Photo: Jialiang Gao www.peace-on-earth.org derivative work: JamesA · CC BY-SA 3.0 · via Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale
Topic 04 of 18 · Country Index 2026
Yemen: Education & Knowledge
How far does a country's schooling carry its children?
Yemen is placed 187th 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 30.62 (2024); Participation in Organised Learning One Year Before Primary 3.411 (2024).
Share
Education & Knowledge
187th
of 198 countries placed
Placed from 3 of 4 key statistics
- 30.62Out-of-School Rate, Primary, 2024Out-of-school rate, primary age (%)
- 3.411Participation in Organised Learning One Year Before Primary, 2024Children one year before primary entry age in organised learning (%)
- 39.94Upper 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 Yemen 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 · Yemen’s is from 2016 · CC BY-SA 4.0
30.62
Out-of-school rate, primary age (%)
Lower is better
Yemen: 30.62. 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
- Oman 5.756 · Saudi Arabia 0.527
Key 2 of 4
Participation in Organised Learning One Year Before Primary
UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS)
Latest reading per country, 2014–2024 · Yemen’s is from 2016 · CC BY-SA 4.0
3.411
Children one year before primary entry age in organised learning (%)
Higher is better
Yemen: 3.411. 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
- Oman 88.73 · Saudi Arabia 64.35
Key 3 of 4
Upper Secondary Completion Rate
UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS)
2025 edition · data for 2025 · CC BY-SA 4.0
39.94
Upper secondary completion rate (%)
Higher is better
Yemen: 39.94. 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
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 Yemen, 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
- Saudi Arabia 4.481
02Over time
Which way Yemen 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
YemenWorld median
Yemen fell from 41.92 in 2001 to 30.62 in 2016; the world median went from 4.051 to 2.954.
Every year’s figures
Year Yemen World median 2024 — 3.691 2023 — 3.393 2022 — 3.002 2021 — 3.330 2020 — 2.678 2019 — 2.758 2018 — 2.439 2017 — 2.907 2016 30.6 2.954 2015 — 3.052 2014 — 3.904 2013 27.9 3.413 2012 28.1 3.408 2011 — 3.626 2010 29.9 3.491 2009 — 3.577 2008 33.4 3.878 2007 — 4.029 2006 — 4.338 2005 31.4 4.571 2004 32.9 3.791 2003 35.5 4.412 2002 — 4.144 2001 41.9 4.051 2000 — 8.642 Participation in Organised Learning One Year Before Primary
Children one year before primary entry age in organised learning (%) · higher is better
YemenWorld median
Yemen fell from 3.624 in 2003 to 3.411 in 2016; the world median went from 78.33 to 87.91.
Every year’s figures
Year Yemen World median 2024 — 85.9 2023 — 87.6 2022 — 87.7 2021 — 87.0 2020 — 88.3 2019 — 88.8 2018 — 89.6 2017 — 87.4 2016 3.41 87.9 2015 — 88.2 2014 — 89.2 2013 3.60 88.0 2012 — 85.4 2011 — 86.2 2010 4.62 86.1 2009 — 84.8 2008 — 85.8 2007 — 86.7 2006 — 84.0 2005 — 82.2 2004 — 81.8 2003 3.62 78.3 2002 — 80.0 2001 — 80.8 2000 — 66.3 Upper Secondary Completion Rate
Upper secondary completion rate (%) · higher is better
YemenWorld median
Yemen rose from 22.32 in 2000 to 39.94 in 2025; the world median went from 38 to 64.87.
Every year’s figures
Year Yemen World median 2025 39.9 64.9 2024 39.0 65.0 2023 38.0 64.2 2022 36.9 63.6 2021 35.8 62.9 2020 34.9 62.2 2019 34.2 61.5 2018 33.6 60.9 2017 32.9 60.5 2016 31.8 60.1 2015 30.6 58.9 2014 29.5 57.0 2013 28.7 54.7 2012 28.0 52.4 2011 27.5 50.9 2010 27.2 49.5 2009 27.0 48.5 2008 26.8 47.4 2007 26.5 46.2 2006 26.1 45.0 2005 25.8 43.8 2004 25.3 42.9 2003 24.7 41.6 2002 23.9 40.3 2001 23.1 39.0 2000 22.3 38.0 Government Spending on Education
Government expenditure on education (% of GDP) · higher is better
YemenWorld median
Yemen fell from 9.662 in 2000 to 5.151 in 2008; the world median went from 3.886 to 4.423.
Every year’s figures
Year Yemen 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 — 4.6638 2008 5 4.4226 2007 — 4.1717 2006 — 4.0593 2005 — 4.0557 2004 — 3.9745 2003 — 4.1595 2002 — 4.0173 2001 9 4.1002 2000 10 3.8861
03In context
Yemen 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.
Yemen 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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Saudi Arabia | 77th | 0.527 | 64.35 | — | 4.481 |
 Oman | 119th | 5.756 | 88.73 | — | — |
| Yemen | 187th | 30.62 | 3.411 | 39.94 | — |
“—”: 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 Yemen in the topic’s list.
04Context, no vote
Where Yemen is ahead of the world, and behind
16 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 Yemen does better than the middle country measured.
Intergenerational Persistence in EducationWorld Bank Group · 2017 · world median 0.4460.3440.446No earlier reading
Yemen: 0.344 · 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 126th of 153 · derived, 1st = worst.
Behind the world median13
Statistics on which Yemen does worse than the middle country measured.
Wealth Parity Index, Lower Secondary CompletionUIS · 2024 · world median 0.5290.3560.529No earlier reading
Yemen: 0.356 · 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.
Lower Secondary Completion RateUIS · 2025 · world median 89.2158.8489.21No real change since 2015
Yemen: 58.84 · 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 116th of 164 · derived.
Academic Freedom IndexV-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg · 2025 · world median 0.6190.240.619▲ Improved since 2015
Yemen: 0.24 · 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 136th of 176 · derived.
Primary Completion RateUIS · 2025 · world median 97.4374.7797.43No real change since 2015
Yemen: 74.77 · 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 135th of 165 · derived.
Mean Years of SchoolingUNDP Human Development Report Office · 2023 · world median 9.9335.4849.933▲ Improved since 2013
Yemen: 5.484 · 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 164th of 193 · derived.
Upper Secondary AttainmentUIS · 2023 · world median 65.7625.6165.76▼ Worsened since 2014
Yemen: 25.61 · world median 65.76 · Adults 25+ who completed upper secondary or higher (%). UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 5.26 to 97.89; higher is better.
Position 84th of 95 · derived.
Learning PovertyWorld Bank Group and UNESCO Institute for Statistics · 2023 · world median 34.0294.6634.02No earlier reading
Yemen: 94.66 · 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 8th of 125 · derived, 1st = worst.
Learning-Adjusted Years of SchoolWorld Bank Group · 2020 · world median 7.9414.1797.941No real change since 2017
Yemen: 4.179 · 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 164th of 172 · derived.
Expected Years of SchoolingUNDP Human Development Report Office · 2023 · world median 13.347.49513.34▼ Worsened since 2013
Yemen: 7.495 · 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 188th of 195 · derived.
Harmonized Test ScoresWorld Bank Group · 2020 · world median 414.32321.33414.32No real change since 2017
Yemen: 321.33 · 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 166th of 172 · derived.
Youth Literacy RateUIS · 2024 · world median 98.2260.2298.22No earlier reading
Yemen: 60.22 · 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.
Adult Literacy RateUIS · 2024 · world median 93.9937.0993.99No earlier reading
Yemen: 37.09 · 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 168th of 172 · derived.
Minimum Proficiency in Mathematics, End of PrimaryUIS · 2023 · world median 43.82.32543.8No earlier reading
Yemen: 2.325 · 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.
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.
Scholarly ArticlesOurResearch · 2025 · world median 2,2403,4412,240No real change since 2022
Yemen: 3,441 · 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 212No earlier reading
Yemen: 1 · 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.
No current reading for Yemen
Bachelor's or Higher Attainment (last 2014), Female Share of Researchers, Female Share of STEM Graduates, Gender Parity Index, Tertiary Enrolment (last 2011), Government Funding per Primary Student (last 2011), Government Spending on Education (last 2008), Inbound Mobility Rate, Tertiary (last 2011), Minimum Proficiency in Mathematics, End of Lower Secondary, Minimum Proficiency in Reading, End of Lower Secondary, Minimum Proficiency in Reading, End of Primary, Out-of-School Rate, Lower Secondary Age (last 2016), Out-of-School Rate, Primary (last 2016), Outbound Mobility Ratio, Tertiary (last 2011), Participation in Organised Learning One Year Before Primary (last 2016), PISA Mathematics Performance, PISA Reading Performance, PISA Science Performance, Pre-Primary Net Enrolment Rate (last 2016), Primary Schools with Electricity, Primary Schools with Internet for Teaching, Pupils per Qualified Teacher, Primary (last 2016), Qualified Teachers in Primary Education, Research and Development Spending, Researchers per Million Inhabitants, School Life Expectancy (last 2011), Secondary School Enrolment (last 2016), Share of Graduates from ICT Programmes, Tertiary Enrolment Ratio (last 2011) and Trust in Scientists (last 2018). 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 Yemen’s 15 topics
Education & Knowledge is Yemen’s 7th best-placed topic of 15. Strongest first, each marker at its share of that topic’s field.
- Environment & Sustainability49th of 1863/4 keys
- Poverty & Inequality118th of 1592/3 keys
- Energyjoint 127th of 1652/3 keys
- Health & Wellbeing172nd of 2003/4 keys
- Development & Human Capital170th of 1963/3 keys
- Mobility & Tradejoint 155th of 1773/4 keys
- Education & Knowledge187th of 1983/4 keys
- Food & Agriculture175th of 1842/4 keys
- Governance & Institutions189th of 1944/4 keys
- Democracy & Civil Liberties195th of 1983/4 keys
- Work & Labour181st of 1824/4 keys
- Risk & Resilience192nd of 1933/4 keys
- Digital & Technology198th of 1983/4 keys
- Gender & Equality183rd of 1832/4 keys
- Peace & Security177th of 1773/4 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 Yemen 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
Yemen187th3/4 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
Yemen 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 Yemen rank on education & knowledge?
Yemen is placed 187th 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 Yemen?
30.62 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 Yemen?
3.411 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 Yemen compare with Saudi Arabia on education & knowledge?
Saudi Arabia is placed 77th of 198, and Yemen 187th. Out-of-School Rate, Primary: Saudi Arabia 0.527, Yemen 30.62; Participation in Organised Learning One Year Before Primary: Saudi Arabia 64.35, Yemen 3.411.
How have Yemen’s education & knowledge figures changed?
Out-of-School Rate, Primary fell from 41.92 in 2001 to 30.62 in 2016; Participation in Organised Learning One Year Before Primary fell from 3.624 in 2003 to 3.411 in 2016; Upper Secondary Completion Rate rose from 22.32 in 2000 to 39.94 in 2025; Government Spending on Education fell from 9.662 in 2000 to 5.151 in 2008.
Which education & knowledge statistics are missing for Yemen?
No current reading is published for Yemen on Bachelor's or Higher Attainment, Female Share of Researchers, Female Share of STEM Graduates, Gender Parity Index, Tertiary Enrolment, Government Funding per Primary Student, Government Spending on Education, Inbound Mobility Rate, Tertiary, Minimum Proficiency in Mathematics, End of Lower Secondary, 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, Primary Schools with Electricity, Primary Schools with Internet for Teaching, Pupils per Qualified Teacher, Primary, Qualified Teachers in Primary Education, Research and Development Spending, Researchers per Million Inhabitants, School Life Expectancy, Secondary School Enrolment, Share of Graduates from ICT Programmes, Tertiary Enrolment Ratio and Trust in Scientists. 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 16 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
Yemen’s banner and the countries placed highest, from their profiles: Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale, each used under the licence named.
- Yemen (banner) — Jialiang Gao www.peace-on-earth.org derivative work: JamesA, 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). Yemen: Education & Knowledge — standing and statistics, Country Index 2026. https://nationsinquiry.com/countries/yemen/education