Photo: Arensond · CC0 · via Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale
Topic 04 of 18 · Country Index 2026
Mauritania: Education & Knowledge
How far does a country's schooling carry its children?
Mauritania is placed 143rd 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 11.26 (2024); Upper Secondary Completion Rate 22.95 (2025).
Share
Education & Knowledge
143rd
of 198 countries placed
Placed from 3 of 4 key statistics
- 11.26Out-of-School Rate, Primary, 2024Out-of-school rate, primary age (%)
- —Participation in Organised Learning One Year Before Primary, 2024No reading for this country
- 22.95Upper Secondary Completion Rate, 2025Upper secondary completion rate (%)
- 4.715Government Spending on Education, 2023Government expenditure on education (% of GDP)
01The evidence
The 4 key statistics that decide it
Only these place Mauritania 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 · Mauritania’s is from 2024 · CC BY-SA 4.0
11.26
Out-of-school rate, primary age (%)
Lower is better
Mauritania: 11.26. 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
- Algeria 1.58 · Mali 34.01 · Senegal 24.53
Key 2 of 4
Participation in Organised Learning One Year Before Primary
UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS)
Latest reading per country, 2014–2024 · CC BY-SA 4.0
No reading
Children one year before primary entry age in organised learning (%)
Higher is better
UIS publishes no reading from 2014–2024 for Mauritania, so the standing rests on the other keys.
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
- Algeria 75.16 · Mali 29.04 · Senegal 25.39
Key 3 of 4
Upper Secondary Completion Rate
UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS)
2025 edition · data for 2025 · CC BY-SA 4.0
22.95
Upper secondary completion rate (%)
Higher is better
Mauritania: 22.95. 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
- Algeria 50.71 · Mali 11.29 · Senegal 16.22
Key 4 of 4
Government Spending on Education
UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS)
2023 edition · data for 2023 · CC BY-SA 4.0
4.715
Government expenditure on education (% of GDP)
Higher is better
Mauritania: 4.715. 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
- Algeria 5.61 · Mali 4.185 · Senegal 6.163
02Over time
Which way Mauritania 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
MauritaniaWorld median
Mauritania fell from 40.65 in 2000 to 11.26 in 2024; the world median went from 8.642 to 3.691.
Every year’s figures
Year Mauritania World median 2024 11.256 3.691 2023 — 3.393 2022 — 3.002 2021 — 3.330 2020 25.400 2.678 2019 30.905 2.758 2018 27.467 2.439 2017 28.844 2.907 2016 32.717 2.954 2015 24.568 3.052 2014 28.036 3.904 2013 29.258 3.413 2012 30.862 3.408 2011 28.814 3.626 2010 28.618 3.491 2009 28.819 3.577 2008 28.617 3.878 2007 25.889 4.029 2006 27.569 4.338 2005 30.653 4.571 2004 29.583 3.791 2003 36.377 4.412 2002 39.095 4.144 2001 38.026 4.051 2000 40.646 8.642 Upper Secondary Completion Rate
Upper secondary completion rate (%) · higher is better
MauritaniaWorld median
Mauritania rose from 6.47 in 2000 to 22.95 in 2025; the world median went from 38 to 64.87.
Every year’s figures
Year Mauritania World median 2025 22.95 64.9 2024 22.36 65.0 2023 21.84 64.2 2022 21.27 63.6 2021 20.72 62.9 2020 20.15 62.2 2019 19.57 61.5 2018 18.64 60.9 2017 17.44 60.5 2016 16.04 60.1 2015 14.43 58.9 2014 12.74 57.0 2013 11.27 54.7 2012 10.01 52.4 2011 9.02 50.9 2010 8.19 49.5 2009 7.48 48.5 2008 6.96 47.4 2007 6.61 46.2 2006 6.39 45.0 2005 6.22 43.8 2004 6.15 42.9 2003 6.15 41.6 2002 6.24 40.3 2001 6.37 39.0 2000 6.47 38.0 Government Spending on Education
Government expenditure on education (% of GDP) · higher is better
MauritaniaWorld median
Mauritania rose from 2.107 in 2001 to 4.715 in 2023; the world median went from 4.1 to 3.709.
Every year’s figures
Year Mauritania World median 2023 4.72 3.7092 2022 1.39 4.0570 2021 1.89 4.2611 2020 1.80 4.4056 2019 1.82 4.1407 2018 — 4.2159 2017 — 4.1401 2016 1.94 4.2342 2015 2.83 4.2386 2014 2.56 4.2005 2013 2.29 4.3493 2012 2.16 4.0348 2011 2.33 3.9987 2010 — 4.1396 2009 — 4.6638 2008 — 4.4226 2007 — 4.1717 2006 1.96 4.0593 2005 — 4.0557 2004 1.95 3.9745 2003 2.37 4.1595 2002 2.28 4.0173 2001 2.11 4.1002 2000 — 3.8861
03In context
Mauritania 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.
Mauritania 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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Algeria | =87th | 1.58 | 75.16 | 50.71 | 5.61 |
| Mauritania | 143rd | 11.26 | — | 22.95 | 4.715 |
 Senegal | 159th | 24.53 | 25.39 | 16.22 | 6.163 |
 Mali | =174th | 34.01 | 29.04 | 11.29 | 4.185 |
“—”: 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 Mauritania in the topic’s list.
04Context, no vote
Where Mauritania is ahead of the world, and behind
16 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 median1
Statistics on which Mauritania does better than the middle country measured.
Intergenerational Persistence in EducationWorld Bank Group · 2017 · world median 0.4460.3840.446No earlier reading
Mauritania: 0.384 · 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 116th of 153 · derived, 1st = worst.
Behind the world median13
Statistics on which Mauritania does worse than the middle country measured.
Academic Freedom IndexV-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg · 2025 · world median 0.6190.2530.619▲ Improved since 2015
Mauritania: 0.253 · 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 134th of 176 · derived.
Pupils per Qualified Teacher, PrimaryUIS · 2024 · world median 20.6739.8720.67▲ Improved since 2020
Mauritania: 39.87 · 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 19th of 92 · derived, 1st = worst.
Out-of-School Rate, Lower Secondary AgeUIS · 2024 · world median 6.34330.346.343▲ Improved since 2014
Mauritania: 30.34 · 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 17th of 116 · derived, 1st = worst.
Lower Secondary Completion RateUIS · 2025 · world median 89.2141.6489.21▼ Worsened since 2015
Mauritania: 41.64 · 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 142nd of 164 · derived.
Mean Years of SchoolingUNDP Human Development Report Office · 2023 · world median 9.9334.8529.933No real change since 2013
Mauritania: 4.852 · 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 172nd of 193 · derived.
Adult Literacy RateUIS · 2024 · world median 93.9959.5393.99No earlier reading
Mauritania: 59.53 · 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 154th of 172 · derived.
Youth Literacy RateUIS · 2024 · world median 98.2270.8698.22No earlier reading
Mauritania: 70.86 · 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.
Harmonized Test ScoresWorld Bank Group · 2020 · world median 414.32342.09414.32No real change since 2017
Mauritania: 342.09 · 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 159th of 172 · derived.
Wealth Parity Index, Lower Secondary CompletionUIS · 2024 · world median 0.5290.0580.529No earlier reading
Mauritania: 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.
Primary Completion RateUIS · 2025 · world median 97.4351.7697.43▼ Worsened since 2015
Mauritania: 51.76 · 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 156th of 165 · derived.
Learning-Adjusted Years of SchoolWorld Bank Group · 2020 · world median 7.9414.2317.941▲ Improved since 2017
Mauritania: 4.231 · 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 163rd of 172 · derived.
Learning PovertyWorld Bank Group and UNESCO Institute for Statistics · 2023 · world median 34.0294.7734.02No earlier reading
Mauritania: 94.77 · 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 7th of 125 · derived, 1st = worst.
Expected Years of SchoolingUNDP Human Development Report Office · 2023 · world median 13.347.9513.34▼ Worsened since 2013
Mauritania: 7.95 · 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 186th of 195 · derived.
No better end2
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 2,2401652,240Moved since 2022
Mauritania: 165 · 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 ResearchersUIS · 2024 · world median 38.1724.4938.17No earlier reading
Mauritania: 24.49 · 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 Mauritania
Bachelor's or Higher Attainment (last 2015), Female Share of STEM Graduates (last 2020), Gender Parity Index, Tertiary Enrolment (last 2020), Government Funding per Primary Student (last 2020), Inbound Mobility Rate, Tertiary (last 2020), Minimum Proficiency in Mathematics, End of Lower Secondary, Minimum Proficiency in Mathematics, End of Primary, Minimum Proficiency in Reading, End of Lower Secondary, Minimum Proficiency in Reading, End of Primary, Nobel Prize Laureates by Country of Birth, Outbound Mobility Ratio, Tertiary (last 2020), 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 (last 2020), Primary Schools with Internet for Teaching, Qualified Teachers in Primary Education (last 2019), Research and Development Spending (last 2018), Researchers per Million Inhabitants, School Life Expectancy (last 2020), Secondary School Enrolment (last 2020), Share of Graduates from ICT Programmes (last 2020), Tertiary Enrolment Ratio (last 2020), Trust in Scientists (last 2018) and Upper Secondary Attainment (last 2015). 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 Mauritania’s 16 topics
Education & Knowledge is Mauritania’s 7th best-placed topic of 16. Strongest first, each marker at its share of that topic’s field.
- Environment & Sustainability66th of 1862/4 keys
- Digital & Technologyjoint 117th of 1983/4 keys
- Poverty & Inequality95th of 1593/3 keys
- Peace & Security116th of 1774/4 keys
- Energy118th of 1653/3 keys
- Democracy & Civil Libertiesjoint 142nd of 1984/4 keys
- Education & Knowledge143rd of 1983/4 keys
- Food & Agriculture141st of 1843/4 keys
- Health & Wellbeing154th of 2004/4 keys
- Development & Human Capital158th of 1963/3 keys
- Governance & Institutions165th of 1944/4 keys
- Risk & Resiliencejoint 170th of 1934/4 keys
- Gender & Equality164th of 1834/4 keys
- Economy & Innovation160th of 1764/4 keys
- Mobility & Trade162nd of 1774/4 keys
- Work & Labour178th of 1824/4 keys
06The top of the list
Who leads on education & knowledge
The three countries placed highest of 198, and the leaders Mauritania 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
Mauritania143rd3/4 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
Mauritania 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 Mauritania rank on education & knowledge?
Mauritania is placed 143rd of 198 countries on Education & Knowledge in the Country Index 2026, from 3 of its 4 key statistics (Out-of-School Rate, 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 Mauritania?
11.26 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 Upper Secondary Completion Rate figure for Mauritania?
22.95 in 2025 (upper secondary completion rate (%)), according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS). The world median in the same edition was 64.87.
How does Mauritania compare with Algeria on education & knowledge?
Algeria is placed joint 87th of 198, and Mauritania 143rd. Out-of-School Rate, Primary: Algeria 1.58, Mauritania 11.26; Upper Secondary Completion Rate: Algeria 50.71, Mauritania 22.95; Government Spending on Education: Algeria 5.61, Mauritania 4.715.
How have Mauritania’s education & knowledge figures changed?
Out-of-School Rate, Primary fell from 40.65 in 2000 to 11.26 in 2024; Upper Secondary Completion Rate rose from 6.47 in 2000 to 22.95 in 2025; Government Spending on Education rose from 2.107 in 2001 to 4.715 in 2023.
Which education & knowledge statistics are missing for Mauritania?
No current reading is published for Mauritania 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 Mathematics, End of Primary, Minimum Proficiency in Reading, End of Lower Secondary, Minimum Proficiency in Reading, End of Primary, Nobel Prize Laureates by Country of Birth, 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, 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, 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 16 statistics on this page come from 6 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
Mauritania’s banner and the countries placed highest, from their profiles: Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale, each used under the licence named.
- Mauritania (banner) — Arensond, 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). Mauritania: Education & Knowledge — standing and statistics, Country Index 2026. https://nationsinquiry.com/countries/mauritania/education