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)