Primary completion rate, total in Least developed countries

Least developed countries: Primary completion rate, total was 70.3% in 2024. ▲ Rising

Latest (2024)
70.3%
Change on year
down 0.1%
Rank
36th
of 43 groups
All-time high
72.2%
in 2021
All-time low
33.8%
in 1972
Years of data
53
1972–2024

Primary completion rate, total in Least developed countries, 1972–2024

020406080197219982024

Source: Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Measured in % of relevant age group.

Analysis

Least developed countries recorded 70.3% for primary completion rate, total in 2024.

Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.1% on the previous year and up 4.5% over ten years.

Over the whole period, primary completion rate, total in Least developed countries peaked at 72.2% in 2021 and was at its lowest, 33.8%, in 1972.

That places Least developed countries 36th out of 43 groups with data for 2024, putting it in the bottom quarter.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 53 years of available data.

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1970s 35.2% 33.8% 36.3% 8
1980s 39.4% 36.4% 41.5% 10
1990s 43.2% 41.1% 45.8% 10
2000s 54.7% 46.7% 63.7% 10
2010s 67.7% 64.2% 70.9% 10
2020s 71.1% 70.3% 72.2% 5

Countries ranked near Least developed countries

  1. 33 Croatia 100.5% compare
  2. 34 Palau 100.4% compare
  3. 35 Ecuador 100.2% compare
  4. 36 Lithuania 100.1% compare
  5. 37 Russian Federation 100.0% compare
  6. 38 Samoa 100.0% compare
  7. 39 Indonesia 100.0% compare

See the full ranking of 234 places →

More aid effectiveness data for Least developed countries

All data for Least developed countries →

Frequently asked questions

What is primary completion rate, total in Least developed countries?
Primary completion rate, total in Least developed countries was 70.3% in 2024, according to Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
What is the highest primary completion rate, total recorded in Least developed countries?
The highest recorded value was 72.2% in 2021.
What is the lowest primary completion rate, total recorded in Least developed countries?
The lowest recorded value was 33.8% in 1972.
How does Least developed countries rank for primary completion rate, total?
Least developed countries ranks 36th out of 43 groups with data for 2024.
Is primary completion rate, total rising or falling in Least developed countries?
Over the last ten years it is up 4.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this Least developed countries data come from?
The figures come from Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), published as part of Primary completion rate, total (% of relevant age group). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Primary completion rate, total in Least developed countries. Statizoid, drawing on Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Retrieved 21 August 2026, from https://aid.statizoid.com/stat/primary-completion-rate-total-percent-of-relevant-age-group/least-developed-countries-un-classification/

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About this data

Indicator
Primary completion rate, total (% of relevant age group)
Unit
% of relevant age group
Source
Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
234 places, 6,786 data points, 1970–2025
Last refreshed

Primary completion rate, or gross intake ratio to the last grade of primary education, is the number of new entrants (enrollments minus repeaters) in the last grade of primary education, regardless of age, divided by the population at the entrance age for the last grade of primary education. Data limitations preclude adjusting for students who drop out during the final year of primary education.