Countries in South America Ranked by School enrolment (secondary) (2024)
School enrolment (secondary): each country's latest value (2019–2024), ranked from highest to lowest. Source: The World Bank (CC BY 4.0).
Summary
Uruguay ranks #1 with 119.1% gross (2023). Peru is second with 108.3% gross, 10% behind. The top five are Uruguay, Peru, Chile, Argentina and Brazil. The median across all 12 is 99.7% gross; Suriname is last at 76.1% gross. Uruguay's figure has risen 23% since 2000 (96.9% gross to 119.1% gross in 2023).
- #1
- Uruguay · 119.1% gross
- Median
- 99.7% gross
- Coverage
- 12 countries in South America
- Data year
- 2024
- Last updated
- 2026-11-14
Full ranking
| Rank | Country | School enrolment (secondary) (% gross) | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Uruguay | 119.1 | 2023 |
| 2 | Peru | 108.3 | 2024 |
| 3 | Chile | 105.6 | 2024 |
| 4 | Argentina | 105.6 | 2023 |
| 5 | Brazil | 104.1 | 2024 |
| 6 | Colombia | 101.6 | 2022 |
| 7 | Venezuela, RB | 97.8 | 2024 |
| 8 | Ecuador | 92.8 | 2023 |
| 9 | Guyana | 91.4 | 2024 |
| 10 | Bolivia | 90.5 | 2024 |
| 11 | Paraguay | 79.1 | 2024 |
| 12 | Suriname | 76.1 | 2023 |
About the top 10
#1 Uruguay
Uruguay ranks #1 on this list with 119.1% gross (2023).
- Capital
- Montevideo
- Continent
- South America
- Income group
- High income
- Population
- 3.38 million people (2025)
- GDP
- US$85.35 billion (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$25,216 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 78.3 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 95.7% of population (2025)
Largest cities: Montevideo.
Also ranks #1 in atms per 100,000 adults · #3 in agricultural land share · #5 in suicide mortality rate.
#2 Peru
Peru ranks #2 on this list with 108.3% gross.
- Capital
- Lima
- Continent
- South America
- Income group
- Upper middle income
- Population
- 34.58 million people (2025)
- GDP
- US$334.85 billion (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$9,684 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 77.9 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 85.6% of population (2025)
Largest cities: Lima, Arequipa.
Also ranks #5 in fish production · #6 in firms using banks to finance investment share · #7 in atms per 100,000 adults.
#3 Chile
Chile ranks #3 on this list with 105.6% gross.
- Capital
- Santiago
- Continent
- South America
- Income group
- High income
- Population
- 19.86 million people (2025)
- GDP
- US$357.37 billion (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$17,995 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 81.4 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 89.2% of population (2025)
Largest cities: Santiago, Santo Domingo.
Also ranks #5 in mineral rents share of gdp · #7 in school enrolment (tertiary) · #10 in fish production.
#4 Argentina
Argentina ranks #4 on this list with 105.6% gross (2023).
- Capital
- Buenos Aires
- Continent
- South America
- Income group
- Upper middle income
- Population
- 45.85 million people (2025)
- GDP
- US$683.1 billion (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$14,898 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 77.5 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 92.4% of population (2025)
Largest cities: Greater Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Córdoba.
Also ranks #1 in inflation rate · #2 in access to clean cooking fuels · #2 in deposit interest rate.
#5 Brazil
Brazil ranks #5 on this list with 104.1% gross.
- Capital
- Brasília
- Continent
- South America
- Income group
- Upper middle income
- Population
- 212.81 million people (2025)
- GDP
- US$2.28 trillion (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$10,713 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 76 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 88.2% of population (2025)
Largest cities: Greater Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro.
Also ranks #1 in new businesses registered · #2 in forest area · #3 in external debt stocks.
#6 Colombia
Colombia ranks #6 on this list with 101.6% gross (2022).
- Capital
- Bogotá
- Continent
- South America
- Income group
- Upper middle income
- Population
- 53.43 million people (2025)
- GDP
- US$457.41 billion (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$8,562 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 77.9 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 78.8% of population (2025)
Largest cities: Bogotá, Medellín, Cali.
Also ranks #1 in income share of richest 10% · #1 in gini index · #4 in women in ministerial positions share.
#7 Venezuela, RB
Venezuela, RB ranks #7 on this list with 97.8% gross.
- Capital
- Caracas
- Continent
- South America
- Income group
- Lower middle income
- Population
- 28.52 million people (2025)
- GDP
- US$99.66 billion (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$3,495 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 72.7 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 89.3% of population (2025)
Largest cities: Caracas, Maracaibo, Valencia.
Also ranks #1 in time to start a business (days) · #3 in protected terrestrial area share · #11 in refugee population by origin.
#8 Ecuador
Ecuador ranks #8 on this list with 92.8% gross (2023).
- Capital
- Quito
- Continent
- South America
- Income group
- Upper middle income
- Population
- 18.29 million people (2025)
- GDP
- US$130.32 billion (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$7,125 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 77.6 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 63.4% of population (2025)
Largest cities: Guayaquil, Quito.
Also ranks #5 in homicide rate · #9 in gini index · #9 in women in ministerial positions share.
#9 Guyana
Guyana ranks #9 on this list with 91.4% gross.
- Capital
- Georgetown
- Continent
- South America
- Income group
- High income
- Population
- 835,990 people (2025)
- GDP
- US$27.1 billion (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$32,414 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 70.3 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 26.5% of population (2025)
Also ranks #1 in gdp growth rate · #1 in industry value added share of gdp · #1 in livestock production index.
#10 Bolivia
Bolivia ranks #10 on this list with 90.5% gross.
- Capital
- La Paz, Sucre
- Continent
- South America
- Income group
- Lower middle income
- Population
- 12.58 million people (2025)
- GDP
- US$64.77 billion (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$5,148 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 68.7 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 71.6% of population (2025)
Largest cities: Santa Cruz de la Sierra.
Also ranks #2 in real effective exchange rate index · #3 in bank branches per 100,000 adults · #4 in women in parliament share.
Profile facts: World Bank (CC BY 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0); weather links go to Purr Weather, another ChowChow Labs site.
Source and method
School enrolment (secondary): each country's latest value (2019–2024), ranked from highest to lowest.
Source: The World Bank, indicator SE.SEC.ENRR. Licence: CC BY 4.0. Retrieved: 2026-11-14.
The World Bank: School enrollment, secondary (% gross): Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) (via World Development Indicators)
Original data provider, as recorded by the World Bank: Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
Values are shown as published. Provider terms: The World Bank. All licences: Sources & licences.