica’s 16 topics
Education & Knowledge is Costa Rica’s 6th best-placed topic of 16. Strongest first, each marker at its share of that topic’s field.
- Peace & Security2nd of 1773/4 keys
- Gender & Equality5th of 1834/4 keys
- Energy12th of 1653/3 keys
- Democracy & Civil Liberties31st of 1984/4 keys
- Governance & Institutions32nd of 1944/4 keys
- Education & Knowledge53rd of 1984/4 keys
- Health & Wellbeing60th of 2004/4 keys
- Economy & Innovationjoint 57th of 1764/4 keys
- Digital & Technology67th of 1984/4 keys
- Development & Human Capital70th of 1963/3 keys
- Food & Agriculture80th of 1844/4 keys
- Environment & Sustainability84th of 1864/4 keys
- Mobility & Trade84th of 1774/4 keys
- Work & Labourjoint 92nd of 1824/4 keys
- Risk & Resiliencejoint 104th of 1934/4 keys
- Poverty & Inequality110th of 1593/3 keys
06The top of the list
Who leads on education & knowledge
The three countries placed highest of 198, and the leaders Costa Rica 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
Costa Rica53rd4/4 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
Costa Rica 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 Costa Rica rank on education & knowledge?
Costa Rica is placed 53rd 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 Costa Rica?
4.486 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 Costa Rica?
99.69 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 Costa Rica compare with Nicaragua on education & knowledge?
Nicaragua is placed 146th of 198, and Costa Rica 53rd. Out-of-School Rate, Primary: Nicaragua 6.656, Costa Rica 4.486; Participation in Organised Learning One Year Before Primary: Nicaragua 85.13, Costa Rica 99.69; Upper Secondary Completion Rate: Nicaragua 39.5, Costa Rica 57.98; Government Spending on Education: Nicaragua 2.87, Costa Rica 5.312.
How have Costa Rica’s education & knowledge figures changed?
Out-of-School Rate, Primary rose from 3.033 in 2011 to 4.486 in 2024; Participation in Organised Learning One Year Before Primary rose from 87.4 in 2011 to 99.69 in 2024; Upper Secondary Completion Rate rose from 37.25 in 2000 to 57.98 in 2025; Government Spending on Education rose from 4.667 in 2000 to 5.312 in 2023.
Which education & knowledge statistics are missing for Costa Rica?
No current reading is published for Costa Rica on Bachelor's or Higher Attainment, Gender Parity Index, Tertiary Enrolment, Inbound Mobility Rate, Tertiary, Outbound Mobility Ratio, Tertiary, Primary Schools with Electricity, Primary Schools with Internet for Teaching, Pupils per Qualified Teacher, Primary, Qualified Teachers in Primary Education, School Life Expectancy and Tertiary Enrolment Ratio. 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 32 statistics on this page come from 9 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
Costa Rica’s banner and the countries placed highest, from their profiles: Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale, each used under the licence named.
- Costa Rica (banner) — Henry Zbyszynski from Capitola California, USA, 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). Costa Rica: Education & Knowledge — standing and statistics, Country Index 2026. https://nationsinquiry.com/countries/costa-rica/education