Translation. Region: Russian Federation –
Source: United Nations – United Nations –
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March 25, 2026
With a total enrollment of 1.4 billion in 2024, global primary and secondary education enrollment has increased by 30 percent since 2000. Pre-primary enrollment has increased by 45 percent, and post-secondary enrollment by 161 percent. This means that more than 25 children have access to education every minute. Furthermore, the gender gap in primary and secondary education has, on average, been virtually eliminated.
In China, access to higher education has expanded at an unprecedented rate, from 7 percent in 1999 to more than 60 percent in 2024.
At the same time, more and more children are not only starting but also completing education: since 2000, the global completion rate has increased from 77 percent to 88 percent in primary education, from 60 percent to 78 percent in lower secondary education, and from 37 percent to 61 percent in upper secondary education. However, if current rates continue, the global upper secondary education completion rate will only reach 95 percent by 2105.
Inclusive education
The report also highlights the growing commitment to inclusion principles worldwide. An analysis of policies in this area since 2000 shows that the proportion of countries that have enshrined inclusive education in legislation has increased from 1 to 24 percent, while the proportion of countries that provide for the education of children with disabilities in inclusive educational environments in their laws has grown from 17 to 29 percent.
According to a UNESCO report, countries in Eastern Europe, Central Asia, and the South Caucasus are demonstrating a major shift from the "medical model" of disability to an inclusive pedagogical approach. The report finds that the proportion of children with disabilities studying in specialized boarding schools in the region has decreased from 78 percent in 2005 to 29 percent in 2024. The most impressive rates of desegregation were recorded in the Republic of Moldova, where the figure fell from 77 to 8 percent, and in Armenia, where, thanks to legislative reforms in 2005 and 2021, the proportion of children in special schools fell from 37.5 percent in 2015 to just 6.5 percent in 2023.
Funding and availability
Over the past 25 years, the share of countries using various funding mechanisms to benefit disadvantaged groups in primary and secondary education has more than quadrupled. These include measures such as transfers to subnational governments, schools, and directly to students and their families. Specifically, 76 percent of countries have strategies in place to reallocate resources to disadvantaged schools. However, the new index presented in the report shows that only 8 percent of countries are fully utilizing these mechanisms to reallocate educational resources to disadvantaged groups.
Previous efforts to ensure affordability of education have expanded enrollment but led to a decline in quality, leading to a rise in student dropout. Furthermore, other significant expenses that remain barriers for families, such as transportation, after-school childcare, and food, have not been addressed. Amid declining donor funding for school grants and school nutrition systems (operating in 84 percent of countries) that were not fully integrated into national budgets are now at risk of closure.
What's next?
The report demonstrates that no single measure can ensure universal access to education. Policies must be tailored to local realities, address problems comprehensively, and be evidence-based. For example, in 14 African countries, the introduction of compulsory, rather than merely free, education increased the average years of schooling by more than a year for both girls and boys. Moreover, combining such measures with laws prohibiting child labor yields an even more significant effect.
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Effective policies must also consider factors beyond education. For example, in Cambodia, electrification alone increased the length of schooling by almost a full year. In low- and middle-income countries, school feeding programs yield up to six months of additional schooling for every $100 spent. Providing cash transfers linked to school attendance increases the likelihood of children enrolling in school by 36 percent.
By supporting governments around the world and bringing together ministers, development partners, civil society and youth representatives, UNESCO will continue to shape the post-2030 education agenda, ensuring that education remains a priority in the face of global challenges.