Photo: Dirk.heldmaier Derivative work by Globe-trotter · CC BY-SA 3.0 · via Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale
Topic 04 of 18 · Country Index 2026
Montenegro: Education & Knowledge
How far does a country's schooling carry its children?
Montenegro is placed 45th 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 0.218 (2024); Participation in Organised Learning One Year Before Primary 84.17 (2024).
Share
Education & Knowledge
45th
of 198 countries placed
Placed from 3 of 4 key statistics
- 0.218Out-of-School Rate, Primary, 2024Out-of-school rate, primary age (%)
- 84.17Participation in Organised Learning One Year Before Primary, 2024Children one year before primary entry age in organised learning (%)
- 88.97Upper Secondary Completion Rate, 2025Upper secondary completion rate (%)
- —Government Spending on Education, 2023No reading for this country
01The evidence
The 4 key statistics that decide it
Only these place Montenegro 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 · Montenegro’s is from 2023 · CC BY-SA 4.0
0.218
Out-of-school rate, primary age (%)
Lower is better
Montenegro: 0.218. 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 Southern Europe
- 0.11 Greece
- Land neighbours
- Albania 0.488 · Bosnia and Herzegovina 2.097 · Croatia 1.812 · Serbia 3.333
Key 2 of 4
Participation in Organised Learning One Year Before Primary
UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS)
Latest reading per country, 2014–2024 · Montenegro’s is from 2023 · CC BY-SA 4.0
84.17
Children one year before primary entry age in organised learning (%)
Higher is better
Montenegro: 84.17. 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 Southern Europe
- 99.93 Portugal
- Land neighbours
- Albania 94.42 · Bosnia and Herzegovina 37.49 · Croatia 99.32 · Serbia 86.21
Key 3 of 4
Upper Secondary Completion Rate
UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS)
2025 edition · data for 2025 · CC BY-SA 4.0
88.97
Upper secondary completion rate (%)
Higher is better
Montenegro: 88.97. 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 Southern Europe
- 98.2 Croatia
- Land neighbours
- Albania 88.9 · Bosnia and Herzegovina 66.46 · Croatia 98.2 · Serbia 82.76
Key 4 of 4
Government Spending on Education
UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS)
2023 edition · data for 2023 · CC BY-SA 4.0
No reading
Government expenditure on education (% of GDP)
Higher is better
UIS publishes no 2023 figure for Montenegro, so the standing rests on the other keys.
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 Southern Europe
- 3.404 Serbia
- Land neighbours
- Albania 3.092 · Bosnia and Herzegovina 3.246 · Serbia 3.404
02Over time
Which way Montenegro 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
MontenegroWorld median
Montenegro rose from 0 in 2003 to 0.218 in 2023; the world median went from 4.412 to 3.393.
Every year’s figures
Year Montenegro World median 2024 — 3.691 2023 0.22 3.393 2022 — 3.002 2021 0.17 3.330 2020 0.31 2.678 2019 0.32 2.758 2018 2.28 2.439 2017 0.12 2.907 2016 1.25 2.954 2015 0.04 3.052 2014 — 3.904 2013 — 3.413 2012 0.87 3.408 2011 0.37 3.626 2010 — 3.491 2009 — 3.577 2008 5.19 3.878 2007 5.80 4.029 2006 3.30 4.338 2005 0.05 4.571 2004 — 3.791 2003 0.00 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
MontenegroWorld median
Montenegro rose from 70.55 in 2003 to 84.17 in 2023; the world median went from 78.33 to 87.61.
Every year’s figures
Year Montenegro World median 2024 — 85.9 2023 84.2 87.6 2022 80.3 87.7 2021 79.5 87.0 2020 82.5 88.3 2019 75.6 88.8 2018 79.9 89.6 2017 76.1 87.4 2016 62.3 87.9 2015 64.5 88.2 2014 — 89.2 2013 — 88.0 2012 — 85.4 2011 — 86.2 2010 — 86.1 2009 — 84.8 2008 — 85.8 2007 94.7 86.7 2006 95.1 84.0 2005 73.4 82.2 2004 — 81.8 2003 70.5 78.3 2002 — 80.0 2001 — 80.8 2000 — 66.3 Upper Secondary Completion Rate
Upper secondary completion rate (%) · higher is better
MontenegroWorld median
Montenegro rose from 66.87 in 2000 to 88.97 in 2025; the world median went from 38 to 64.87.
Every year’s figures
Year Montenegro World median 2025 89.0 64.9 2024 88.5 65.0 2023 88.0 64.2 2022 87.7 63.6 2021 87.2 62.9 2020 86.8 62.2 2019 86.4 61.5 2018 85.9 60.9 2017 85.3 60.5 2016 84.6 60.1 2015 83.8 58.9 2014 82.8 57.0 2013 81.7 54.7 2012 80.4 52.4 2011 79.1 50.9 2010 77.6 49.5 2009 76.3 48.5 2008 74.9 47.4 2007 73.5 46.2 2006 72.2 45.0 2005 70.8 43.8 2004 69.9 42.9 2003 69.1 41.6 2002 68.4 40.3 2001 67.7 39.0 2000 66.9 38.0
03In context
Montenegro 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.
Montenegro 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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Croatia | 12th | 1.812 | 99.32 | 98.2 | — |
| Montenegro | 45th | 0.218 | 84.17 | 88.97 | — |
 Albania | 54th | 0.488 | 94.42 | 88.9 | 3.092 |
 Serbia | 95th | 3.333 | 86.21 | 82.76 | 3.404 |
 Bosnia and Herzegovina | 136th | 2.097 | 37.49 | 66.46 | 3.246 |
 Kosovo | not placed | — | — | — | — |
“—”: no published reading in that edition. What a standing is
Across Southern Europe
Every country in the sub-region, by its place among all 198.
Placed either side on education & knowledge
The countries immediately above and below Montenegro in the topic’s list.
04Context, no vote
Where Montenegro is ahead of the world, and behind
24 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 median13
Statistics on which Montenegro does better than the middle country measured.
Mean Years of SchoolingUNDP Human Development Report Office · 2023 · world median 9.93312.779.933▲ Improved since 2013
Montenegro: 12.77 · 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 23rd of 193 · derived.
Adult Literacy RateUIS · 2024 · world median 93.9998.5393.99No earlier reading
Montenegro: 98.53 · 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 40th of 172 · derived.
Lower Secondary Completion RateUIS · 2025 · world median 89.2197.9489.21▼ Worsened since 2015
Montenegro: 97.94 · 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 41st of 164 · derived.
Expected Years of SchoolingUNDP Human Development Report Office · 2023 · world median 13.3415.5413.34▼ Worsened since 2013
Montenegro: 15.54 · 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 54th of 195 · derived.
Academic Freedom IndexV-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg · 2025 · world median 0.6190.8240.619▲ Improved since 2015
Montenegro: 0.824 · 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 50th of 176 · derived.
Minimum Proficiency in Reading, End of PrimaryUIS · 2023 · world median 60.0886.9160.08No earlier reading
Montenegro: 86.91 · 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.
Learning-Adjusted Years of SchoolWorld Bank Group · 2020 · world median 7.9418.9087.941▲ Improved since 2010
Montenegro: 8.908 · 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 59th of 172 · derived.
Learning PovertyWorld Bank Group and UNESCO Institute for Statistics · 2023 · world median 34.0215.8134.02No earlier reading
Montenegro: 15.81 · 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 82nd of 125 · derived, 1st = worst.
Wealth Parity Index, Lower Secondary CompletionUIS · 2024 · world median 0.5290.7760.529No earlier reading
Montenegro: 0.776 · 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.
Harmonized Test ScoresWorld Bank Group · 2020 · world median 414.32436.13414.32▲ Improved since 2010
Montenegro: 436.13 · 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 66th of 172 · derived.
Primary Completion RateUIS · 2025 · world median 97.4398.8997.43▼ Worsened since 2015
Montenegro: 98.89 · 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 63rd of 165 · derived.
Minimum Proficiency in Mathematics, End of PrimaryUIS · 2023 · world median 43.853.3543.8No earlier reading
Montenegro: 53.35 · 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.
Researchers per Million InhabitantsUIS · 2024 · world median 701.95764.42701.95No earlier reading
Montenegro: 764.42 · 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 68th of 145 · derived.
Behind the world median7
Statistics on which Montenegro does worse than the middle country measured.
Youth Literacy RateUIS · 2024 · world median 98.2297.4298.22No earlier reading
Montenegro: 97.42 · 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.
Minimum Proficiency in Mathematics, End of Lower SecondaryUIS · 2023 · world median 48.940.548.9No earlier reading
Montenegro: 40.5 · 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 58.5947.1358.59No earlier reading
Montenegro: 47.13 · 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.
PISA Mathematics PerformanceOECD · 2022 · world median 442.09405.6442.09▲ Improved since 2012
Montenegro: 405.6 · 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 54th of 79 · derived.
PISA Reading PerformanceOECD · 2022 · world median 440.35405.02440.35▲ Improved since 2012
Montenegro: 405.02 · 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 55th of 79 · derived.
PISA Science PerformanceOECD · 2022 · world median 446.93403.13446.93▲ Improved since 2012
Montenegro: 403.13 · 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 60th of 79 · derived.
Intergenerational Persistence in EducationWorld Bank Group · 2017 · world median 0.4460.5310.446No earlier reading
Montenegro: 0.531 · 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 31st of 153 · derived, 1st = worst.
No better end4
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 38.1752.0838.17No earlier reading
Montenegro: 52.08 · 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.
Outbound Mobility Ratio, TertiaryUIS · 2023 · world median 5.27924.85.279No real change since 2013
Montenegro: 24.8 · 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 2,2407682,240No real change since 2022
Montenegro: 768 · 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 34.3518.0234.35Moved since 2018
Montenegro: 18.02 · 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.
No current reading for Montenegro
Bachelor's or Higher Attainment (last 2020), Female Share of STEM Graduates (last 2019), Gender Parity Index, Tertiary Enrolment (last 2023), Government Funding per Primary Student, Government Spending on Education, Inbound Mobility Rate, Tertiary, Nobel Prize Laureates by Country of Birth, Out-of-School Rate, Lower Secondary Age (last 2023), Out-of-School Rate, Primary (last 2023), Participation in Organised Learning One Year Before Primary (last 2023), Pre-Primary Net Enrolment Rate (last 2023), Primary Schools with Electricity, Primary Schools with Internet for Teaching, Pupils per Qualified Teacher, Primary, Qualified Teachers in Primary Education, Research and Development Spending (last 2019), School Life Expectancy (last 2023), Secondary School Enrolment (last 2023), Share of Graduates from ICT Programmes (last 2019), Tertiary Enrolment Ratio (last 2023) and Upper Secondary Attainment (last 2020). 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 Montenegro’s 16 topics
Education & Knowledge is Montenegro’s 2nd best-placed topic of 16. Strongest first, each marker at its share of that topic’s field.
- Health & Wellbeing37th of 2004/4 keys
- Education & Knowledge45th of 1983/4 keys
- Risk & Resilience45th of 1934/4 keys
- Development & Human Capital47th of 1963/3 keys
- Governance & Institutionsjoint 63rd of 1944/4 keys
- Gender & Equalityjoint 62nd of 1834/4 keys
- Economy & Innovation62nd of 1763/4 keys
- Poverty & Inequality65th of 1593/3 keys
- Energy69th of 1653/3 keys
- Democracy & Civil Liberties85th of 1984/4 keys
- Peace & Security90th of 1774/4 keys
- Food & Agriculturejoint 95th of 1844/4 keys
- Mobility & Tradejoint 101st of 1774/4 keys
- Digital & Technology128th of 1984/4 keys
- Work & Labour124th of 1824/4 keys
- Environment & Sustainability141st of 1863/4 keys
06The top of the list
Who leads on education & knowledge
The three countries placed highest of 198, and the leaders Montenegro 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 Europe
Greece2nd3/4 keysThis page
Montenegro45th3/4 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
Montenegro 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 Montenegro rank on education & knowledge?
Montenegro is placed 45th 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 Upper Secondary Completion Rate). 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 Montenegro?
0.218 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 Montenegro?
84.17 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 Montenegro compare with Serbia on education & knowledge?
Serbia is placed 95th of 198, and Montenegro 45th. Out-of-School Rate, Primary: Serbia 3.333, Montenegro 0.218; Participation in Organised Learning One Year Before Primary: Serbia 86.21, Montenegro 84.17; Upper Secondary Completion Rate: Serbia 82.76, Montenegro 88.97.
How have Montenegro’s education & knowledge figures changed?
Out-of-School Rate, Primary rose from 0 in 2003 to 0.218 in 2023; Participation in Organised Learning One Year Before Primary rose from 70.55 in 2003 to 84.17 in 2023; Upper Secondary Completion Rate rose from 66.87 in 2000 to 88.97 in 2025.
Which education & knowledge statistics are missing for Montenegro?
No current reading is published for Montenegro on Bachelor's or Higher Attainment, Female Share of STEM Graduates, Gender Parity Index, Tertiary Enrolment, Government Funding per Primary Student, Government Spending on Education, 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, 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, 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 24 statistics on this page come from 8 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
Montenegro’s banner and the countries placed highest, from their profiles: Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale, each used under the licence named.
- Montenegro (banner) — Dirk.heldmaier Derivative work by Globe-trotter, CC BY-SA 3.0
- 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). Montenegro: Education & Knowledge — standing and statistics, Country Index 2026. https://nationsinquiry.com/countries/montenegro/education