Skip to content
Nations Inquiry — home
A view of Ecuador

Photo: Phelipemancheno · CC0 · via Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale

Education & Knowledge

joint87th

of 198 countries placed

Placed from 4 of 4 key statistics

01The evidence

The 4 key statistics that decide it

Only these place Ecuador 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.

Why these keys
  1. Key 1 of 4

    Out-of-School Rate, Primary

    UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS)

    Why it is a key

    Latest reading per country, 2014–2024 · Ecuador’s is from 2023 · CC BY-SA 4.0

    4.724

    Out-of-school rate, primary age (%)

    Lower is better

    Ecuador: 4.724. 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 South America
    0.035 Uruguay
    Land neighbours
    Colombia 7.325 · Peru 0.156
  2. Key 2 of 4

    Participation in Organised Learning One Year Before Primary

    UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS)

    Why it is a key

    Latest reading per country, 2014–2024 · Ecuador’s is from 2022 · CC BY-SA 4.0

    93.7

    Children one year before primary entry age in organised learning (%)

    Higher is better

    Ecuador: 93.7. 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 South America
    99.8 Peru
    Land neighbours
    Colombia 97.56 · Peru 99.8
  3. Key 3 of 4

    Upper Secondary Completion Rate

    UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS)

    Why it is a key

    2025 edition · data for 2025 · CC BY-SA 4.0

    77.69

    Upper secondary completion rate (%)

    Higher is better

    Ecuador: 77.69. 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 South America
    86.87 Chile
    Land neighbours
    Colombia 67.13 · Peru 86.72
  4. Key 4 of 4

    Government Spending on Education

    UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS)

    Why it is a key

    2023 edition · data for 2023 · CC BY-SA 4.0

    3.82

    Government expenditure on education (% of GDP)

    Higher is better

    Ecuador: 3.82. 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 South America
    7.894 Bolivia
    Land neighbours
    Peru 4.245

03In context

Ecuador 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.

South America
1st198thNot placed · 26 countries with too few key statisticsNo data

The whole world on education & knowledge

Ecuador and the countries it borders

Standing among all 198; the key columns are the publishers’ own values.

CountryStandingOut-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)
Peru=19th0.15699.886.724.245
Ecuador=87th4.72493.777.693.82
Colombia92nd7.32597.5667.13—

“—”: no published reading in that edition. What a standing is

Placed either side on education & knowledge

The countries immediately above and below Ecuador in the topic’s list.

04Context, no vote

Where Ecuador is ahead of the world, and behind

28 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.

Every country

Ahead of the world median6

Statistics on which Ecuador does better than the middle country measured.

  • Primary Completion RateUIS · 2025 · world median 97.4399.5▲ Improved since 2015

    Ecuador: 99.5 · 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 43rd of 165 · derived.

    Chart and every countryThe 2025 dataset

  • Lower Secondary Completion RateUIS · 2025 · world median 89.2196.45▲ Improved since 2015

    Ecuador: 96.45 · 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 51st of 164 · derived.

    Chart and every countryThe 2025 dataset

  • Expected Years of SchoolingUNDP Human Development Report Office · 2023 · world median 13.3414.85No real change since 2013

    Ecuador: 14.85 · 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 70th of 195 · derived.

    Chart and every countryThe 2023 dataset

  • Learning-Adjusted Years of SchoolWorld Bank Group · 2020 · world median 7.9418.696▲ Improved since 2010

    Ecuador: 8.696 · 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 63rd of 172 · derived.

    Chart and every countryThe 2020 dataset

  • Youth Literacy RateUIS · 2024 · world median 98.2298.99No earlier reading

    Ecuador: 98.99 · 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.

    Chart and every countryThe 2024 dataset

  • Harmonized Test ScoresWorld Bank Group · 2020 · world median 414.32420.15▲ Improved since 2010

    Ecuador: 420.15 · 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 79th of 172 · derived.

    Chart and every countryThe 2020 dataset

Behind the world median16

Statistics on which Ecuador does worse than the middle country measured.

  • Adult Literacy RateUIS · 2024 · world median 93.9993.49No earlier reading

    Ecuador: 93.49 · 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 91st of 172 · derived.

    Chart and every countryThe 2024 dataset

  • Pupils per Qualified Teacher, PrimaryUIS · 2024 · world median 20.6723.25▲ Improved since 2014

    Ecuador: 23.25 · 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 42nd of 92 · derived, 1st = worst.

    Chart and every countryThe 2024 dataset

  • Mean Years of SchoolingUNDP Human Development Report Office · 2023 · world median 9.9338.97No real change since 2013

    Ecuador: 8.97 · 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 113th of 193 · derived.

    Chart and every countryThe 2023 dataset

  • Qualified Teachers in Primary EducationUIS · 2024 · world median 93.6689.55▲ Improved since 2020

    Ecuador: 89.55 · 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.

    Chart and every countryThe 2024 dataset

  • Researchers per Million InhabitantsUIS · 2024 · world median 701.95400.26No earlier reading

    Ecuador: 400.26 · 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 89th of 145 · derived.

    Chart and every countryThe 2024 dataset

  • Academic Freedom IndexV-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg · 2025 · world median 0.6190.433▼ Worsened since 2015

    Ecuador: 0.433 · 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 111th of 176 · derived.

    Chart and every countryThe 2025 dataset

  • Minimum Proficiency in Reading, End of Lower SecondaryUIS · 2022 · world median 58.5949.42No earlier reading

    Ecuador: 49.42 · 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.

    Chart and every countryThe 2022 dataset

  • Upper Secondary AttainmentUIS · 2023 · world median 65.7645.9▲ Improved since 2013

    Ecuador: 45.9 · 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 63rd of 95 · derived.

    Chart and every countryThe 2023 dataset

  • Minimum Proficiency in Mathematics, End of PrimaryUIS · 2023 · world median 43.822.9No earlier reading

    Ecuador: 22.9 · 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.

    Chart and every countryThe 2023 dataset

  • Minimum Proficiency in Mathematics, End of Lower SecondaryUIS · 2023 · world median 48.929.07No earlier reading

    Ecuador: 29.07 · 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.

    Chart and every countryThe 2023 dataset

  • Primary Schools with Internet for TeachingUIS · 2024 · world median 98.6659.45▲ Improved since 2016

    Ecuador: 59.45 · world median 98.66 · Primary schools with internet access for teaching (%). UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), 2024 edition, data for 2024.

    Published values in that edition run from 0 to 100; higher is better.

    Chart and every countryThe 2024 dataset

  • Learning PovertyWorld Bank Group and UNESCO Institute for Statistics · 2023 · world median 34.0265.94No earlier reading

    Ecuador: 65.94 · 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 38th of 125 · derived, 1st = worst.

    Chart and every countryThe 2023 dataset

  • Primary Schools with ElectricityUIS · 2024 · world median 10093.2▲ Improved since 2016

    Ecuador: 93.2 · world median 100 · Primary schools with access to electricity (%). UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), 2024 edition, data for 2024.

    Published values in that edition run from 1.246 to 100; higher is better.

    Chart and every countryThe 2024 dataset

  • Minimum Proficiency in Reading, End of PrimaryUIS · 2023 · world median 60.0826.1No earlier reading

    Ecuador: 26.1 · 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.

    Chart and every countryThe 2023 dataset

  • Intergenerational Persistence in EducationWorld Bank Group · 2017 · world median 0.4460.535No earlier reading

    Ecuador: 0.535 · 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 29th of 153 · derived, 1st = worst.

    Chart and every countryThe 2017 dataset

  • Government Funding per Primary StudentUIS · 2022 · world median 17.819.927▼ Worsened since 2012

    Ecuador: 9.927 · 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 59th of 68 · derived.

    Chart and every countryThe 2022 dataset

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.

  • Scholarly ArticlesOurResearch · 2025 · world median 2,24024,729Moved since 2022

    Ecuador: 24,729 · 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.

    Chart and every countryThe 2025 dataset

  • Female Share of ResearchersUIS · 2024 · world median 38.1741.09No earlier reading

    Ecuador: 41.09 · 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.

    Chart and every countryThe 2024 dataset

  • Share of Graduates from ICT ProgrammesUIS · 2023 · world median 5.6014.964Moved since 2014

    Ecuador: 4.964 · 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.

    Chart and every countryThe 2023 dataset

  • Outbound Mobility Ratio, TertiaryUIS · 2023 · world median 5.2793.346Moved since 2013

    Ecuador: 3.346 · 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.

    Chart and every countryThe 2023 dataset

  • Female Share of STEM GraduatesUIS · 2023 · world median 35.327.55Moved since 2014

    Ecuador: 27.55 · 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.

    Chart and every countryThe 2023 dataset

  • Trust in ScientistsWellcome Trust · 2020 · world median 34.3513.87No real change since 2018

    Ecuador: 13.87 · 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.

    Chart and every countryThe 2020 dataset

“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

06The top of the list

Who leads on education & knowledge

The three countries placed highest of 198, and the leaders Ecuador can most readily be measured against.

All 198 countries
  1. 1

    United Arab Emirates

    Western Asia

    1st of 198 · 2 of 4 keys

    Photo: Unknown author · CC BY-SA 3.0, greyscale

  2. 2

    Greece

    Southern Europe

    2nd of 198 · 3 of 4 keys

    Photo: User:Ggia derivative work: Jjtkk · CC BY-SA 3.0, greyscale

  3. 3

    Poland

    Eastern Europe

    3rd of 198 · 3 of 4 keys

    Photo: Ralf Lotys (Sicherlich) · CC BY 3.0, greyscale

Placed highest nearby

  1. Highest placed on all 4 keys

    Moldova7th4/4 keys
  2. Highest in Americas

    Saint Vincent and the Grenadines11th3/4 keys
  3. Highest in South America

    Peru=19th4/4 keys
  4. This page

    Ecuador=87th4/4 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

Ecuador 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 Ecuador rank on education & knowledge?

Ecuador is placed joint 87th 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 Ecuador?

4.724 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 Ecuador?

93.7 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 Ecuador compare with Colombia on education & knowledge?

Colombia is placed 92nd of 198, and Ecuador joint 87th. Out-of-School Rate, Primary: Colombia 7.325, Ecuador 4.724; Participation in Organised Learning One Year Before Primary: Colombia 97.56, Ecuador 93.7; Upper Secondary Completion Rate: Colombia 67.13, Ecuador 77.69.

How have Ecuador’s education & knowledge figures changed?

Out-of-School Rate, Primary fell from 6.416 in 2000 to 4.724 in 2023; Participation in Organised Learning One Year Before Primary rose from 66.31 in 2000 to 93.7 in 2022; Upper Secondary Completion Rate rose from 41.95 in 2000 to 77.69 in 2025; Government Spending on Education rose from 1.203 in 2000 to 3.82 in 2023.

Which education & knowledge statistics are missing for Ecuador?

No current reading is published for Ecuador on Bachelor's or Higher Attainment, Gender Parity Index, Tertiary Enrolment, Inbound Mobility Rate, Tertiary, Nobel Prize Laureates by Country of Birth, Out-of-School Rate, Lower Secondary Age, Out-of-School Rate, Primary, Participation in Organised Learning One Year Before Primary, PISA Mathematics Performance, PISA Reading Performance, PISA Science Performance, Pre-Primary Net Enrolment Rate, Research and Development Spending, School Life Expectancy, Secondary School Enrolment, Tertiary Enrolment Ratio and Wealth Parity Index, Lower Secondary Completion. 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.

About education & knowledge, in full

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

The other 28 statistics on this page come from 7 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

Ecuador’s banner and the countries placed highest, from their profiles: Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale, each used under the licence named.

Cite this page

Nations Inquiry (2026). Ecuador: Education & Knowledge — standing and statistics, Country Index 2026. https://nationsinquiry.com/countries/ecuador/education

Feedback

Feedback

How are we doing?

Two answers are required — a rating and your email. The rest is up to you.