GIRLS’ EDUCATION
THE 2013 REPORT CARD
�e gap has closed since 1990, when the global literacy rate for females in this age group was 79%, as compared with 88% for males.1
While girls’ education has come a long way since 1990, disparities between girls’ and boys’ school success still exist in many parts of the world. �is infographic o�ers an overview of the current state
of girls’ education.
Of the 774 million illiterate people in the world, two-thirds are female.2
worldwide literacy ratefor females ages 15-24
worldwide literacy ratefor males ages 15-24
SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA SOUTH ASIA
SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA SOUTH ASIA
SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA SOUTH ASIA
MIDDLE EAST AND NORTH AFRICA
SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA MIDDLE EAST AND NORTH AFRICA
MIDDLE EAST AND NORTH AFRICA LATIN AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN
�e largest gender discrepancies in literacy occur in:1
Girls have nearly caught up to boys in primary enrollment.
�is is true at all income levels — a marked change since 1990, when girls’ enrollment was far lower than that of boys (except in
high-income countries).
Regions where signi�cant enrollment disparities still exist:
A few countries still stand out for the low fraction of girls enrolled in primary school:
Girls’ enrollment in secondary education has increased substantially since 1990 and, on a global basis, is nearly equal to that of males.
DISPARITIES STILL EXIST
enrollment rate for girls in low and lower-middle income countries
enrollment rate for boys in lowand lower-middle income countries
Regions with the largest enrollment disparities:
Countries with an exceptionally low percentage of girls enrolled in secondary school:
In Latin America and Caribbean, 93% of girls are enrolled in secondary school, ahead of boys at 87%.
Countries where girls’ enrollment exceeds boys’:
ARGENTINA BANGLADESH COLOMBIA
HONDURAS LESOTHO QATAR URUGUAY
OUT-OF-SCHOOL CHILDREN2
Number of girls not enrolled in school, worldwide:
Of primary school age: 31 MILLION
Of lower secondary school:
34 MILLIONTogether, three countries – Nigeria, Pakistan and Ethiopia – have around
9.5 million girls of primary school age out of school
TERTIARY ENROLLMENT1
�e disparity is greatest in high-income countries (82% versus 65%), and is reversed in low- and lower-middle-income countries.
Globally, the primary completion rate for girls matchesthat of boys—a big change since 1990.1
Girls still fall well behind in:1
– a total of 116 million – have never completed primary school, meaning they lack the needed skills for many occupations.2
GRADE REPETITION RATES1
In general, both primary and secondary repetition rates are similar for girls and boys.
EXCEPTIONS:
1 World Development Indicators 20132 UNESCO Institute for Statistics
created by oBizMedia
SECONDARY ENROLLMENT1
LITERACY
87% 92%
PRIMARY ENROLLMENT1
ERITREA
MALI
NIGERIA
PAKISTAN
41% 75%
79% 85%
CHAD
PAKISTAN
TANZANIA
15% 29% 28%
49% 54%
NEARLY ONE-THIRD OF THE WORLD’S TOTAL.
COMPLETION RATE AND TRANSITIONS
WORLDWIDE,more females than males are enrolled in higher education.
In developing countries, almost
25% OF YOUNG WOMEN (AGED 15-24)