9 answers, 2 from El Salvador's own official bodies, with a link to each figure.
8.8% of people aged 10 and over in El Salvador could not read and write in 2025, according to the Central Reserve Bank of El Salvador (BCR) household survey (EHPM 2025). The rate was 14.0% in rural areas and 5.8% in urban areas, and 10.2% for women against 7.2% for men.
Illiteracy is concentrated among older people: 25.0% of those aged 60 and over could not read and write, against 1.2% of children aged 10 to 14.
People aged 6 and over in El Salvador had completed 7.5 years of schooling on average in 2025, according to the Central Reserve Bank of El Salvador (BCR) household survey. The average was 8.5 years in urban areas and 5.7 in rural areas; 10.6 years for people aged 18 to 29 and 5.0 for those aged 60 and over.
Average schooling counts the school grades a person has passed. 27.1% of people aged 60 and over had passed no grade, against 1.5% of those aged 18 to 29.
The figures below use one definition for every country, so they can differ from national figures.
In 2018, net primary school enrolment in El Salvador was 81.0%, according to the UNESCO Institute for Statistics. The peak was 94.8% in 2006 and the low 80.2% in 2017. Across Latin America & Caribbean the middle value was 92.9%, and El Salvador placed 16th highest of 17. Of 69 countries with 2018 data, 58th highest.
62.1%: that is gross secondary school enrolment in El Salvador for 2024, according to the UNESCO Institute for Statistics. It is the bottom of the series, which starts in 2005. It is 20th highest of 22 in Latin America & Caribbean, where the median is 91.6%. Of 100 countries with 2024 data, 88th highest.
In 2024, gross tertiary enrolment in El Salvador was 32.8%, according to the UNESCO Institute for Statistics. That is the highest since at least 2005. It is 7th highest of 12 in Latin America & Caribbean, where the median is 38.0%. Of 90 countries with 2024 data, 63rd highest.
According to the UNESCO Institute for Statistics, the adult literacy rate in El Salvador was 89.8% in 2024. The peak was 90.0% in 2020 and the low 82.0% in 2007. It is 11th highest of 13 in Latin America & Caribbean, where the median is 94.7%.
The latest figure from the UNESCO Institute for Statistics, for 2024, is 3.3% of GDP. Since 2005 it has ranged from 3.2% of GDP (2005) to 4.7% of GDP (2009). Latin America & Caribbean median: 3.8% of GDP; El Salvador is 10th highest of 11. World rank, highest first: 29th of 36.
In 2018, the number of primary pupils per teacher in El Salvador was 27, according to the UNESCO Institute for Statistics. No year since 2005 has been lower. Across Latin America & Caribbean the middle value was 18, and El Salvador placed 1st highest of 18. Worldwide: 28th of 85.
The latest figure from the UNESCO Institute for Statistics, for 2024, is 82.6%. Since 2005 it has ranged from 79.7% (2022) to 99.2% (2011). It is 18th highest of 19 in Latin America & Caribbean, where the median is 93.9%. Worldwide: 85th of 104.
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