Education in Recife, Brazil: official figures
At the 2022 census 97.6% of children aged 6 to 14 in Recife were attending school, the 51st lowest of 320 major Brazilian cities and the 656th lowest of Brazil's 5,570 municipalities (Brazil: 98.3%; Pernambuco state: 98.2%).
How many young children in Recife attend pre-school or crèche?
85.1% of children aged 4 and 5 in Recife attended pre-school or school in 2022 (the 99th lowest of 320 major Brazilian cities; Brazil: 86.7%), and 32.3% of children under 4 attended a crèche or school (the 132nd lowest of 320 major Brazilian cities; Brazil: 33.9%).
Source: Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística (IBGE) · saved copyWhat is the Ideb score of Recife?
Public primary schools in Recife scored 5.8 on the Ideb, the Ministry of Education's 0-10 index of pass rates and test results, for the early years (1st to 5th grade) in 2025, the 101st lowest of 320 major Brazilian cities (Brazil's public schools: 6.1). The score was 5.5 in 2023 and 5.2 in 2019.
Source: Instituto Nacional de Estudos e Pesquisas Educacionais Anísio Teixeira (Inep), Ministry of Education · saved copyHow do 5th-graders in Recife do in the Saeb tests?
In 2025, 99.3% of pupils in the 1st to 5th grades of Recife's public schools passed the school year (Brazil: 98.0%), and 5th-graders averaged 215.9 in mathematics and 206.9 in Portuguese on the national Saeb tests (Brazil: 227.4 and 215.1).
Source: Instituto Nacional de Estudos e Pesquisas Educacionais Anísio Teixeira (Inep), Ministry of Education · saved copyHow do public schools in Recife score for 6th to 9th grade?
For the later years of primary school (6th to 9th grade), Recife's public schools scored 4.9 on the 2025 Ideb, the 122nd lowest of 320 major Brazilian cities (Brazil's public schools: 5.0), against 4.9 in 2023.
Source: Instituto Nacional de Estudos e Pesquisas Educacionais Anísio Teixeira (Inep), Ministry of Education · saved copyAre city or state schools better in Recife?
In the 6th to 9th grades, schools run by the city of Recife scored 4.9 on the 2025 Ideb and schools run by Pernambuco state in the city scored 4.9.
Source: Instituto Nacional de Estudos e Pesquisas Educacionais Anísio Teixeira (Inep), Ministry of Education · saved copyHow Recife compares with other cities in Brazil
Children aged 6-14 attending school (%) (2022)
Recife ranks 270 of 320, highest first.
| Rank | City | Children aged 6-14 attending school (%) |
|---|---|---|
| 267 | Jaboatão dos Guararapes | 97.6% |
| 268 | Juazeiro | 97.6% |
| 269 | Viamão | 97.6% |
| 270 | Recife | 97.6% |
| 271 | João Pessoa | 97.6% |
| 272 | Ribeirão Preto | 97.6% |
| 273 | Feira de Santana | 97.6% |
Children aged 4-5 attending pre-school or school (%) (2022)
Recife ranks 222 of 320, highest first.
| Rank | City | Children aged 4-5 attending pre-school or school (%) |
|---|---|---|
| 219 | Paulista | 85.4% |
| 220 | Itabuna | 85.4% |
| 221 | João Pessoa | 85.2% |
| 222 | Recife | 85.1% |
| 223 | Paranaguá | 85.1% |
| 224 | Barreiras | 85.1% |
| 225 | Brasília | 85.0% |
Young people aged 15-17 attending school (%) (2022)
Recife ranks 214 of 320, highest first.
| Rank | City | Young people aged 15-17 attending school (%) |
|---|---|---|
| 211 | Coronel Fabriciano | 84.8% |
| 212 | Indaiatuba | 84.8% |
| 213 | Vila Velha | 84.8% |
| 214 | Recife | 84.7% |
| 215 | Porto Alegre | 84.7% |
| 216 | Ibirité | 84.7% |
| 217 | Parnaíba | 84.7% |
Ideb, public schools, 1st-5th grade (2025)
Recife ranks 220 of 320, highest first.
| Rank | City | Ideb, public schools, 1st-5th grade |
|---|---|---|
| 217 | Uruguaiana | 5.9 |
| 218 | Cubatão | 5.9 |
| 219 | Planaltina | 5.9 |
| 220 | Recife | 5.8 |
| 221 | Belém | 5.8 |
| 222 | Porto Velho | 5.8 |
| 223 | Santarém | 5.8 |
Ideb, public schools, 6th-9th grade (2025)
Recife ranks 199 of 320, highest first.
| Rank | City | Ideb, public schools, 6th-9th grade |
|---|---|---|
| 196 | Itacoatiara | 5.0 |
| 197 | Patos | 5.0 |
| 198 | Lagarto | 5.0 |
| 199 | Recife | 4.9 |
| 200 | Campo Grande | 4.9 |
| 201 | Osasco | 4.9 |
| 202 | Juiz de Fora | 4.9 |
More on Recife: overview · economy and jobs · health · poverty and living standards · government budget · all cities in Brazil
Sources
- Instituto Nacional de Estudos e Pesquisas Educacionais Anísio Teixeira (Inep), Ministry of Education: Ideb 2025, primary school late years (6th-9th grade): pass rates, Saeb scores and Ideb 2005-2025 by municipality and school network (spreadsheet from the zip download), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 0a54ddd30107…)
- Instituto Nacional de Estudos e Pesquisas Educacionais Anísio Teixeira (Inep), Ministry of Education: Ideb 2025, primary school early years (1st-5th grade): pass rates, Saeb scores and Ideb 2005-2025 by municipality and school network (spreadsheet from the zip download), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 e132cd0ab831…)
- Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística (IBGE): Censo Demográfico 2022: gross school attendance rate by age group (0-3, 4-5, 6-14 and 15-17), Brazil, states and municipalities (SIDRA table 10056), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 4966e323affd…)
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