Photo: KlausFoehl derivative work: Jjtkk · CC BY-SA 3.0 · via Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale
Topic 04 of 18 · Country Index 2026
Palestine: Education & Knowledge
How far does a country's schooling carry its children?
Palestine is placed 140th 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 9.557 (2024); Participation in Organised Learning One Year Before Primary 68.65 (2024).
Share
Education & Knowledge
140th
of 198 countries placed
Placed from 3 of 4 key statistics
- 9.557Out-of-School Rate, Primary, 2024Out-of-school rate, primary age (%)
- 68.65Participation in Organised Learning One Year Before Primary, 2024Children one year before primary entry age in organised learning (%)
- 76.12Upper 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 Palestine 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 · Palestine’s is from 2023 · CC BY-SA 4.0
9.557
Out-of-school rate, primary age (%)
Lower is better
Palestine: 9.557. 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
- Egypt 3.514 · Israel 2.663 · Jordan 1.886
Key 2 of 4
Participation in Organised Learning One Year Before Primary
UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS)
Latest reading per country, 2014–2024 · Palestine’s is from 2023 · CC BY-SA 4.0
68.65
Children one year before primary entry age in organised learning (%)
Higher is better
Palestine: 68.65. 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
- Egypt 37.85 · Israel 96.8 · Jordan 69.38
Key 3 of 4
Upper Secondary Completion Rate
UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS)
2025 edition · data for 2025 · CC BY-SA 4.0
76.12
Upper secondary completion rate (%)
Higher is better
Palestine: 76.12. 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
- Egypt 88.21 · Israel 93.2 · Jordan 70.14
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 Palestine, 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 Western Asia
- 5.026 Kuwait
- Land neighbours
- Jordan 3.515
02Over time
Which way Palestine 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
PalestineWorld median
Palestine rose from 7.532 in 2000 to 9.557 in 2023; the world median went from 8.642 to 3.393.
Every year’s figures
Year Palestine World median 2024 — 3.691 2023 9.56 3.393 2022 9.51 3.002 2021 8.23 3.330 2020 6.46 2.678 2019 5.54 2.758 2018 4.65 2.439 2017 3.74 2.907 2016 4.90 2.954 2015 5.34 3.052 2014 5.50 3.904 2013 6.58 3.413 2012 6.40 3.408 2011 8.51 3.626 2010 8.59 3.491 2009 9.48 3.577 2008 10.65 3.878 2007 12.29 4.029 2006 11.24 4.338 2005 9.89 4.571 2004 7.12 3.791 2003 6.65 4.412 2002 6.74 4.144 2001 7.99 4.051 2000 7.53 8.642 Participation in Organised Learning One Year Before Primary
Children one year before primary entry age in organised learning (%) · higher is better
PalestineWorld median
Palestine rose from 57.2 in 2000 to 68.65 in 2023; the world median went from 66.32 to 87.61.
Every year’s figures
Year Palestine World median 2024 — 85.9 2023 68.65 87.6 2022 64.89 87.7 2021 57.41 87.0 2020 67.56 88.3 2019 64.82 88.8 2018 66.86 89.6 2017 62.51 87.4 2016 — 87.9 2015 65.62 88.2 2014 57.64 89.2 2013 52.45 88.0 2012 46.61 85.4 2011 51.15 86.2 2010 40.64 86.1 2009 41.05 84.8 2008 39.18 85.8 2007 — 86.7 2006 48.41 84.0 2005 46.32 82.2 2004 46.63 81.8 2003 47.62 78.3 2002 52.04 80.0 2001 55.92 80.8 2000 57.20 66.3 Upper Secondary Completion Rate
Upper secondary completion rate (%) · higher is better
PalestineWorld median
Palestine rose from 37 in 2000 to 76.12 in 2025; the world median went from 38 to 64.87.
Every year’s figures
Year Palestine World median 2025 76 64.9 2024 75 65.0 2023 74 64.2 2022 73 63.6 2021 71 62.9 2020 70 62.2 2019 69 61.5 2018 68 60.9 2017 66 60.5 2016 65 60.1 2015 64 58.9 2014 63 57.0 2013 61 54.7 2012 60 52.4 2011 59 50.9 2010 58 49.5 2009 56 48.5 2008 54 47.4 2007 51 46.2 2006 49 45.0 2005 46 43.8 2004 44 42.9 2003 42 41.6 2002 40 40.3 2001 39 39.0 2000 37 38.0 Government Spending on Education
Government expenditure on education (% of GDP) · higher is better
PalestineWorld median
Palestine fell from 6.192 in 2010 to 5.434 in 2021; the world median went from 4.14 to 4.261.
Every year’s figures
Year Palestine World median 2023 — 3.7092 2022 — 4.0570 2021 5.43 4.2611 2020 — 4.4056 2019 — 4.1407 2018 — 4.2159 2017 4.72 4.1401 2016 4.98 4.2342 2015 4.66 4.2386 2014 — 4.2005 2013 4.89 4.3493 2012 4.74 4.0348 2011 5.34 3.9987 2010 6.19 4.1396 2009 — 4.6638 2008 — 4.4226 2007 — 4.1717 2006 — 4.0593 2005 — 4.0557 2004 — 3.9745 2003 — 4.1595 2002 — 4.0173 2001 — 4.1002 2000 — 3.8861
03In context
Palestine 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.
Palestine 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 | — |
 Jordan | 113th | 1.886 | 69.38 | 70.14 | 3.515 |
 Egypt | 121st | 3.514 | 37.85 | 88.21 | — |
| Palestine | 140th | 9.557 | 68.65 | 76.12 | — |
“—”: 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 Palestine in the topic’s list.
04Context, no vote
Where Palestine is ahead of the world, and behind
23 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 median8
Statistics on which Palestine does better than the middle country measured.
Wealth Parity Index, Lower Secondary CompletionUIS · 2024 · world median 0.5290.9120.529No earlier reading
Palestine: 0.912 · 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 97.4399.6497.43▲ Improved since 2015
Palestine: 99.64 · 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 34th of 165 · derived.
Adult Literacy RateUIS · 2024 · world median 93.9997.9493.99No earlier reading
Palestine: 97.94 · 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 47th of 172 · derived.
Youth Literacy RateUIS · 2024 · world median 98.2299.498.22No earlier reading
Palestine: 99.4 · 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.
Intergenerational Persistence in EducationWorld Bank Group · 2017 · world median 0.4460.4020.446No earlier reading
Palestine: 0.402 · 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 99th of 153 · derived, 1st = worst.
Lower Secondary Completion RateUIS · 2025 · world median 89.2194.8589.21▲ Improved since 2015
Palestine: 94.85 · 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 62nd of 164 · derived.
Mean Years of SchoolingUNDP Human Development Report Office · 2023 · world median 9.93310.139.933▲ Improved since 2013
Palestine: 10.13 · 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 91st of 193 · derived.
Learning-Adjusted Years of SchoolWorld Bank Group · 2020 · world median 7.9418.0477.941▲ Improved since 2017
Palestine: 8.047 · 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 84th of 172 · derived.
Behind the world median10
Statistics on which Palestine does worse than the middle country measured.
Harmonized Test ScoresWorld Bank Group · 2020 · world median 414.32412.32414.32No real change since 2017
Palestine: 412.32 · 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 90th of 172 · derived.
Researchers per Million InhabitantsUIS · 2024 · world median 701.95584.35701.95No earlier reading
Palestine: 584.35 · 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 78th of 145 · derived.
Expected Years of SchoolingUNDP Human Development Report Office · 2023 · world median 13.341313.34▼ Worsened since 2013
Palestine: 13 · 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 113th of 195 · derived.
Minimum Proficiency in Mathematics, End of PrimaryUIS · 2023 · world median 43.830.943.8No earlier reading
Palestine: 30.9 · 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.
Minimum Proficiency in Reading, End of PrimaryUIS · 2023 · world median 60.0842.2760.08No earlier reading
Palestine: 42.27 · 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.
PISA Mathematics PerformanceOECD · 2022 · world median 442.09365.75442.09No earlier reading
Palestine: 365.75 · 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 67th of 79 · derived.
Minimum Proficiency in Mathematics, End of Lower SecondaryUIS · 2023 · world median 48.915.7148.9No earlier reading
Palestine: 15.71 · 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.
PISA Science PerformanceOECD · 2022 · world median 446.93368.82446.93No earlier reading
Palestine: 368.82 · 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 72nd of 79 · derived.
Minimum Proficiency in Reading, End of Lower SecondaryUIS · 2022 · world median 58.5922.958.59No earlier reading
Palestine: 22.9 · 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 Reading PerformanceOECD · 2022 · world median 440.35349.16440.35No earlier reading
Palestine: 349.16 · 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 73rd of 79 · derived.
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.
Female Share of STEM GraduatesUIS · 2023 · world median 35.348.4435.3Moved since 2015
Palestine: 48.44 · 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.
Outbound Mobility Ratio, TertiaryUIS · 2023 · world median 5.27914.195.279No real change since 2013
Palestine: 14.19 · 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.
Share of Graduates from ICT ProgrammesUIS · 2023 · world median 5.6016.4565.601Moved since 2015
Palestine: 6.456 · 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.
Scholarly ArticlesOurResearch · 2025 · world median 2,2403,5792,240Moved since 2022
Palestine: 3,579 · 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 38.1722.5938.17No earlier reading
Palestine: 22.59 · 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 Palestine
Academic Freedom Index, Bachelor's or Higher Attainment (last 2022), Gender Parity Index, Tertiary Enrolment (last 2023), Government Funding per Primary Student, Government Spending on Education (last 2021), Inbound Mobility Rate, Tertiary (last 2023), Learning Poverty, 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 (last 2023), Primary Schools with Internet for Teaching (last 2023), Pupils per Qualified Teacher, Primary (last 2023), Qualified Teachers in Primary Education (last 2023), Research and Development Spending (last 2013), School Life Expectancy (last 2023), Secondary School Enrolment (last 2023), Tertiary Enrolment Ratio (last 2023), Trust in Scientists (last 2018) and Upper Secondary Attainment (last 2022). 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 Palestine’s 12 topics
Education & Knowledge is Palestine’s 8th best-placed topic of 12. Strongest first, each marker at its share of that topic’s field.
- Environment & Sustainability24th of 1862/4 keys
- Energy70th of 1652/3 keys
- Poverty & Inequalityjoint 70th of 1592/3 keys
- Digital & Technology108th of 1982/4 keys
- Development & Human Capital119th of 1963/3 keys
- Risk & Resilience125th of 1932/4 keys
- Health & Wellbeing140th of 2003/4 keys
- Education & Knowledge140th of 1983/4 keys
- Governance & Institutions140th of 1942/4 keys
- Economy & Innovation156th of 1763/4 keys
- Democracy & Civil Liberties180th of 1982/4 keys
- Gender & Equality177th of 1833/4 keys
No standing on Work & Labour, Peace & Security, Mobility & Trade, 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 Palestine 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
Palestine140th3/4 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
Palestine 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 Palestine rank on education & knowledge?
Palestine is placed 140th 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 Palestine?
9.557 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 Palestine?
68.65 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 Palestine compare with Egypt on education & knowledge?
Egypt is placed 121st of 198, and Palestine 140th. Out-of-School Rate, Primary: Egypt 3.514, Palestine 9.557; Participation in Organised Learning One Year Before Primary: Egypt 37.85, Palestine 68.65; Upper Secondary Completion Rate: Egypt 88.21, Palestine 76.12.
How have Palestine’s education & knowledge figures changed?
Out-of-School Rate, Primary rose from 7.532 in 2000 to 9.557 in 2023; Participation in Organised Learning One Year Before Primary rose from 57.2 in 2000 to 68.65 in 2023; Upper Secondary Completion Rate rose from 37 in 2000 to 76.12 in 2025; Government Spending on Education fell from 6.192 in 2010 to 5.434 in 2021.
Which education & knowledge statistics are missing for Palestine?
No current reading is published for Palestine on Academic Freedom Index, Bachelor's or Higher Attainment, Gender Parity Index, Tertiary Enrolment, Government Funding per Primary Student, Government Spending on Education, Inbound Mobility Rate, Tertiary, Learning Poverty, 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, 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 23 statistics on this page come from 5 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
Palestine’s banner and the countries placed highest, from their profiles: Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale, each used under the licence named.
- Palestine (banner) — KlausFoehl derivative work: Jjtkk, 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). Palestine: Education & Knowledge — standing and statistics, Country Index 2026. https://nationsinquiry.com/countries/palestine/education