Photo: Samuel Bristow · CC0 · via Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale
Topic 04 of 18 · Country Index 2026
Venezuela: Education & Knowledge
How far does a country's schooling carry its children?
Venezuela is placed 89th 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 0.554 (2024); Participation in Organised Learning One Year Before Primary 85.39 (2024).
Share
Education & Knowledge
89th
of 198 countries placed
Placed from 3 of 4 key statistics
- 0.554Out-of-School Rate, Primary, 2024Out-of-school rate, primary age (%)
- 85.39Participation in Organised Learning One Year Before Primary, 2024Children one year before primary entry age in organised learning (%)
- 44.46Upper 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 Venezuela 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 · Venezuela’s is from 2023 · CC BY-SA 4.0
0.554
Out-of-school rate, primary age (%)
Lower is better
Venezuela: 0.554. 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 South America
- 0.035 Uruguay
- Land neighbours
- Brazil 2.187 · Colombia 7.325 · Guyana 17.98
Key 2 of 4
Participation in Organised Learning One Year Before Primary
UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS)
Latest reading per country, 2014–2024 · Venezuela’s is from 2017 · CC BY-SA 4.0
85.39
Children one year before primary entry age in organised learning (%)
Higher is better
Venezuela: 85.39. 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 South America
- 99.8 Peru
- Land neighbours
- Brazil 93.15 · Colombia 97.56 · Guyana 77.98
Key 3 of 4
Upper Secondary Completion Rate
UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS)
2025 edition · data for 2025 · CC BY-SA 4.0
44.46
Upper secondary completion rate (%)
Higher is better
Venezuela: 44.46. 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 South America
- 86.87 Chile
- Land neighbours
- Brazil 72.18 · Colombia 67.13 · Guyana 70.7
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 Venezuela, 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 South America
- 7.894 Bolivia
02Over time
Which way Venezuela 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
VenezuelaWorld median
Venezuela fell from 9.681 in 2000 to 0.554 in 2023; the world median went from 8.642 to 3.393.
Every year’s figures
Year Venezuela World median 2024 — 3.691 2023 0.55 3.393 2022 0.54 3.002 2021 — 3.330 2020 — 2.678 2019 — 2.758 2018 — 2.439 2017 11.56 2.907 2016 9.51 2.954 2015 7.03 3.052 2014 6.67 3.904 2013 6.07 3.413 2012 5.32 3.408 2011 5.22 3.626 2010 5.43 3.491 2009 6.06 3.577 2008 7.65 3.878 2007 5.39 4.029 2006 6.80 4.338 2005 6.84 4.571 2004 5.99 3.791 2003 6.08 4.412 2002 4.35 4.144 2001 7.74 4.051 2000 9.68 8.642 Participation in Organised Learning One Year Before Primary
Children one year before primary entry age in organised learning (%) · higher is better
VenezuelaWorld median
Venezuela rose from 75.53 in 2000 to 85.39 in 2017; the world median went from 66.32 to 87.36.
Every year’s figures
Year Venezuela World median 2024 — 85.9 2023 — 87.6 2022 — 87.7 2021 — 87.0 2020 — 88.3 2019 — 88.8 2018 — 89.6 2017 85.394 87.4 2016 88.435 87.9 2015 95.774 88.2 2014 91.345 89.2 2013 80.289 88.0 2012 75.928 85.4 2011 76.423 86.2 2010 73.424 86.1 2009 77.573 84.8 2008 85.854 85.8 2007 — 86.7 2006 — 84.0 2005 76.416 82.2 2004 74.046 81.8 2003 74.510 78.3 2002 74.983 80.0 2001 76.717 80.8 2000 75.530 66.3 Upper Secondary Completion Rate
Upper secondary completion rate (%) · higher is better
VenezuelaWorld median
Venezuela rose from 31.87 in 2000 to 44.46 in 2025; the world median went from 38 to 64.87.
Every year’s figures
Year Venezuela World median 2025 44.5 64.9 2024 44.0 65.0 2023 43.6 64.2 2022 43.0 63.6 2021 42.4 62.9 2020 42.0 62.2 2019 41.4 61.5 2018 41.0 60.9 2017 40.5 60.5 2016 40.1 60.1 2015 39.7 58.9 2014 39.2 57.0 2013 38.6 54.7 2012 38.3 52.4 2011 37.8 50.9 2010 37.3 49.5 2009 36.8 48.5 2008 36.4 47.4 2007 35.9 46.2 2006 35.5 45.0 2005 35.0 43.8 2004 34.5 42.9 2003 34.0 41.6 2002 33.5 40.3 2001 32.8 39.0 2000 31.9 38.0 Government Spending on Education
Government expenditure on education (% of GDP) · higher is better
VenezuelaWorld median
Venezuela rose from 3.669 in 2006 to 6.875 in 2009; the world median went from 4.059 to 4.664.
Every year’s figures
Year Venezuela 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 6.9 4.6638 2008 — 4.4226 2007 3.6 4.1717 2006 3.7 4.0593 2005 — 4.0557 2004 — 3.9745 2003 — 4.1595 2002 — 4.0173 2001 — 4.1002 2000 — 3.8861
03In context
Venezuela 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.
Venezuela 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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Brazil | =72nd | 2.187 | 93.15 | 72.18 | — |
| Venezuela | 89th | 0.554 | 85.39 | 44.46 | — |
 Colombiacompare | 92nd | 7.325 | 97.56 | 67.13 | — |
 Guyana | 148th | 17.98 | 77.98 | 70.7 | — |
“—”: no published reading in that edition. What a standing is
Across South 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 Venezuela in the topic’s list.
04Context, no vote
Where Venezuela 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 median4
Statistics on which Venezuela does better than the middle country measured.
Intergenerational Persistence in EducationWorld Bank Group · 2017 · world median 0.4460.3980.446No earlier reading
Venezuela: 0.398 · 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 105th of 153 · derived, 1st = worst.
Adult Literacy RateUIS · 2024 · world median 93.9997.1893.99No earlier reading
Venezuela: 97.18 · 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 58th of 172 · derived.
Secondary School EnrolmentUIS · 2024 · world median 93.1997.7993.19▲ Improved since 2014
Venezuela: 97.79 · 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 44th of 109 · derived.
Youth Literacy RateUIS · 2024 · world median 98.2298.7598.22No earlier reading
Venezuela: 98.75 · 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.
Behind the world median10
Statistics on which Venezuela does worse than the middle country measured.
Mean Years of SchoolingUNDP Human Development Report Office · 2023 · world median 9.9339.6789.933▼ Worsened since 2013
Venezuela: 9.678 · 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 101st of 193 · derived.
Expected Years of SchoolingUNDP Human Development Report Office · 2023 · world median 13.3412.9713.34▼ Worsened since 2013
Venezuela: 12.97 · 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 114th of 195 · derived.
Lower Secondary Completion RateUIS · 2025 · world median 89.2170.0489.21No real change since 2015
Venezuela: 70.04 · 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 105th of 164 · derived.
Qualified Teachers in Primary EducationUIS · 2024 · world median 93.6688.393.66▼ Worsened since 2023
Venezuela: 88.3 · 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.
Primary Completion RateUIS · 2025 · world median 97.4388.0497.43▼ Worsened since 2015
Venezuela: 88.04 · 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 113th of 165 · derived.
Researchers per Million InhabitantsUIS · 2024 · world median 701.95179.96701.95No earlier reading
Venezuela: 179.96 · 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 101st of 145 · derived.
Primary Schools with Internet for TeachingUIS · 2024 · world median 98.6647.0298.66▲ Improved since 2022
Venezuela: 47.02 · 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.
Primary Schools with ElectricityUIS · 2024 · world median 10076.29100▼ Worsened since 2016
Venezuela: 76.29 · 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 0.6190.1290.619▼ Worsened since 2015
Venezuela: 0.129 · 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 156th of 176 · derived.
Pupils per Qualified Teacher, PrimaryUIS · 2024 · world median 20.6785.8520.67▲ Improved since 2023
Venezuela: 85.85 · 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 7th of 92 · 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 38.1752.238.17No earlier reading
Venezuela: 52.2 · 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 2,2403,4492,240Moved since 2022
Venezuela: 3,449 · 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.
Nobel Prize Laureates by Country of BirthNobel Prize Outreach · 2025 · world median 222No earlier reading
Venezuela: 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.
Trust in ScientistsWellcome Trust · 2020 · world median 34.3523.6934.35No real change since 2018
Venezuela: 23.69 · 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 Venezuela
Bachelor's or Higher Attainment (last 2017), Female Share of STEM Graduates, Gender Parity Index, Tertiary Enrolment (last 2008), Government Funding per Primary Student (last 2009), Government Spending on Education (last 2009), Harmonized Test Scores, Inbound Mobility Rate, Tertiary (last 2008), Learning Poverty, Learning-Adjusted Years of School, 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, Out-of-School Rate, Lower Secondary Age (last 2022), Out-of-School Rate, Primary (last 2023), Outbound Mobility Ratio, Tertiary (last 2009), Participation in Organised Learning One Year Before Primary (last 2017), PISA Mathematics Performance, PISA Reading Performance, PISA Science Performance, Pre-Primary Net Enrolment Rate (last 2017), Research and Development Spending (last 2014), School Life Expectancy (last 2009), Share of Graduates from ICT Programmes, Tertiary Enrolment Ratio (last 2009), Upper Secondary Attainment (last 2017) 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 Venezuela’s 15 topics
Education & Knowledge is Venezuela’s 3rd best-placed topic of 15. Strongest first, each marker at its share of that topic’s field.
- Energyjoint 8th of 1652/3 keys
- Gender & Equality68th of 1833/4 keys
- Education & Knowledge89th of 1983/4 keys
- Economy & Innovation108th of 1762/4 keys
- Food & Agriculture114th of 1843/4 keys
- Digital & Technology126th of 1983/4 keys
- Health & Wellbeing135th of 2002/4 keys
- Mobility & Trade124th of 1773/4 keys
- Development & Human Capitaljoint 140th of 1963/3 keys
- Environment & Sustainabilityjoint 133rd of 1864/4 keys
- Risk & Resilience140th of 1934/4 keys
- Peace & Security159th of 1774/4 keys
- Work & Labour164th of 1824/4 keys
- Democracy & Civil Liberties192nd of 1984/4 keys
- Governance & Institutions194th of 1944/4 keys
No standing on Poverty & Inequality: 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 Venezuela 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 South America
Peru=19th4/4 keysThis page
Venezuela89th3/4 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
Venezuela 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 Venezuela rank on education & knowledge?
Venezuela is placed 89th 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 Venezuela?
0.554 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 Venezuela?
85.39 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 Venezuela compare with Brazil on education & knowledge?
Brazil is placed joint 72nd of 198, and Venezuela 89th. Out-of-School Rate, Primary: Brazil 2.187, Venezuela 0.554; Participation in Organised Learning One Year Before Primary: Brazil 93.15, Venezuela 85.39; Upper Secondary Completion Rate: Brazil 72.18, Venezuela 44.46.
How have Venezuela’s education & knowledge figures changed?
Out-of-School Rate, Primary fell from 9.681 in 2000 to 0.554 in 2023; Participation in Organised Learning One Year Before Primary rose from 75.53 in 2000 to 85.39 in 2017; Upper Secondary Completion Rate rose from 31.87 in 2000 to 44.46 in 2025; Government Spending on Education rose from 3.669 in 2006 to 6.875 in 2009.
Which education & knowledge statistics are missing for Venezuela?
No current reading is published for Venezuela 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, Learning Poverty, Learning-Adjusted Years of School, 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, Out-of-School Rate, Lower Secondary Age, Out-of-School Rate, Primary, Outbound Mobility Ratio, Tertiary, Participation in Organised Learning One Year Before Primary, PISA Mathematics Performance, PISA Reading Performance, PISA Science Performance, Pre-Primary Net Enrolment Rate, Research and Development Spending, School Life Expectancy, Share of Graduates from ICT Programmes, 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 18 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
Venezuela’s banner and the countries placed highest, from their profiles: Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale, each used under the licence named.
- Venezuela (banner) — Samuel Bristow, 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). Venezuela: Education & Knowledge — standing and statistics, Country Index 2026. https://nationsinquiry.com/countries/venezuela/education