10 answers, 3 from Colombia's own official bodies, with a link to each figure.
8,357,939 students were enrolled in pre-school, primary and secondary education as of 23 February 2026, according to preliminary SIMAT figures in a Ministry of National Education release of 25 February 2026. 6,797,963 were in public schools and 1,559,821 in private schools.
The ministry said this was 89.7% of the 2025 total, as enrolment continues to be registered after the start of the school year. Final annual figures are published later by the ministry.
ICFES publishes national, departmental and school-level Saber 11 results on its official statistics page, including national average scores for each year from 2016 to 2025. Its 2026 calendar set 27 February 2026 for publishing the 2025 aggregate tables and school classification.
Individual results are released on the Saber 11 results page for calendar A (most schools) and calendar B separately. The national averages are shown in charts, so figures are not quoted here.
95.3% of people aged 15 and over in Colombia were literate in 2024, according to UNESCO figures published by the World Bank.
Literacy here means being able to read and write, as reported in surveys and censuses; it is not a test of reading comprehension. DANE publishes education indicators from its household survey and the 2018 census on its website.
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 Colombia was 92.9% in 2018. Since 2005 it has ranged from 90.2% (2013) to 94.1% (2005). It is 9th highest of 17 in Latin America & Caribbean, where the median is 92.9%. World rank, highest first: 34th of 69.
According to the UNESCO Institute for Statistics, gross secondary school enrolment in Colombia was 101.6% in 2022. The peak was 103.0% in 2021 and the low 87.0% in 2005. It is 13th highest of 26 in Latin America & Caribbean, where the median is 100.0%. World rank, highest first: 50th of 132.
According to the UNESCO Institute for Statistics, gross tertiary enrolment in Colombia was 59.3% in 2022. No year since 2005 has been higher. Across Latin America & Caribbean the middle value was 55.2%, and Colombia placed 6th highest of 15. Of 119 countries with 2022 data, 51st highest.
The latest figure from the UNESCO Institute for Statistics, for 2024, is 95.3%. Its high point since 2005 was 2021, at 95.7%; its low point was 2006, at 92.3%. Across Latin America & Caribbean the middle value was 94.7%, and Colombia placed 5th highest of 13.
The latest figure from the UNESCO Institute for Statistics, for 2020, is 5.3% of GDP. That is the highest since at least 2005. It is 10th highest of 30 in Latin America & Caribbean, where the median is 4.5% of GDP. World rank, highest first: 55th of 162.
The UNESCO Institute for Statistics puts the number of primary pupils per teacher in Colombia at 23 in 2018. It is the bottom of the series, which starts in 2005. Across Latin America & Caribbean the middle value was 18, and Colombia placed 4th highest of 18. World rank, highest first: 38th of 85.
In 2022, the primary completion rate in Colombia was 97.1%, according to the UNESCO Institute for Statistics. That is the lowest since at least 2005. Latin America & Caribbean median: 96.5%; Colombia is 10th highest of 23. Worldwide: 63rd of 127.
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