Photo: Nassif.seif · CC0 · via Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale
Topic 04 of 18 · Country Index 2026
Lebanon: Education & Knowledge
How far does a country's schooling carry its children?
Lebanon is placed 167th of 198 countries on education & knowledge in the Country Index 2026, from 3 of its 4 key statistics. Readings behind it: Out-of-School Rate, Primary 22.51 (2024); Participation in Organised Learning One Year Before Primary 87.17 (2024).
Share
Education & Knowledge
167th
of 198 countries placed
Placed from 3 of 4 key statistics
- 22.51Out-of-School Rate, Primary, 2024Out-of-school rate, primary age (%)
- 87.17Participation in Organised Learning One Year Before Primary, 2024Children one year before primary entry age in organised learning (%)
- —Upper Secondary Completion Rate, 2025No reading for this country
- 1.504Government Spending on Education, 2023Government expenditure on education (% of GDP)
01The evidence
The 4 key statistics that decide it
Only these place Lebanon 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 · Lebanon’s is from 2024 · CC BY-SA 4.0
22.51
Out-of-school rate, primary age (%)
Lower is better
Lebanon: 22.51. 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 Asia
- 0.004 United Arab Emirates
- Land neighbours
- Israel 2.663 · Syria 21.81
Key 2 of 4
Participation in Organised Learning One Year Before Primary
UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS)
Latest reading per country, 2014–2024 · Lebanon’s is from 2024 · CC BY-SA 4.0
87.17
Children one year before primary entry age in organised learning (%)
Higher is better
Lebanon: 87.17. 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 Asia
- 100 United Arab Emirates
- Land neighbours
- Israel 96.8 · Syria 46.51
Key 3 of 4
Upper Secondary Completion Rate
UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS)
2025 edition · data for 2025 · CC BY-SA 4.0
No reading
Upper secondary completion rate (%)
Higher is better
UIS publishes no 2025 figure for Lebanon, so the standing rests on the other keys.
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 Asia
- 95.87 Azerbaijan
- Land neighbours
- Israel 93.2 · Syria 36.81
Key 4 of 4
Government Spending on Education
UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS)
2023 edition · data for 2023 · CC BY-SA 4.0
1.504
Government expenditure on education (% of GDP)
Higher is better
Lebanon: 1.504. 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 Asia
- 5.026 Kuwait
02Over time
Which way Lebanon 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
LebanonWorld median
Lebanon fell from 24.41 in 2000 to 22.51 in 2024; the world median went from 8.642 to 3.691.
Every year’s figures
Year Lebanon World median 2024 22.51 3.691 2023 25.67 3.393 2022 27.20 3.002 2021 28.00 3.330 2020 26.81 2.678 2019 25.94 2.758 2018 25.30 2.439 2017 24.74 2.907 2016 26.29 2.954 2015 29.27 3.052 2014 26.28 3.904 2013 19.69 3.413 2012 21.80 3.408 2011 23.10 3.626 2010 23.84 3.491 2009 24.08 3.577 2008 23.26 3.878 2007 21.68 4.029 2006 21.32 4.338 2005 20.32 4.571 2004 20.27 3.791 2003 21.86 4.412 2002 23.30 4.144 2001 24.15 4.051 2000 24.41 8.642 Participation in Organised Learning One Year Before Primary
Children one year before primary entry age in organised learning (%) · higher is better
LebanonWorld median
Lebanon rose from 74.42 in 2000 to 87.17 in 2024; the world median went from 66.32 to 85.9.
Every year’s figures
Year Lebanon World median 2024 87.17 85.9 2023 79.06 87.6 2022 73.06 87.7 2021 67.82 87.0 2020 69.24 88.3 2019 66.71 88.8 2018 71.06 89.6 2017 72.35 87.4 2016 69.12 87.9 2015 69.90 88.2 2014 76.77 89.2 2013 78.99 88.0 2012 77.70 85.4 2011 76.43 86.2 2010 73.54 86.1 2009 71.56 84.8 2008 69.92 85.8 2007 71.54 86.7 2006 71.47 84.0 2005 71.09 82.2 2004 73.48 81.8 2003 72.48 78.3 2002 75.52 80.0 2001 76.44 80.8 2000 74.42 66.3 Government Spending on Education
Government expenditure on education (% of GDP) · higher is better
LebanonWorld median
Lebanon fell from 2.841 in 2001 to 1.504 in 2023; the world median went from 4.1 to 3.709.
Every year’s figures
Year Lebanon World median 2023 1.50 3.7092 2022 1.33 4.0570 2021 — 4.2611 2020 2.44 4.4056 2019 2.52 4.1407 2018 2.62 4.2159 2017 2.22 4.1401 2016 2.18 4.2342 2015 — 4.2386 2014 — 4.2005 2013 2.43 4.3493 2012 2.15 4.0348 2011 1.65 3.9987 2010 1.61 4.1396 2009 1.77 4.6638 2008 2.01 4.4226 2007 2.58 4.1717 2006 2.78 4.0593 2005 2.65 4.0557 2004 2.64 3.9745 2003 — 4.1595 2002 2.55 4.0173 2001 2.84 4.1002 2000 — 3.8861
03In context
Lebanon 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.
Lebanon 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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Israel | =31st | 2.663 | 96.8 | 93.2 | — |
| Lebanon | 167th | 22.51 | 87.17 | — | 1.504 |
 Syria | 179th | 21.81 | 46.51 | 36.81 | — |
“—”: no published reading in that edition. What a standing is
Across Western Asia
Every country in the sub-region, by its place among all 198.
Placed either side on education & knowledge
The countries immediately above and below Lebanon in the topic’s list.
04Context, no vote
Where Lebanon is ahead of the world, and behind
22 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 Lebanon does better than the middle country measured.
Mean Years of SchoolingUNDP Human Development Report Office · 2023 · world median 9.93310.379.933No real change since 2013
Lebanon: 10.37 · 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 85th of 193 · derived.
Pre-Primary Net Enrolment RateUIS · 2024 · world median 65.9370.1665.93▲ Improved since 2014
Lebanon: 70.16 · 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 54th of 120 · derived.
Behind the world median14
Statistics on which Lebanon does worse than the middle country measured.
Academic Freedom IndexV-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg · 2025 · world median 0.6190.6180.619▲ Improved since 2015
Lebanon: 0.618 · 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 89th of 176 · derived.
Adult Literacy RateUIS · 2024 · world median 93.9992.0193.99No earlier reading
Lebanon: 92.01 · 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 97th of 172 · derived.
Youth Literacy RateUIS · 2024 · world median 98.2296.6798.22No earlier reading
Lebanon: 96.67 · 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.
Primary Schools with Internet for TeachingUIS · 2024 · world median 98.6684.1298.66No real change since 2018
Lebanon: 84.12 · 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.
Harmonized Test ScoresWorld Bank Group · 2020 · world median 414.32389.89414.32▼ Worsened since 2010
Lebanon: 389.89 · 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 115th of 172 · derived.
Learning-Adjusted Years of SchoolWorld Bank Group · 2020 · world median 7.9416.3357.941▼ Worsened since 2017
Lebanon: 6.335 · 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 117th of 172 · derived.
Intergenerational Persistence in EducationWorld Bank Group · 2017 · world median 0.4460.4990.446No earlier reading
Lebanon: 0.499 · 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 49th of 153 · derived, 1st = worst.
Pupils per Qualified Teacher, PrimaryUIS · 2024 · world median 20.6731.4320.67▼ Worsened since 2019
Lebanon: 31.43 · 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 29th of 92 · derived, 1st = worst.
Expected Years of SchoolingUNDP Human Development Report Office · 2023 · world median 13.3411.6813.34▼ Worsened since 2013
Lebanon: 11.68 · 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 142nd of 195 · derived.
Minimum Proficiency in Mathematics, End of Lower SecondaryUIS · 2023 · world median 48.926.7948.9No earlier reading
Lebanon: 26.79 · 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.
Minimum Proficiency in Reading, End of Lower SecondaryUIS · 2022 · world median 58.5932.2358.59No earlier reading
Lebanon: 32.23 · 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.
Secondary School EnrolmentUIS · 2024 · world median 93.1963.7993.19▼ Worsened since 2014
Lebanon: 63.79 · 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 96th of 109 · derived.
Out-of-School Rate, Lower Secondary AgeUIS · 2024 · world median 6.34332.496.343No real change since 2014
Lebanon: 32.49 · 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 12th of 116 · derived, 1st = worst.
Qualified Teachers in Primary EducationUIS · 2024 · world median 93.6653.7593.66▲ Improved since 2021
Lebanon: 53.75 · 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.
Level with the median, or no median to compare1
Primary Schools with ElectricityUIS · 2024 · world median 100100100No real change since 2016
Lebanon: 100 · 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.
No better end5
These describe the shape of a country — more is not better or worse, only different — so they are never ahead or behind.
Share of Graduates from ICT ProgrammesUIS · 2023 · world median 5.6018.8465.601Moved since 2021
Lebanon: 8.846 · 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.
Outbound Mobility Ratio, TertiaryUIS · 2023 · world median 5.27911.295.279Moved since 2013
Lebanon: 11.29 · 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.
Scholarly ArticlesOurResearch · 2025 · world median 2,2405,6092,240No real change since 2022
Lebanon: 5,609 · 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 34.3521.5734.35Moved since 2018
Lebanon: 21.57 · 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.
Nobel Prize Laureates by Country of BirthNobel Prize Outreach · 2025 · world median 212No earlier reading
Lebanon: 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 Lebanon
Bachelor's or Higher Attainment (last 2019), Female Share of Researchers, Female Share of STEM Graduates (last 2011), Gender Parity Index, Tertiary Enrolment (last 2019), Government Funding per Primary Student, Inbound Mobility Rate, Tertiary (last 2023), Learning Poverty, Lower Secondary Completion Rate, Minimum Proficiency in Mathematics, End of Primary, Minimum Proficiency in Reading, End of Primary, PISA Mathematics Performance, PISA Reading Performance, PISA Science Performance, Primary Completion Rate, Research and Development Spending, Researchers per Million Inhabitants, School Life Expectancy (last 2023), Tertiary Enrolment Ratio (last 2023), Upper Secondary Attainment (last 2019), Upper Secondary Completion Rate and Wealth Parity Index, Lower Secondary Completion. 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 Lebanon’s 15 topics
Education & Knowledge is Lebanon’s 13th best-placed topic of 15. Strongest first, each marker at its share of that topic’s field.
- Food & Agriculture71st of 1843/4 keys
- Energy81st of 1653/3 keys
- Health & Wellbeing104th of 2004/4 keys
- Development & Human Capitaljoint 106th of 1963/3 keys
- Economy & Innovation102nd of 1763/4 keys
- Poverty & Inequality96th of 1593/3 keys
- Risk & Resilience119th of 1934/4 keys
- Democracy & Civil Libertiesjoint 124th of 1984/4 keys
- Mobility & Tradejoint 117th of 1773/4 keys
- Digital & Technologyjoint 133rd of 1983/4 keys
- Environment & Sustainabilityjoint 143rd of 1864/4 keys
- Governance & Institutions163rd of 1944/4 keys
- Education & Knowledge167th of 1983/4 keys
- Gender & Equality163rd of 1834/4 keys
- Peace & Security169th of 1774/4 keys
No standing on Work & Labour: too few of those topics’ key statistics are published for this country.
06The top of the list
Who leads on education & knowledge
The three countries placed highest of 198, and the leaders Lebanon 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 Asia
United Arab Emirates1st2/4 keysThis page
Lebanon167th3/4 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
Lebanon 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 Lebanon rank on education & knowledge?
Lebanon is placed 167th of 198 countries on Education & Knowledge in the Country Index 2026, from 3 of its 4 key statistics (Out-of-School Rate, Primary, Participation in Organised Learning One Year Before Primary 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 Lebanon?
22.51 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 Lebanon?
87.17 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 Lebanon compare with Syria on education & knowledge?
Syria is placed 179th of 198, and Lebanon 167th. Out-of-School Rate, Primary: Syria 21.81, Lebanon 22.51; Participation in Organised Learning One Year Before Primary: Syria 46.51, Lebanon 87.17.
How have Lebanon’s education & knowledge figures changed?
Out-of-School Rate, Primary fell from 24.41 in 2000 to 22.51 in 2024; Participation in Organised Learning One Year Before Primary rose from 74.42 in 2000 to 87.17 in 2024; Government Spending on Education fell from 2.841 in 2001 to 1.504 in 2023.
Which education & knowledge statistics are missing for Lebanon?
No current reading is published for Lebanon on Bachelor's or Higher Attainment, Female Share of Researchers, Female Share of STEM Graduates, Gender Parity Index, Tertiary Enrolment, Government Funding per Primary Student, Inbound Mobility Rate, Tertiary, Learning Poverty, Lower Secondary Completion Rate, Minimum Proficiency in Mathematics, End of Primary, Minimum Proficiency in Reading, End of Primary, PISA Mathematics Performance, PISA Reading Performance, PISA Science Performance, Primary Completion Rate, Research and Development Spending, Researchers per Million Inhabitants, School Life Expectancy, Tertiary Enrolment Ratio, Upper Secondary Attainment, Upper Secondary Completion Rate 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.
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 22 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
Lebanon’s banner and the countries placed highest, from their profiles: Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale, each used under the licence named.
- Lebanon (banner) — Nassif.seif, CC0
- 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). Lebanon: Education & Knowledge — standing and statistics, Country Index 2026. https://nationsinquiry.com/countries/lebanon/education