Photo: Julien Harneis · CC BY-SA 2.0 · via Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale
Topic 04 of 18 · Country Index 2026
Guinea: Education & Knowledge
How far does a country's schooling carry its children?
Guinea is placed 183rd 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 14.73 (2024); Participation in Organised Learning One Year Before Primary 46.87 (2024).
Share
Education & Knowledge
183rd
of 198 countries placed
Placed from 4 of 4 key statistics
- 14.73Out-of-School Rate, Primary, 2024Out-of-school rate, primary age (%)
- 46.87Participation in Organised Learning One Year Before Primary, 2024Children one year before primary entry age in organised learning (%)
- 24.98Upper Secondary Completion Rate, 2025Upper secondary completion rate (%)
- 1.725Government Spending on Education, 2023Government expenditure on education (% of GDP)
01The evidence
The 4 key statistics that decide it
Only these place Guinea 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 · Guinea’s is from 2020 · CC BY-SA 4.0
14.73
Out-of-school rate, primary age (%)
Lower is better
Guinea: 14.73. 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 Western Africa
- 0.639 Togo
- Land neighbours
- Côte d’Ivoire 12.6 · Liberia 38.25 · Mali 34.01 · Senegal 24.53 · Sierra Leone 0.888
Key 2 of 4
Participation in Organised Learning One Year Before Primary
UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS)
Latest reading per country, 2014–2024 · Guinea’s is from 2020 · CC BY-SA 4.0
46.87
Children one year before primary entry age in organised learning (%)
Higher is better
Guinea: 46.87. 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 Western Africa
- 90.61 Togo
- Land neighbours
- Côte d’Ivoire 20.62 · Liberia 65.2 · Mali 29.04 · Senegal 25.39 · Sierra Leone 62.82
Key 3 of 4
Upper Secondary Completion Rate
UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS)
2025 edition · data for 2025 · CC BY-SA 4.0
24.98
Upper secondary completion rate (%)
Higher is better
Guinea: 24.98. 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 Western Africa
- 57.75 Nigeria
- Land neighbours
- Côte d’Ivoire 16.89 · Guinea-Bissau 12.68 · Liberia 14.25 · Mali 11.29 · Senegal 16.22 · Sierra Leone 13.33
Key 4 of 4
Government Spending on Education
UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS)
2023 edition · data for 2023 · CC BY-SA 4.0
1.725
Government expenditure on education (% of GDP)
Higher is better
Guinea: 1.725. 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 Western Africa
- 6.163 Senegal
- Land neighbours
- Côte d’Ivoire 3.394 · Liberia 2.267 · Mali 4.185 · Senegal 6.163 · Sierra Leone 2.625
02Over time
Which way Guinea 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
GuineaWorld median
Guinea fell from 54.11 in 2000 to 14.73 in 2020; the world median went from 8.642 to 2.678.
Every year’s figures
Year Guinea World median 2024 — 3.691 2023 — 3.393 2022 — 3.002 2021 — 3.330 2020 14.7 2.678 2019 — 2.758 2018 — 2.439 2017 — 2.907 2016 20.5 2.954 2015 — 3.052 2014 18.4 3.904 2013 22.1 3.413 2012 23.9 3.408 2011 23.5 3.626 2010 28.1 3.491 2009 31.6 3.577 2008 33.4 3.878 2007 32.7 4.029 2006 34.7 4.338 2005 36.7 4.571 2004 38.4 3.791 2003 41.2 4.412 2002 44.3 4.144 2001 51.2 4.051 2000 54.1 8.642 Participation in Organised Learning One Year Before Primary
Children one year before primary entry age in organised learning (%) · higher is better
GuineaWorld median
Guinea rose from 15.47 in 2004 to 46.87 in 2020; the world median went from 81.77 to 88.32.
Every year’s figures
Year Guinea World median 2024 — 85.9 2023 — 87.6 2022 — 87.7 2021 — 87.0 2020 46.9 88.3 2019 — 88.8 2018 — 89.6 2017 — 87.4 2016 41.2 87.9 2015 — 88.2 2014 42.3 89.2 2013 38.5 88.0 2012 — 85.4 2011 31.3 86.2 2010 24.0 86.1 2009 22.9 84.8 2008 23.6 85.8 2007 17.6 86.7 2006 16.8 84.0 2005 14.7 82.2 2004 15.5 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
GuineaWorld median
Guinea rose from 7.16 in 2000 to 24.98 in 2025; the world median went from 38 to 64.87.
Every year’s figures
Year Guinea World median 2025 25.0 64.9 2024 24.2 65.0 2023 23.4 64.2 2022 22.7 63.6 2021 21.9 62.9 2020 21.2 62.2 2019 20.6 61.5 2018 20.0 60.9 2017 19.6 60.5 2016 19.0 60.1 2015 18.2 58.9 2014 17.4 57.0 2013 16.5 54.7 2012 15.7 52.4 2011 15.0 50.9 2010 14.3 49.5 2009 13.4 48.5 2008 12.6 47.4 2007 11.7 46.2 2006 10.8 45.0 2005 10.1 43.8 2004 9.4 42.9 2003 8.7 41.6 2002 8.2 40.3 2001 7.7 39.0 2000 7.2 38.0 Government Spending on Education
Government expenditure on education (% of GDP) · higher is better
GuineaWorld median
Guinea fell from 1.779 in 2000 to 1.725 in 2023; the world median went from 3.886 to 3.709.
Every year’s figures
Year Guinea World median 2023 1.7247 3.7092 2022 2.0072 4.0570 2021 2.0407 4.2611 2020 2.4481 4.4056 2019 1.8581 4.1407 2018 2.3843 4.2159 2017 2.3203 4.1401 2016 2.5445 4.2342 2015 2.5171 4.2386 2014 2.4228 4.2005 2013 2.6342 4.3493 2012 1.8337 4.0348 2011 2.2874 3.9987 2010 2.5512 4.1396 2009 2.2073 4.6638 2008 1.5811 4.4226 2007 — 4.1717 2006 — 4.0593 2005 1.2681 4.0557 2004 1.5157 3.9745 2003 1.6261 4.1595 2002 1.7790 4.0173 2001 1.4279 4.1002 2000 1.7787 3.8861
03In context
Guinea 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.
Guinea 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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Sierra Leone | 155th | 0.888 | 62.82 | 13.33 | 2.625 |
 Senegal | 159th | 24.53 | 25.39 | 16.22 | 6.163 |
 Côte d’Ivoire | 173rd | 12.6 | 20.62 | 16.89 | 3.394 |
 Mali | =174th | 34.01 | 29.04 | 11.29 | 4.185 |
| Guinea | 183rd | 14.73 | 46.87 | 24.98 | 1.725 |
 Liberia | 188th | 38.25 | 65.2 | 14.25 | 2.267 |
 Guinea-Bissau | not placed | — | — | 12.68 | — |
“—”: no published reading in that edition. What a standing is
Across Western Africa
Every country in the sub-region, by its place among all 198.
Placed either side on education & knowledge
The countries immediately above and below Guinea in the topic’s list.
04Context, no vote
Where Guinea is ahead of the world, and behind
17 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.
Behind the world median14
Statistics on which Guinea does worse than the middle country measured.
Harmonized Test ScoresWorld Bank Group · 2020 · world median 414.32408.25414.32No real change since 2017
Guinea: 408.25 · 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 93rd of 172 · derived.
Academic Freedom IndexV-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg · 2025 · world median 0.6190.3010.619▲ Improved since 2015
Guinea: 0.301 · 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 126th of 176 · derived.
Minimum Proficiency in Reading, End of PrimaryUIS · 2023 · world median 60.0822.260.08No earlier reading
Guinea: 22.2 · 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.
Intergenerational Persistence in EducationWorld Bank Group · 2017 · world median 0.4460.5390.446No earlier reading
Guinea: 0.539 · 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 27th of 153 · derived, 1st = worst.
Lower Secondary Completion RateUIS · 2025 · world median 89.2142.6189.21▲ Improved since 2015
Guinea: 42.61 · 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 139th of 164 · derived.
Learning PovertyWorld Bank Group and UNESCO Institute for Statistics · 2023 · world median 34.0282.6734.02No earlier reading
Guinea: 82.67 · 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 18th of 125 · derived, 1st = worst.
Expected Years of SchoolingUNDP Human Development Report Office · 2023 · world median 13.3410.3913.34▲ Improved since 2013
Guinea: 10.39 · 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 171st of 195 · derived.
Learning-Adjusted Years of SchoolWorld Bank Group · 2020 · world median 7.9414.5687.941No real change since 2017
Guinea: 4.568 · 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 153rd of 172 · derived.
Primary Completion RateUIS · 2025 · world median 97.4360.9797.43No real change since 2015
Guinea: 60.97 · 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 149th of 165 · derived.
Minimum Proficiency in Mathematics, End of PrimaryUIS · 2023 · world median 43.86.843.8No earlier reading
Guinea: 6.8 · 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.
Wealth Parity Index, Lower Secondary CompletionUIS · 2024 · world median 0.5290.0580.529No earlier reading
Guinea: 0.058 · 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.
Adult Literacy RateUIS · 2024 · world median 93.9939.6293.99No earlier reading
Guinea: 39.62 · 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 166th of 172 · derived.
Mean Years of SchoolingUNDP Human Development Report Office · 2023 · world median 9.9332.4869.933▲ Improved since 2013
Guinea: 2.486 · 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 187th of 193 · derived.
Youth Literacy RateUIS · 2024 · world median 98.2253.9498.22No earlier reading
Guinea: 53.94 · 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.
No better end3
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 2,2405832,240Moved since 2022
Guinea: 583 · 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.
Trust in ScientistsWellcome Trust · 2020 · world median 34.3517.3534.35Moved since 2018
Guinea: 17.35 · 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.
Female Share of ResearchersUIS · 2024 · world median 38.179.81338.17No earlier reading
Guinea: 9.813 · 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.
No current reading for Guinea
Bachelor's or Higher Attainment (last 2018), Female Share of STEM Graduates, Gender Parity Index, Tertiary Enrolment (last 2014), Government Funding per Primary Student (last 2020), Inbound Mobility Rate, Tertiary (last 2012), Minimum Proficiency in Mathematics, End of Lower Secondary, Minimum Proficiency in Reading, End of Lower Secondary, Nobel Prize Laureates by Country of Birth, Out-of-School Rate, Lower Secondary Age (last 2014), Out-of-School Rate, Primary (last 2020), Outbound Mobility Ratio, Tertiary (last 2014), Participation in Organised Learning One Year Before Primary (last 2020), PISA Mathematics Performance, PISA Reading Performance, PISA Science Performance, Pre-Primary Net Enrolment Rate (last 2020), Primary Schools with Electricity (last 2020), Primary Schools with Internet for Teaching (last 2016), Pupils per Qualified Teacher, Primary (last 2020), Qualified Teachers in Primary Education (last 2020), Research and Development Spending, Researchers per Million Inhabitants, School Life Expectancy (last 2014), Secondary School Enrolment (last 2014), Share of Graduates from ICT Programmes, Tertiary Enrolment Ratio (last 2014) and Upper Secondary Attainment (last 2018). 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 Guinea’s 16 topics
Education & Knowledge is Guinea’s 12th best-placed topic of 16. Strongest first, each marker at its share of that topic’s field.
- Environment & Sustainability11th of 1863/4 keys
- Energyjoint 28th of 1652/3 keys
- Digital & Technology90th of 1984/4 keys
- Poverty & Inequality81st of 1593/3 keys
- Food & Agriculture103rd of 1843/4 keys
- Risk & Resilience158th of 1934/4 keys
- Mobility & Trade146th of 1773/4 keys
- Gender & Equalityjoint 151st of 1834/4 keys
- Democracy & Civil Liberties165th of 1984/4 keys
- Peace & Security151st of 1774/4 keys
- Governance & Institutions171st of 1944/4 keys
- Education & Knowledge183rd of 1984/4 keys
- Work & Labour169th of 1824/4 keys
- Health & Wellbeing188th of 2003/4 keys
- Economy & Innovation170th of 1764/4 keys
- Development & Human Capitaljoint 191st of 1963/3 keys
06The top of the list
Who leads on education & knowledge
The three countries placed highest of 198, and the leaders Guinea 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 Africa
Tunisia=48th3/4 keysHighest in Western Africa
Togo94th4/4 keysThis page
Guinea183rd4/4 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
Guinea 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 Guinea rank on education & knowledge?
Guinea is placed 183rd 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 Guinea?
14.73 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 Guinea?
46.87 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 Guinea compare with Côte d’Ivoire on education & knowledge?
Côte d’Ivoire is placed 173rd of 198, and Guinea 183rd. Out-of-School Rate, Primary: Côte d’Ivoire 12.6, Guinea 14.73; Participation in Organised Learning One Year Before Primary: Côte d’Ivoire 20.62, Guinea 46.87; Upper Secondary Completion Rate: Côte d’Ivoire 16.89, Guinea 24.98; Government Spending on Education: Côte d’Ivoire 3.394, Guinea 1.725.
How have Guinea’s education & knowledge figures changed?
Out-of-School Rate, Primary fell from 54.11 in 2000 to 14.73 in 2020; Participation in Organised Learning One Year Before Primary rose from 15.47 in 2004 to 46.87 in 2020; Upper Secondary Completion Rate rose from 7.16 in 2000 to 24.98 in 2025; Government Spending on Education fell from 1.779 in 2000 to 1.725 in 2023.
Which education & knowledge statistics are missing for Guinea?
No current reading is published for Guinea on Bachelor's or Higher Attainment, Female Share of STEM Graduates, Gender Parity Index, Tertiary Enrolment, Government Funding per Primary Student, Inbound Mobility Rate, Tertiary, Minimum Proficiency in Mathematics, End of Lower Secondary, Minimum Proficiency in Reading, End of Lower Secondary, Nobel Prize Laureates by Country of Birth, Out-of-School Rate, Lower Secondary Age, Out-of-School Rate, Primary, Outbound Mobility Ratio, Tertiary, Participation in Organised Learning One Year Before Primary, PISA Mathematics Performance, PISA Reading Performance, PISA Science Performance, Pre-Primary Net Enrolment Rate, Primary Schools with Electricity, Primary Schools with Internet for Teaching, Pupils per Qualified Teacher, Primary, Qualified Teachers in Primary Education, Research and Development Spending, Researchers per Million Inhabitants, School Life Expectancy, Secondary School Enrolment, Share of Graduates from ICT Programmes, Tertiary Enrolment Ratio 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 17 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
Guinea’s banner and the countries placed highest, from their profiles: Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale, each used under the licence named.
- Guinea (banner) — Julien Harneis, CC BY-SA 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). Guinea: Education & Knowledge — standing and statistics, Country Index 2026. https://nationsinquiry.com/countries/guinea/education