Photo: Unknown author · CC BY-SA 3.0 · via Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale
Topic 04 of 18 · Country Index 2026
Syria: Education & Knowledge
How far does a country's schooling carry its children?
Syria is placed 179th 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 21.81 (2024); Participation in Organised Learning One Year Before Primary 46.51 (2024).
Share
Education & Knowledge
179th
of 198 countries placed
Placed from 3 of 4 key statistics
- 21.81Out-of-School Rate, Primary, 2024Out-of-school rate, primary age (%)
- 46.51Participation in Organised Learning One Year Before Primary, 2024Children one year before primary entry age in organised learning (%)
- 36.81Upper 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 Syria 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 · Syria’s is from 2024 · CC BY-SA 4.0
21.81
Out-of-school rate, primary age (%)
Lower is better
Syria: 21.81. 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
- Israel 2.663 · Jordan 1.886 · Lebanon 22.51 · Türkiye 0.603
Key 2 of 4
Participation in Organised Learning One Year Before Primary
UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS)
Latest reading per country, 2014–2024 · Syria’s is from 2024 · CC BY-SA 4.0
46.51
Children one year before primary entry age in organised learning (%)
Higher is better
Syria: 46.51. 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
- Israel 96.8 · Jordan 69.38 · Lebanon 87.17 · Türkiye 98.02
Key 3 of 4
Upper Secondary Completion Rate
UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS)
2025 edition · data for 2025 · CC BY-SA 4.0
36.81
Upper secondary completion rate (%)
Higher is better
Syria: 36.81. 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
- Iraq 57.15 · Israel 93.2 · Jordan 70.14 · Türkiye 78.12
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 Syria, 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 · Lebanon 1.504
02Over time
Which way Syria 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
SyriaWorld median
Syria rose from 6.218 in 2000 to 21.81 in 2024; the world median went from 8.642 to 3.691.
Every year’s figures
Year Syria World median 2024 21.81 3.691 2023 26.34 3.393 2022 31.07 3.002 2021 34.61 3.330 2020 33.44 2.678 2019 — 2.758 2018 — 2.439 2017 — 2.907 2016 — 2.954 2015 — 3.052 2014 — 3.904 2013 35.86 3.413 2012 0.96 3.408 2011 0.95 3.626 2010 1.22 3.491 2009 1.19 3.577 2008 1.28 3.878 2007 1.41 4.029 2006 1.45 4.338 2005 1.52 4.571 2004 1.63 3.791 2003 2.03 4.412 2002 5.05 4.144 2001 6.44 4.051 2000 6.22 8.642 Participation in Organised Learning One Year Before Primary
Children one year before primary entry age in organised learning (%) · higher is better
SyriaWorld median
Syria fell from 47.29 in 2000 to 46.51 in 2024; the world median went from 66.32 to 85.9.
Every year’s figures
Year Syria World median 2024 46.5 85.9 2023 44.6 87.6 2022 44.4 87.7 2021 38.7 87.0 2020 36.0 88.3 2019 — 88.8 2018 — 89.6 2017 — 87.4 2016 — 87.9 2015 — 88.2 2014 — 89.2 2013 33.8 88.0 2012 55.6 85.4 2011 58.1 86.2 2010 49.9 86.1 2009 56.1 84.8 2008 62.4 85.8 2007 65.1 86.7 2006 72.8 84.0 2005 57.6 82.2 2004 54.8 81.8 2003 52.8 78.3 2002 49.0 80.0 2001 48.0 80.8 2000 47.3 66.3 Upper Secondary Completion Rate
Upper secondary completion rate (%) · higher is better
SyriaWorld median
Syria rose from 23.73 in 2000 to 36.81 in 2025; the world median went from 38 to 64.87.
Every year’s figures
Year Syria World median 2025 36.8 64.9 2024 36.5 65.0 2023 36.0 64.2 2022 35.5 63.6 2021 35.1 62.9 2020 34.8 62.2 2019 34.4 61.5 2018 34.1 60.9 2017 33.6 60.5 2016 33.3 60.1 2015 33.0 58.9 2014 32.6 57.0 2013 32.2 54.7 2012 31.8 52.4 2011 31.5 50.9 2010 31.0 49.5 2009 30.6 48.5 2008 30.2 47.4 2007 29.7 46.2 2006 28.9 45.0 2005 27.9 43.8 2004 26.9 42.9 2003 26.0 41.6 2002 25.1 40.3 2001 24.3 39.0 2000 23.7 38.0 Government Spending on Education
Government expenditure on education (% of GDP) · higher is better
SyriaWorld median
Syria rose from 4.546 in 2001 to 5.13 in 2009; the world median went from 4.1 to 4.664.
Every year’s figures
Year Syria World median 2023 — 3.7092 2022 — 4.0570 2021 — 4.2611 2020 — 4.4056 2019 — 4.1407 2018 — 4.2159 2017 — 4.1401 2016 — 4.2342 2015 — 4.2386 2014 — 4.2005 2013 — 4.3493 2012 — 4.0348 2011 — 3.9987 2010 — 4.1396 2009 5.13 4.6638 2008 4.60 4.4226 2007 4.86 4.1717 2006 5.28 4.0593 2005 — 4.0557 2004 5.37 3.9745 2003 6.48 4.1595 2002 5.27 4.0173 2001 4.55 4.1002 2000 — 3.8861
03In context
Syria 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.
Syria 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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Türkiye | 28th | 0.603 | 98.02 | 78.12 | — |
 Israel | =31st | 2.663 | 96.8 | 93.2 | — |
 Jordan | 113th | 1.886 | 69.38 | 70.14 | 3.515 |
 Lebanon | 167th | 22.51 | 87.17 | — | 1.504 |
| Syria | 179th | 21.81 | 46.51 | 36.81 | — |
 Iraq | not placed | — | — | 57.15 | — |
“—”: 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 Syria in the topic’s list.
04Context, no vote
Where Syria is ahead of the world, and behind
19 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 median4
Statistics on which Syria does better than the middle country measured.
Primary Completion RateUIS · 2025 · world median 97.4398.1297.43No real change since 2015
Syria: 98.12 · 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 78th of 165 · derived.
Adult Literacy RateUIS · 2024 · world median 93.9994.4293.99No earlier reading
Syria: 94.42 · 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 84th of 172 · derived.
Youth Literacy RateUIS · 2024 · world median 98.2298.3998.22No earlier reading
Syria: 98.39 · 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.
Pupils per Qualified Teacher, PrimaryUIS · 2024 · world median 20.6720.420.67▲ Improved since 2022
Syria: 20.4 · 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 47th of 92 · derived, 1st = worst.
Behind the world median13
Statistics on which Syria does worse than the middle country measured.
Wealth Parity Index, Lower Secondary CompletionUIS · 2024 · world median 0.5290.3430.529No earlier reading
Syria: 0.343 · 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.
Researchers per Million InhabitantsUIS · 2024 · world median 701.95139.94701.95No earlier reading
Syria: 139.94 · 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 106th of 145 · derived.
Lower Secondary Completion RateUIS · 2025 · world median 89.2152.989.21▼ Worsened since 2015
Syria: 52.9 · 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 125th of 164 · derived.
Primary Schools with ElectricityUIS · 2024 · world median 10086.89100No real change since 2020
Syria: 86.89 · world median 100 · Primary schools with access to electricity (%). UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 1.246 to 100; higher is better.
Academic Freedom IndexV-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg · 2025 · world median 0.6190.2010.619▲ Improved since 2015
Syria: 0.201 · 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 144th of 176 · derived.
Mean Years of SchoolingUNDP Human Development Report Office · 2023 · world median 9.9335.9369.933▼ Worsened since 2013
Syria: 5.936 · 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 158th of 193 · derived.
Minimum Proficiency in Mathematics, End of Lower SecondaryUIS · 2023 · world median 48.917.2848.9No earlier reading
Syria: 17.28 · 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.
Primary Schools with Internet for TeachingUIS · 2024 · world median 98.668.23598.66▲ Improved since 2020
Syria: 8.235 · world median 98.66 · Primary schools with internet access for teaching (%). UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 100; higher is better.
Qualified Teachers in Primary EducationUIS · 2024 · world median 93.6638.2893.66▼ Worsened since 2023
Syria: 38.28 · world median 93.66 · Primary teachers with the minimum qualifications their country requires (%). UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 100; higher is better.
Out-of-School Rate, Lower Secondary AgeUIS · 2024 · world median 6.34351.316.343▲ Improved since 2020
Syria: 51.31 · 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 6th of 116 · derived, 1st = worst.
Pre-Primary Net Enrolment RateUIS · 2024 · world median 65.9310.9265.93▲ Improved since 2020
Syria: 10.92 · world median 65.93 · Net enrolment rate, pre-primary (%). UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 1.779 to 99.85; higher is better.
Position 115th of 120 · derived.
Secondary School EnrolmentUIS · 2024 · world median 93.1938.7493.19No real change since 2020
Syria: 38.74 · 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 106th of 109 · derived.
Expected Years of SchoolingUNDP Human Development Report Office · 2023 · world median 13.347.41913.34▼ Worsened since 2013
Syria: 7.419 · 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 191st of 195 · derived.
No better end2
These describe the shape of a country — more is not better or worse, only different — so they are never ahead or behind.
Female Share of ResearchersUIS · 2024 · world median 38.1743.5838.17No earlier reading
Syria: 43.58 · 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 2,2402,0872,240No real change since 2022
Syria: 2,087 · 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.
No current reading for Syria
Bachelor's or Higher Attainment, Female Share of STEM Graduates (last 2022), Gender Parity Index, Tertiary Enrolment (last 2016), Government Funding per Primary Student (last 2012), Government Spending on Education (last 2009), Harmonized Test Scores, Inbound Mobility Rate, Tertiary, Intergenerational Persistence in Education, Learning Poverty, Learning-Adjusted Years of School, Minimum Proficiency in Mathematics, End of Primary, Minimum Proficiency in Reading, End of Lower Secondary, Minimum Proficiency in Reading, End of Primary, Nobel Prize Laureates by Country of Birth, Outbound Mobility Ratio, Tertiary (last 2016), PISA Mathematics Performance, PISA Reading Performance, PISA Science Performance, Research and Development Spending (last 2022), School Life Expectancy (last 2013), Share of Graduates from ICT Programmes (last 2022), Tertiary Enrolment Ratio (last 2016), Trust in Scientists and Upper Secondary Attainment (last 2009). 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 Syria’s 15 topics
Education & Knowledge is Syria’s 6th best-placed topic of 15. Strongest first, each marker at its share of that topic’s field.
- Poverty & Inequality84th of 1593/3 keys
- Environment & Sustainability107th of 1864/4 keys
- Development & Human Capital121st of 1962/3 keys
- Health & Wellbeing130th of 2002/4 keys
- Food & Agriculture156th of 1843/4 keys
- Education & Knowledge179th of 1983/4 keys
- Mobility & Trade165th of 1773/4 keys
- Digital & Technology188th of 1983/4 keys
- Energy157th of 1652/3 keys
- Risk & Resilience185th of 1933/4 keys
- Governance & Institutions186th of 1944/4 keys
- Peace & Securityjoint 171st of 1773/4 keys
- Work & Labour179th of 1824/4 keys
- Gender & Equality180th of 1832/4 keys
- Democracy & Civil Liberties197th of 1984/4 keys
No standing on Economy & Innovation: 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 Syria 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
Syria179th3/4 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
Syria 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 Syria rank on education & knowledge?
Syria is placed 179th 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 Syria?
21.81 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 Syria?
46.51 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 Syria compare with Türkiye on education & knowledge?
Türkiye is placed 28th of 198, and Syria 179th. Out-of-School Rate, Primary: Türkiye 0.603, Syria 21.81; Participation in Organised Learning One Year Before Primary: Türkiye 98.02, Syria 46.51; Upper Secondary Completion Rate: Türkiye 78.12, Syria 36.81.
How have Syria’s education & knowledge figures changed?
Out-of-School Rate, Primary rose from 6.218 in 2000 to 21.81 in 2024; Participation in Organised Learning One Year Before Primary fell from 47.29 in 2000 to 46.51 in 2024; Upper Secondary Completion Rate rose from 23.73 in 2000 to 36.81 in 2025; Government Spending on Education rose from 4.546 in 2001 to 5.13 in 2009.
Which education & knowledge statistics are missing for Syria?
No current reading is published for Syria 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, Harmonized Test Scores, Inbound Mobility Rate, Tertiary, Intergenerational Persistence in Education, Learning Poverty, Learning-Adjusted Years of School, Minimum Proficiency in Mathematics, End of Primary, Minimum Proficiency in Reading, End of Lower Secondary, Minimum Proficiency in Reading, End of Primary, Nobel Prize Laureates by Country of Birth, Outbound Mobility Ratio, Tertiary, PISA Mathematics Performance, PISA Reading Performance, PISA Science Performance, Research and Development Spending, School Life Expectancy, Share of Graduates from ICT Programmes, Tertiary Enrolment Ratio, Trust in Scientists and Upper Secondary Attainment. They are listed rather than hidden, so the evidence on the page can be checked against it.
08Method
Method, sources and how to cite
What this topic does not measure
How much children actually learn is only partly covered. International test scores exist for a limited group of countries, and they are published here as context rather than used as a key, because a key must describe most of the world. Universities, research, and youth and adult literacy also appear as context.
How the Education & Knowledge standing is decided
A standing is this site’s ordering, named with its edition — never a publisher’s rank. 4 key statistics vote, one vote each; every country’s published value becomes a place within that key’s own field, the places are averaged, and the average is never published. A country needs 2 of the 4 keys to be placed.
The education & knowledge method, step by stepHow every standing on this site is built
The key statistics and their licences
- Out-of-School Rate, Primary — UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), CC BY-SA 4.0
- Participation in Organised Learning One Year Before Primary — UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), CC BY-SA 4.0
- Upper Secondary Completion Rate — UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), CC BY-SA 4.0
- Government Spending on Education — UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), CC BY-SA 4.0
The other 19 statistics on this page come from 4 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
Syria’s banner and the countries placed highest, from their profiles: Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale, each used under the licence named.
- Syria (banner) — Unknown author, 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). Syria: Education & Knowledge — standing and statistics, Country Index 2026. https://nationsinquiry.com/countries/syria/education