
Photo: Mjr74 · CC0 · via Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale
Topic 04 of 18 · Country Index 2026
Saint Lucia: Education & Knowledge
How far does a country's schooling carry its children?
Saint Lucia is placed 97th 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 7.012 (2024); Participation in Organised Learning One Year Before Primary 91.73 (2024).
Share
Education & Knowledge
97th
of 198 countries placed
Placed from 4 of 4 key statistics
- 7.012Out-of-School Rate, Primary, 2024Out-of-school rate, primary age (%)
- 91.73Participation in Organised Learning One Year Before Primary, 2024Children one year before primary entry age in organised learning (%)
- 94.25Upper Secondary Completion Rate, 2025Upper secondary completion rate (%)
- 2.742Government Spending on Education, 2023Government expenditure on education (% of GDP)
01The evidence
The 4 key statistics that decide it
Only these place Saint Lucia 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 · Saint Lucia’s is from 2024 · CC BY-SA 4.0
7.012
Out-of-school rate, primary age (%)
Lower is better
Saint Lucia: 7.012. 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 Caribbean
- 0.133 Turks and Caicos Islands
Key 2 of 4
Participation in Organised Learning One Year Before Primary
UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS)
Latest reading per country, 2014–2024 · Saint Lucia’s is from 2023 · CC BY-SA 4.0
91.73
Children one year before primary entry age in organised learning (%)
Higher is better
Saint Lucia: 91.73. 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 Caribbean
- 98.36 Turks and Caicos Islands
Key 3 of 4
Upper Secondary Completion Rate
UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS)
2025 edition · data for 2025 · CC BY-SA 4.0
94.25
Upper secondary completion rate (%)
Higher is better
Saint Lucia: 94.25. 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 Caribbean
- 95.71 Barbados
Key 4 of 4
Government Spending on Education
UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS)
2023 edition · data for 2023 · CC BY-SA 4.0
2.742
Government expenditure on education (% of GDP)
Higher is better
Saint Lucia: 2.742. 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 Caribbean
- 7.19 Montserrat
02Over time
Which way Saint Lucia 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
Saint LuciaWorld median
Saint Lucia fell from 8.642 in 2000 to 7.012 in 2024; the world median went from 8.642 to 3.691.
Every year’s figures
Year Saint Lucia World median 2024 7.012 3.691 2023 2.063 3.393 2022 2.116 3.002 2021 4.354 3.330 2020 5.793 2.678 2019 6.003 2.758 2018 6.978 2.439 2017 7.722 2.907 2016 8.105 2.954 2015 6.740 3.052 2014 8.082 3.904 2013 6.693 3.413 2012 7.339 3.408 2011 6.822 3.626 2010 5.782 3.491 2009 4.618 3.577 2008 6.164 3.878 2007 6.797 4.029 2006 6.580 4.338 2005 8.112 4.571 2004 5.404 3.791 2003 1.054 4.412 2002 0.334 4.144 2001 6.981 4.051 2000 8.642 8.642 Participation in Organised Learning One Year Before Primary
Children one year before primary entry age in organised learning (%) · higher is better
Saint LuciaWorld median
Saint Lucia rose from 74.65 in 2000 to 91.73 in 2023; the world median went from 66.32 to 87.61.
Every year’s figures
Year Saint Lucia World median 2024 — 85.9 2023 91.73 87.6 2022 83.74 87.7 2021 — 87.0 2020 — 88.3 2019 97.78 88.8 2018 95.98 89.6 2017 — 87.4 2016 — 87.9 2015 94.63 88.2 2014 87.58 89.2 2013 87.47 88.0 2012 74.87 85.4 2011 69.84 86.2 2010 73.26 86.1 2009 77.40 84.8 2008 81.05 85.8 2007 75.78 86.7 2006 79.02 84.0 2005 74.06 82.2 2004 68.01 81.8 2003 69.99 78.3 2002 78.05 80.0 2001 74.90 80.8 2000 74.65 66.3 Upper Secondary Completion Rate
Upper secondary completion rate (%) · higher is better
Saint LuciaWorld median
Saint Lucia rose from 56.32 in 2000 to 94.25 in 2025; the world median went from 38 to 64.87.
Every year’s figures
Year Saint Lucia World median 2025 94.3 64.9 2024 93.6 65.0 2023 92.9 64.2 2022 92.2 63.6 2021 91.4 62.9 2020 90.5 62.2 2019 89.5 61.5 2018 88.4 60.9 2017 87.2 60.5 2016 86.0 60.1 2015 84.8 58.9 2014 83.5 57.0 2013 82.1 54.7 2012 80.5 52.4 2011 78.9 50.9 2010 77.2 49.5 2009 75.3 48.5 2008 73.4 47.4 2007 71.4 46.2 2006 69.3 45.0 2005 67.2 43.8 2004 65.2 42.9 2003 63.1 41.6 2002 61.0 40.3 2001 58.7 39.0 2000 56.3 38.0 Government Spending on Education
Government expenditure on education (% of GDP) · higher is better
Saint LuciaWorld median
Saint Lucia fell from 5.707 in 2001 to 2.742 in 2023; the world median went from 4.1 to 3.709.
Every year’s figures
Year Saint Lucia World median 2023 2.742 3.7092 2022 4.642 4.0570 2021 5.862 4.2611 2020 3.615 4.4056 2019 3.273 4.1407 2018 3.333 4.2159 2017 3.627 4.1401 2016 5.210 4.2342 2015 3.881 4.2386 2014 3.891 4.2005 2013 3.877 4.3493 2012 3.291 4.0348 2011 3.599 3.9987 2010 3.483 4.1396 2009 3.068 4.6638 2008 4.484 4.4226 2007 — 4.1717 2006 4.697 4.0593 2005 4.239 4.0557 2004 3.436 3.9745 2003 3.534 4.1595 2002 — 4.0173 2001 5.707 4.1002 2000 — 3.8861
03In context
Saint Lucia 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.
Saint Lucia and Caribbean
Saint Lucia has no land border, so the table compares it with its sub-region. 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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11th | 0.59 | 98.04 | — | 6.4583 | |
| =41st | 1.755 | 96.09 | — | — | |
| 43rd | 4.341 | 94.69 | 92 | 5.6545 | |
| =48th | 0.133 | 98.36 | — | 2.6877 | |
| 50th | 3.952 | 98.03 | — | 4.6942 | |
| 69th | 4.684 | 97.06 | 74.13 | — | |
| 86th | 1.711 | 94.08 | — | 3.1051 | |
| 93rd | 7.164 | 96.69 | 84.85 | 3.2336 | |
| 96th | 6.686 | 72.92 | — | 7.1902 | |
| 97th | 7.012 | 91.73 | 94.25 | 2.7421 | |
| 98th | 4.928 | 93.47 | 64.68 | 3.7606 | |
| 107th | 17.6 | 78.17 | 95.71 | 3.7754 | |
| 110th | 4.941 | 74.96 | — | 5.1254 | |
| 118th | 13.25 | 89.02 | — | 4.2690 | |
| =123rd | 6.781 | — | — | 3.9236 | |
| 128th | 27.89 | 77.65 | — | 5.3007 | |
| 130th | 5.169 | 96.16 | — | 1.5702 | |
| 161st | 26.97 | 82.84 | — | 3.1728 | |
| =176th | 15.88 | 47.25 | — | 2.7419 | |
| 181st | — | 76.02 | 18.48 | 0.9646 | |
| not placed | — | 89.69 | — | — | |
| not placed | — | — | — | 3.4973 | |
| not placed | — | — | — | — | |
| not placed | — | — | — | — |
“—”: no published reading in that edition. What a standing is
Across Caribbean
Every country in the sub-region, by its place among all 198.
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines11th
Aruba=41st
Jamaica43rd
Turks and Caicos Islands=48th
Dominica50th
Cuba69th
Antigua and Barbuda86th
Trinidad and Tobago93rd
Montserrat96th
Saint Lucia97th
Dominican Republic98th
Barbados107th
Grenada110th
Puerto Rico118th
Sint Maarten=123rd
Curaçao128th
Cayman Islands130th
British Virgin Islands161st
Bahamas=176th
Haiti181st
Anguillanot placed
Saint Kitts and Nevisnot placed
Saint Martinnot placed
United States Virgin Islandsnot placed
Placed either side on education & knowledge
The countries immediately above and below Saint Lucia in the topic’s list.
04Context, no vote
Where Saint Lucia is ahead of the world, and behind
18 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 median7
Statistics on which Saint Lucia does better than the middle country measured.
Youth Literacy RateUIS · 2024 · world median 98.2299.9898.22No earlier reading
Saint Lucia: 99.98 · 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.
Wealth Parity Index, Lower Secondary CompletionUIS · 2024 · world median 0.5290.9370.529No earlier reading
Saint Lucia: 0.937 · 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 97.4399.5897.43▲ Improved since 2015
Saint Lucia: 99.58 · 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 36th of 165 · derived.
Lower Secondary Completion RateUIS · 2025 · world median 89.2198.2989.21▲ Improved since 2015
Saint Lucia: 98.29 · 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 37th of 164 · derived.
Pupils per Qualified Teacher, PrimaryUIS · 2024 · world median 20.6717.6220.67▲ Improved since 2021
Saint Lucia: 17.62 · 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 58th of 92 · derived, 1st = worst.
Learning-Adjusted Years of SchoolWorld Bank Group · 2020 · world median 7.9418.487.941▲ Improved since 2018
Saint Lucia: 8.48 · 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 72nd of 172 · derived.
Harmonized Test ScoresWorld Bank Group · 2020 · world median 414.32417.76414.32▲ Improved since 2018
Saint Lucia: 417.76 · 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 82nd of 172 · derived.
Behind the world median5
Statistics on which Saint Lucia does worse than the middle country measured.
Expected Years of SchoolingUNDP Human Development Report Office · 2023 · world median 13.3412.7313.34▼ Worsened since 2013
Saint Lucia: 12.73 · 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 122nd of 195 · derived.
Mean Years of SchoolingUNDP Human Development Report Office · 2023 · world median 9.9338.6149.933▼ Worsened since 2013
Saint Lucia: 8.614 · 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 122nd of 193 · derived.
Government Funding per Primary StudentUIS · 2022 · world median 17.8115.6417.81▼ Worsened since 2012
Saint Lucia: 15.64 · world median 17.81 · Government funding per primary student (% of GDP per capita). UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), 2022 edition, data for 2022.
Published values in that edition run from 3.771 to 34.57; higher is better.
Position 45th of 68 · derived.
Secondary School EnrolmentUIS · 2024 · world median 93.1987.8793.19▼ Worsened since 2014
Saint Lucia: 87.87 · 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 73rd of 109 · derived.
Out-of-School Rate, Lower Secondary AgeUIS · 2024 · world median 6.34312.526.343▼ Worsened since 2015
Saint Lucia: 12.52 · 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 37th of 116 · derived, 1st = worst.
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.
Outbound Mobility Ratio, TertiaryUIS · 2023 · world median 5.27938.65.279Moved since 2013
Saint Lucia: 38.6 · 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 5.6016.7275.601No earlier reading
Saint Lucia: 6.727 · 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.
Nobel Prize Laureates by Country of BirthNobel Prize Outreach · 2025 · world median 222No earlier reading
Saint Lucia: 2 · 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.
Female Share of ResearchersUIS · 2024 · world median 38.1733.3338.17No earlier reading
Saint Lucia: 33.33 · 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 2,240742,240Moved since 2022
Saint Lucia: 74 · 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 STEM GraduatesUIS · 2023 · world median 35.325.8735.3No earlier reading
Saint Lucia: 25.87 · 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.
No current reading for Saint Lucia
Academic Freedom Index, Adult Literacy Rate, Bachelor's or Higher Attainment (last 2020), Gender Parity Index, Tertiary Enrolment (last 2023), Inbound Mobility Rate, Tertiary (last 2023), Intergenerational Persistence in Education, Learning Poverty, 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, 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 2023), Primary Schools with Internet for Teaching (last 2023), Qualified Teachers in Primary Education (last 2023), Research and Development Spending (last 1999), Researchers per Million Inhabitants, School Life Expectancy (last 2023), Tertiary Enrolment Ratio (last 2023), Trust in Scientists 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 Saint Lucia’s 15 topics
Education & Knowledge is Saint Lucia’s 8th best-placed topic of 15. Strongest first, each marker at its share of that topic’s field.
- Risk & Resilience23rd of 1933/4 keys
- Food & Agriculturejoint 23rd of 1842/4 keys
- Economy & Innovation34th of 1762/4 keys
- Democracy & Civil Libertiesjoint 47th of 1982/4 keys
- Gender & Equality45th of 1832/4 keys
- Governance & Institutions66th of 1943/4 keys
- Poverty & Inequality60th of 1593/3 keys
- Education & Knowledge97th of 1984/4 keys
- Work & Labour91st of 1824/4 keys
- Development & Human Capitaljoint 110th of 1963/3 keys
- Health & Wellbeing121st of 2002/4 keys
- Environment & Sustainabilityjoint 121st of 1864/4 keys
- Mobility & Tradejoint 126th of 1772/4 keys
- Digital & Technology170th of 1983/4 keys
- Energy152nd of 1652/3 keys
No standing on Peace & Security: 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 Saint Lucia can most readily be measured against.
1United Arab Emirates
Western Asia
1st of 198 · 2 of 4 keys
Photo: Unknown author · CC BY-SA 3.0, greyscale
2Greece
Southern Europe
2nd of 198 · 3 of 4 keys
Photo: User:Ggia derivative work: Jjtkk · CC BY-SA 3.0, greyscale
3Poland
Eastern 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 keys
Highest in Americas
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines11th3/4 keys
This page
Saint Lucia97th4/4 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
Saint Lucia 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 Saint Lucia rank on education & knowledge?
Saint Lucia is placed 97th 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 Saint Lucia?
7.012 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 Saint Lucia?
91.73 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 have Saint Lucia’s education & knowledge figures changed?
Out-of-School Rate, Primary fell from 8.642 in 2000 to 7.012 in 2024; Participation in Organised Learning One Year Before Primary rose from 74.65 in 2000 to 91.73 in 2023; Upper Secondary Completion Rate rose from 56.32 in 2000 to 94.25 in 2025; Government Spending on Education fell from 5.707 in 2001 to 2.742 in 2023.
Which education & knowledge statistics are missing for Saint Lucia?
No current reading is published for Saint Lucia on Academic Freedom Index, Adult Literacy Rate, Bachelor's or Higher Attainment, Gender Parity Index, Tertiary Enrolment, Inbound Mobility Rate, Tertiary, Intergenerational Persistence in Education, Learning Poverty, 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, 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, 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 18 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
Saint Lucia’s banner and the countries placed highest, from their profiles: Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale, each used under the licence named.
- Saint Lucia (banner) — Mjr74, 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). Saint Lucia: Education & Knowledge — standing and statistics, Country Index 2026. https://nationsinquiry.com/countries/saint-lucia/education