Countries With the Fastest Decline in School enrolment (tertiary) (5-Year Change)
Change in School enrolment (tertiary) over the five years to each country's latest year, in points (a share or rate is not shown as a % of itself). Only countries that fell are listed. Source: The World Bank (CC BY 4.0).
Summary
Puerto Rico (US) fell the most: by 29.6 pts, from 107.5% gross to 77.9% gross in the five years to 2023. Seychelles is second (−26.8 pts), followed by Russian Federation (−20.6 pts). 36 countries fell over that period; the median change among them was −2.72 pts.
- #1
- Puerto Rico (US) · −29.6 pts
- Median
- −2.72 pts
- Coverage
- 36 countries
- Data year
- 2024
- Last updated
- 2026-11-14
Full ranking
| Rank | Country | From | To | 5-year change (points) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Puerto Rico (US) | 107.5 | 77.9 | −29.6 pts |
| 2 | Seychelles | 41.3 | 14.5 | −26.8 pts |
| 3 | Russian Federation | 81 | 60.4 | −20.6 pts |
| 4 | Bulgaria | 84.8 | 69.5 | −15.2 pts |
| 5 | Latvia | 94.9 | 82.9 | −11.9 pts |
| 6 | Belarus | 81.3 | 70.1 | −11.2 pts |
| 7 | Türkiye | 115.5 | 105.9 | −9.57 pts |
| 8 | Kazakhstan | 62.3 | 52.9 | −9.43 pts |
| 9 | United States | 88.2 | 79.4 | −8.81 pts |
| 10 | Iran, Islamic Rep. | 66.4 | 58.7 | −7.67 pts |
| 11 | Kuwait | 59.2 | 51.9 | −7.32 pts |
| 12 | Estonia | 72.7 | 65.7 | −7.04 pts |
| 13 | Bermuda | 22.3 | 17.3 | −5.01 pts |
| 14 | Bosnia and Herzegovina | 49.8 | 45.5 | −4.3 pts |
| 15 | Montenegro | 58.2 | 55.2 | −3.01 pts |
| 16 | Oman | 45.2 | 42.2 | −2.95 pts |
| 17 | Bhutan | 15.9 | 13 | −2.93 pts |
| 18 | Denmark | 81.7 | 79 | −2.73 pts |
| 19 | Suriname | 5.26 | 2.57 | −2.7 pts |
| 20 | Fiji | 77.6 | 75 | −2.55 pts |
| 21 | Malaysia | 40.8 | 38.5 | −2.31 pts |
| 22 | Barbados | 53 | 50.8 | −2.17 pts |
| 23 | Honduras | 25.3 | 23.3 | −2 pts |
| 24 | West Bank and Gaza | 46.5 | 44.5 | −1.99 pts |
| 25 | Cuba | 44.8 | 43.1 | −1.68 pts |
| 26 | Australia | 109.8 | 108.4 | −1.34 pts |
| 27 | Israel | 57.5 | 56.3 | −1.2 pts |
| 28 | Benin | 11.3 | 10.2 | −1.1 pts |
| 29 | Armenia | 53.6 | 52.8 | −0.819 pts |
| 30 | Egypt, Arab Rep. | 38.8 | 38 | −0.734 pts |
| 31 | New Zealand | 77.6 | 77.2 | −0.343 pts |
| 32 | Belize | 25.1 | 24.8 | −0.329 pts |
| 33 | Pakistan | 11.1 | 10.9 | −0.248 pts |
| 34 | Botswana | 21.5 | 21.4 | −0.088 pts |
| 35 | Kenya | 10.5 | 10.4 | −0.079 pts |
| 36 | Czechia | 66.8 | 66.7 | −0.062 pts |
About the top 10
#1 Puerto Rico (US)
Puerto Rico (US) ranks #1 on this list with −29.6 pts.
- Capital
- San Juan
- Continent
- North America
- Income group
- High income
- Population
- 3.18 million people (2025)
- GDP
- US$129.37 billion (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$40,620 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 81.9 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 94.3% of population (2025)
Also ranks #1 in manufacturing value added share of gdp · #3 in population ages 65+ share · #4 in age dependency ratio (old).
#2 Seychelles
Seychelles ranks #2 on this list with −26.8 pts.
- Capital
- Victoria
- Continent
- Africa
- Income group
- High income
- Population
- 122,730 people (2025)
- GDP
- US$2.39 billion (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$19,449 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 76.3 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 45.5% of population (2025)
Also ranks #1 in protected terrestrial area share · #3 in physicians per 1,000 · #8 in male population share.
#3 Russian Federation
Russian Federation ranks #3 on this list with −20.6 pts.
- Capital
- Moscow
- Continent
- Europe
- Income group
- High income
- Population
- 143.51 million people (2025)
- GDP
- US$2.56 trillion (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$17,547 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 73.4 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 75.3% of population (2025)
Largest cities: Moscow, Saint Petersburg, Novosibirsk.
Also ranks #1 in land area · #1 in surface area · #1 in forest area.
#4 Bulgaria
Bulgaria ranks #4 on this list with −15.2 pts.
- Capital
- Sofia
- Continent
- Europe
- Income group
- High income
- Population
- 6.43 million people (2025)
- GDP
- US$130.78 billion (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$20,328 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 75.8 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 74.2% of population (2025)
Largest cities: Sofia.
Also ranks #2 in death rate · #2 in bank branches per 100,000 adults · #6 in hospital beds per 10,000.
#5 Latvia
Latvia ranks #5 on this list with −11.9 pts.
- Capital
- Riga
- Continent
- Europe
- Income group
- High income
- Population
- 1.85 million people (2025)
- GDP
- US$48.62 billion (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$26,312 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 76.4 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 68.6% of population (2025)
Also ranks #3 in alcohol consumption per capita · #4 in death rate · #6 in female population share.
#6 Belarus
Belarus ranks #6 on this list with −11.2 pts.
- Capital
- Minsk
- Continent
- Europe
- Income group
- Upper middle income
- Population
- 9.09 million people (2025)
- GDP
- US$93.4 billion (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$10,279 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 74.4 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 79.5% of population (2025)
Largest cities: Minsk.
Also ranks #2 in income share of poorest 10% · #4 in hospital beds per 10,000 · #6 in literacy rate.
#7 Türkiye
Türkiye ranks #7 on this list with −9.57 pts.
- Capital
- Ankara
- Continent
- Asia
- Income group
- Upper middle income
- Population
- 85.88 million people (2025)
- GDP
- US$1.6 trillion (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$18,599 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 77.4 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 89.5% of population (2025)
Largest cities: Istanbul, Ankara, İzmir.
Also ranks #1 in deposit interest rate · #2 in refugee population by asylum · #5 in air passengers carried.
#8 Kazakhstan
Kazakhstan ranks #8 on this list with −9.43 pts.
- Capital
- Astana
- Continent
- Asia
- Income group
- Upper middle income
- Population
- 20.84 million people (2025)
- GDP
- US$306.24 billion (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$14,692 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 74.5 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 62.4% of population (2025)
Largest cities: Almaty, Shymkent, Astana.
Also ranks #2 in debt service share of exports · #4 in income share of poorest 10% · #6 in protected marine area share.
#9 United States
United States ranks #9 on this list with −8.81 pts.
- Capital
- Washington, D.C.
- Continent
- North America
- Income group
- High income
- Population
- 341.78 million people (2025)
- GDP
- US$30.77 trillion (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$90,027 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 78.9 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 80.2% of population (2025)
Largest cities: New York metropolitan area, New York City, Chicago.
Also ranks #1 in gdp (current us$) · #1 in health expenditure per capita · #1 in imports of goods and services.
#10 Iran, Islamic Rep.
Iran, Islamic Rep. ranks #10 on this list with −7.67 pts.
- Capital
- Tehran
- Continent
- Asia
- Income group
- Upper middle income
- Population
- 92.42 million people (2025)
- GDP
- US$362.68 billion (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$3,924 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 77.9 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 77.4% of population (2025)
Largest cities: Tehran, Isfahan, Ahvaz.
Also ranks #1 in refugee population by asylum · #2 in official exchange rate · #4 in gross capital formation rate.
Profile facts: World Bank (CC BY 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0); weather links go to Purr Weather, another ChowChow Labs site.
Source and method
Change in School enrolment (tertiary) over the five years to each country's latest year, in points (a share or rate is not shown as a % of itself). Only countries that fell are listed.
Source: The World Bank, indicator SE.TER.ENRR. Licence: CC BY 4.0. Retrieved: 2026-11-14.
The World Bank: School enrollment, tertiary (% 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 (changes are computed from the published values). Provider terms: The World Bank. All licences: Sources & licences.