Photo: Neil Palmer (CIAT) · CC BY-SA 2.0 · via Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale
Topic 04 of 18 · Country Index 2026
Nicaragua: Education & Knowledge
How far does a country's schooling carry its children?
Nicaragua is placed 146th 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 6.656 (2024); Participation in Organised Learning One Year Before Primary 85.13 (2024).
Share
Education & Knowledge
146th
of 198 countries placed
Placed from 4 of 4 key statistics
- 6.656Out-of-School Rate, Primary, 2024Out-of-school rate, primary age (%)
- 85.13Participation in Organised Learning One Year Before Primary, 2024Children one year before primary entry age in organised learning (%)
- 39.5Upper Secondary Completion Rate, 2025Upper secondary completion rate (%)
- 2.87Government Spending on Education, 2023Government expenditure on education (% of GDP)
01The evidence
The 4 key statistics that decide it
Only these place Nicaragua 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 · Nicaragua’s is from 2023 · CC BY-SA 4.0
6.656
Out-of-school rate, primary age (%)
Lower is better
Nicaragua: 6.656. 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 Central America
- 0.363 Mexico
- Land neighbours
- Costa Rica 4.486 · Honduras 26.62
Key 2 of 4
Participation in Organised Learning One Year Before Primary
UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS)
Latest reading per country, 2014–2024 · Nicaragua’s is from 2023 · CC BY-SA 4.0
85.13
Children one year before primary entry age in organised learning (%)
Higher is better
Nicaragua: 85.13. 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 Central America
- 99.69 Costa Rica
- Land neighbours
- Costa Rica 99.69 · Honduras 59.12
Key 3 of 4
Upper Secondary Completion Rate
UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS)
2025 edition · data for 2025 · CC BY-SA 4.0
39.5
Upper secondary completion rate (%)
Higher is better
Nicaragua: 39.5. 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 Central America
- 64.22 Panama
- Land neighbours
- Costa Rica 57.98 · Honduras 48.1
Key 4 of 4
Government Spending on Education
UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS)
2023 edition · data for 2023 · CC BY-SA 4.0
2.87
Government expenditure on education (% of GDP)
Higher is better
Nicaragua: 2.87. 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 Central America
- 5.312 Costa Rica
- Land neighbours
- Costa Rica 5.312 · Honduras 4.55
02Over time
Which way Nicaragua 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
NicaraguaWorld median
Nicaragua fell from 15.29 in 2000 to 6.656 in 2023; the world median went from 8.642 to 3.393.
Every year’s figures
Year Nicaragua World median 2024 — 3.691 2023 6.66 3.393 2022 — 3.002 2021 — 3.330 2020 — 2.678 2019 — 2.758 2018 — 2.439 2017 — 2.907 2016 — 2.954 2015 — 3.052 2014 — 3.904 2013 — 3.413 2012 — 3.408 2011 — 3.626 2010 4.46 3.491 2009 — 3.577 2008 3.21 3.878 2007 3.78 4.029 2006 3.02 4.338 2005 0.95 4.571 2004 1.06 3.791 2003 — 4.412 2002 4.45 4.144 2001 11.42 4.051 2000 15.29 8.642 Participation in Organised Learning One Year Before Primary
Children one year before primary entry age in organised learning (%) · higher is better
NicaraguaWorld median
Nicaragua rose from 69.23 in 2000 to 85.13 in 2023; the world median went from 66.32 to 87.61.
Every year’s figures
Year Nicaragua World median 2024 — 85.9 2023 85.1 87.6 2022 — 87.7 2021 — 87.0 2020 — 88.3 2019 — 88.8 2018 — 89.6 2017 — 87.4 2016 — 87.9 2015 — 88.2 2014 — 89.2 2013 — 88.0 2012 — 85.4 2011 — 86.2 2010 84.7 86.1 2009 — 84.8 2008 85.8 85.8 2007 84.6 86.7 2006 — 84.0 2005 80.2 82.2 2004 72.4 81.8 2003 — 78.3 2002 72.6 80.0 2001 72.2 80.8 2000 69.2 66.3 Upper Secondary Completion Rate
Upper secondary completion rate (%) · higher is better
NicaraguaWorld median
Nicaragua rose from 24.89 in 2000 to 39.5 in 2025; the world median went from 38 to 64.87.
Every year’s figures
Year Nicaragua World median 2025 39.5 64.9 2024 39.0 65.0 2023 38.4 64.2 2022 38.0 63.6 2021 37.5 62.9 2020 36.9 62.2 2019 36.4 61.5 2018 35.9 60.9 2017 35.3 60.5 2016 34.7 60.1 2015 34.1 58.9 2014 33.5 57.0 2013 33.1 54.7 2012 32.6 52.4 2011 32.1 50.9 2010 31.6 49.5 2009 31.2 48.5 2008 30.6 47.4 2007 30.0 46.2 2006 29.4 45.0 2005 28.5 43.8 2004 27.4 42.9 2003 26.4 41.6 2002 25.7 40.3 2001 25.3 39.0 2000 24.9 38.0 Government Spending on Education
Government expenditure on education (% of GDP) · higher is better
NicaraguaWorld median
Nicaragua fell from 3.002 in 2000 to 2.87 in 2023; the world median went from 3.886 to 3.709.
Every year’s figures
Year Nicaragua World median 2023 2.870 3.7092 2022 3.800 4.0570 2021 4.087 4.2611 2020 4.580 4.4056 2019 4.600 4.1407 2018 4.474 4.2159 2017 4.358 4.1401 2016 4.081 4.2342 2015 4.078 4.2386 2014 4.083 4.2005 2013 — 4.3493 2012 — 4.0348 2011 — 3.9987 2010 4.484 4.1396 2009 — 4.6638 2008 — 4.4226 2007 — 4.1717 2006 — 4.0593 2005 — 4.0557 2004 — 3.9745 2003 2.422 4.1595 2002 2.391 4.0173 2001 — 4.1002 2000 3.002 3.8861
03In context
Nicaragua 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.
Nicaragua 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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Costa Rica | 53rd | 4.486 | 99.69 | 57.98 | 5.312 |
| Nicaragua | 146th | 6.656 | 85.13 | 39.5 | 2.87 |
 Honduras | 151st | 26.62 | 59.12 | 48.1 | 4.55 |
“—”: no published reading in that edition. What a standing is
Across Central America
Every country in the sub-region, by its place among all 198.
Placed either side on education & knowledge
The countries immediately above and below Nicaragua in the topic’s list.
04Context, no vote
Where Nicaragua is ahead of the world, and behind
20 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 Nicaragua does better than the middle country measured.
Intergenerational Persistence in EducationWorld Bank Group · 2017 · world median 0.4460.4370.446No earlier reading
Nicaragua: 0.437 · 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 84th of 153 · derived, 1st = worst.
Behind the world median12
Statistics on which Nicaragua does worse than the middle country measured.
Youth Literacy RateUIS · 2024 · world median 98.2295.398.22No earlier reading
Nicaragua: 95.3 · 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 414.32391.99414.32No real change since 2017
Nicaragua: 391.99 · 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 111th of 172 · derived.
Learning-Adjusted Years of SchoolWorld Bank Group · 2020 · world median 7.9416.7487.941▼ Worsened since 2017
Nicaragua: 6.748 · 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 112th of 172 · derived.
Adult Literacy RateUIS · 2024 · world median 93.9987.3393.99No earlier reading
Nicaragua: 87.33 · 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 113th of 172 · derived.
Expected Years of SchoolingUNDP Human Development Report Office · 2023 · world median 13.3411.5113.34No real change since 2013
Nicaragua: 11.51 · 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 146th of 195 · derived.
Lower Secondary Completion RateUIS · 2025 · world median 89.2151.2889.21▼ Worsened since 2015
Nicaragua: 51.28 · 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 127th of 164 · derived.
Primary Completion RateUIS · 2025 · world median 97.4377.7397.43No real change since 2015
Nicaragua: 77.73 · 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 129th of 165 · derived.
Learning PovertyWorld Bank Group and UNESCO Institute for Statistics · 2023 · world median 34.0278.934.02No earlier reading
Nicaragua: 78.9 · 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 26th of 125 · derived, 1st = worst.
Researchers per Million InhabitantsUIS · 2024 · world median 701.9571.27701.95No earlier reading
Nicaragua: 71.27 · 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 119th of 145 · derived.
Minimum Proficiency in Reading, End of PrimaryUIS · 2023 · world median 60.081360.08No earlier reading
Nicaragua: 13 · 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.
Minimum Proficiency in Mathematics, End of PrimaryUIS · 2023 · world median 43.83.143.8No earlier reading
Nicaragua: 3.1 · 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.
Academic Freedom IndexV-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg · 2025 · world median 0.6190.0190.619▼ Worsened since 2015
Nicaragua: 0.019 · 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 176th of 176 · derived.
Level with the median, or no median to compare1
Mean Years of SchoolingUNDP Human Development Report Office · 2023 · world median 9.9339.9339.933No real change since 2013
Nicaragua: 9.933 · 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 97th of 193 · derived.
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.
Female Share of STEM GraduatesUIS · 2023 · world median 35.338.7835.3No earlier reading
Nicaragua: 38.78 · 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.
Female Share of ResearchersUIS · 2024 · world median 38.1742.4838.17No earlier reading
Nicaragua: 42.48 · 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.
Scholarly ArticlesOurResearch · 2025 · world median 2,2408892,240No real change since 2022
Nicaragua: 889 · 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.
Outbound Mobility Ratio, TertiaryUIS · 2023 · world median 5.2792.2075.279Moved since 2002
Nicaragua: 2.207 · 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.
Trust in ScientistsWellcome Trust · 2020 · world median 34.3519.5834.35Moved since 2018
Nicaragua: 19.58 · 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.
Share of Graduates from ICT ProgrammesUIS · 2023 · world median 5.6012.4645.601No earlier reading
Nicaragua: 2.464 · 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.
No current reading for Nicaragua
Bachelor's or Higher Attainment, Gender Parity Index, Tertiary Enrolment (last 2023), Government Funding per Primary Student (last 2010), Inbound Mobility Rate, Tertiary (last 2023), 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 2023), Out-of-School Rate, Primary (last 2023), Participation in Organised Learning One Year Before Primary (last 2023), PISA Mathematics Performance, PISA Reading Performance, PISA Science Performance, Pre-Primary Net Enrolment Rate (last 2023), Primary Schools with Electricity (last 2022), Primary Schools with Internet for Teaching (last 2022), Pupils per Qualified Teacher, Primary (last 2023), Qualified Teachers in Primary Education (last 2023), Research and Development Spending (last 2015), School Life Expectancy (last 2023), Secondary School Enrolment (last 2023), Tertiary Enrolment Ratio (last 2023), Upper Secondary Attainment (last 2014) 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 Nicaragua’s 15 topics
Education & Knowledge is Nicaragua’s 9th best-placed topic of 15. Strongest first, each marker at its share of that topic’s field.
- Environment & Sustainabilityjoint 15th of 1862/4 keys
- Work & Labourjoint 78th of 1824/4 keys
- Energy73rd of 1653/3 keys
- Health & Wellbeingjoint 90th of 2002/4 keys
- Gender & Equality87th of 1834/4 keys
- Risk & Resiliencejoint 116th of 1934/4 keys
- Economy & Innovation119th of 1764/4 keys
- Development & Human Capital135th of 1963/3 keys
- Education & Knowledge146th of 1984/4 keys
- Peace & Securityjoint 132nd of 1774/4 keys
- Digital & Technologyjoint 150th of 1983/4 keys
- Mobility & Trade147th of 1774/4 keys
- Poverty & Inequalityjoint 138th of 1592/3 keys
- Governance & Institutions181st of 1944/4 keys
- Democracy & Civil Liberties193rd of 1984/4 keys
No standing on Food & Agriculture: 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 Nicaragua 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 Americas
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines11th3/4 keysHighest in Central America
Mexico24th3/4 keysThis page
Nicaragua146th4/4 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
Nicaragua 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 Nicaragua rank on education & knowledge?
Nicaragua is placed 146th 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 Nicaragua?
6.656 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 Nicaragua?
85.13 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 Nicaragua compare with Honduras on education & knowledge?
Honduras is placed 151st of 198, and Nicaragua 146th. Out-of-School Rate, Primary: Honduras 26.62, Nicaragua 6.656; Participation in Organised Learning One Year Before Primary: Honduras 59.12, Nicaragua 85.13; Upper Secondary Completion Rate: Honduras 48.1, Nicaragua 39.5; Government Spending on Education: Honduras 4.55, Nicaragua 2.87.
How have Nicaragua’s education & knowledge figures changed?
Out-of-School Rate, Primary fell from 15.29 in 2000 to 6.656 in 2023; Participation in Organised Learning One Year Before Primary rose from 69.23 in 2000 to 85.13 in 2023; Upper Secondary Completion Rate rose from 24.89 in 2000 to 39.5 in 2025; Government Spending on Education fell from 3.002 in 2000 to 2.87 in 2023.
Which education & knowledge statistics are missing for Nicaragua?
No current reading is published for Nicaragua on Bachelor's or Higher Attainment, 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, 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, School Life Expectancy, Secondary School Enrolment, Tertiary Enrolment Ratio, Upper Secondary Attainment 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 20 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
Nicaragua’s banner and the countries placed highest, from their profiles: Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale, each used under the licence named.
- Nicaragua (banner) — Neil Palmer (CIAT), 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). Nicaragua: Education & Knowledge — standing and statistics, Country Index 2026. https://nationsinquiry.com/countries/nicaragua/education