9 answers, 2 from Chile's own official bodies, with a link to each figure.
More than 787 thousand pupils in 4th and 6th grade of primary school and the second year of secondary school (II medio) will take the Simce 2026 tests, starting on 28 October 2026, according to the Education Quality Agency. 6th grade sits mathematics on 28 October and reading on 29 October; 4th grade on 4 and 5 November; II medio on 11 and 12 November.
Simce measures learning against the national curriculum and is used to place schools in performance categories. Results are published by school the following year; the Agency has 2025 Simce results available.
The regular PAES (Prueba de Acceso a la Educación Superior) for admission in 2027 starts on 30 November 2026, according to DEMRE, the University of Chile department that runs the test. Registration was extended because of weather disruption.
The PAES is used by universities in the centralised admission system. Students also apply separately for free tuition, scholarships and loans through the FUAS form, which the Ministry of Education said was open until 22 October 2026.
The figures below use one definition for every country, so they can differ from national figures.
According to the UNESCO Institute for Statistics, net primary school enrolment in Chile was 94.7% in 2017. The peak was 95.9% in 2008 and the low 93.4% in 2014. Latin America & Caribbean median: 93.9%; Chile is 11th highest of 24. Of 134 countries with 2017 data, 65th highest.
105.6%: that is gross secondary school enrolment in Chile for 2024, according to the UNESCO Institute for Statistics. The peak was 106.7% in 2021 and the low 89.5% in 2012. It is 4th highest of 22 in Latin America & Caribbean, where the median is 91.6%. World rank, highest first: 20th of 100.
110.2%: that is gross tertiary enrolment in Chile for 2024, according to the UNESCO Institute for Statistics. No year since 2005 has been higher. Across Latin America & Caribbean the middle value was 38.0%, and Chile placed 1st highest of 12. Worldwide: 4th of 90.
According to the UNESCO Institute for Statistics, the adult literacy rate in Chile was 96.4% in 2017. It was 95.7% in 2002. It is 3rd highest of 11 in Latin America & Caribbean, where the median is 94.2%. Worldwide: 9th of 41.
The latest figure from the UNESCO Institute for Statistics, for 2022, is 4.9% of GDP. The peak was 5.6% of GDP in 2020 and the low 3.0% of GDP in 2006. Across Latin America & Caribbean the middle value was 4.0% of GDP, and Chile placed 8th highest of 30. Worldwide: 47th of 155.
According to the UNESCO Institute for Statistics, the number of primary pupils per teacher in Chile was 18 in 2017. No year since 2005 has been lower. It is 13th highest of 23 in Latin America & Caribbean, where the median is 18. World rank, highest first: 69th of 130.
The UNESCO Institute for Statistics puts the primary completion rate in Chile at 99.1% in 2024. Since 2011 it has ranged from 95.1% (2011) to 100.9% (2023). Across Latin America & Caribbean the middle value was 93.9%, and Chile placed 5th highest of 19. Worldwide: 30th of 104.
Read on 14 October 2026. Definitions · Report an error