Education in Nuevo Leon, Mexico: official figures
People aged 15 and over in Nuevo Leon had completed 11.28 years of schooling on average in October 2025 (2nd highest of 32; Mexico 10.26), up from 10.74 at the 2020 census and 8.84 in 2000.
Do women or men have more schooling in Nuevo Leon?
In 2025 women aged 15 and over in Nuevo Leon averaged 11.17 years of schooling and men 11.39 (Mexico: women 10.19, men 10.34). In 2000 the figures were 8.60 and 9.09.
Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadistica y Geografia (INEGI) · saved copyWhat is the illiteracy rate in Nuevo Leon?
1.03% of people aged 15 and over in Nuevo Leon could not read and write in 2025, about 51,229 people (the lowest of 32; Mexico 3.69%), according to INEGI's 2025 intercensal survey.
Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadistica y Geografia (INEGI) · saved copyHow many people in Nuevo Leon lack basic education?
13.3% of the people of Nuevo Leon had an educational lag in 2024, meaning they had not completed the schooling that was compulsory for their age group (3rd lowest of 32; Mexico 18.6%). The share was 12.2% in 2016.
Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadistica y Geografia (INEGI) · saved copyHow Nuevo Leon compares with other states
Average years of schooling, age 15+ (2025)
Nuevo Leon ranks 2 of 32, highest first. Mexico 10.26
| Rank | Region | Average years of schooling, age 15+ |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mexico City | 11.96 |
| 2 | Nuevo Leon | 11.28 |
| 3 | Aguascalientes | 10.96 |
| 4 | Sonora | 10.93 |
| 5 | Coahuila | 10.92 |
| 6 | Queretaro | 10.91 |
| 7 | Sinaloa | 10.87 |
Illiteracy rate, age 15+ (2025)
Nuevo Leon ranks 32 of 32, highest first. Mexico 3.69%
| Rank | Region | Illiteracy rate, age 15+ |
|---|---|---|
| 26 | Baja California Sur | 1.88% |
| 27 | Sonora | 1.49% |
| 28 | Aguascalientes | 1.48% |
| 29 | Baja California | 1.28% |
| 30 | Coahuila | 1.28% |
| 31 | Mexico City | 1.07% |
| 32 | Nuevo Leon | 1.03% |
People with an educational lag (2024)
Nuevo Leon ranks 30 of 32, highest first. Mexico 18.6%
| Rank | Region | People with an educational lag |
|---|---|---|
| 26 | State of Mexico | 14.4% |
| 27 | Tlaxcala | 14.3% |
| 28 | Sonora | 13.7% |
| 29 | Baja California Sur | 13.4% |
| 30 | Nuevo Leon | 13.3% |
| 31 | Coahuila | 13.3% |
| 32 | Mexico City | 8.5% |
Adults (15+) with higher education (2025)
Nuevo Leon ranks 3 of 32, highest first. Mexico 24.5%
| Rank | Region | Adults (15+) with higher education |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mexico City | 38.3% |
| 2 | Sinaloa | 31.5% |
| 3 | Nuevo Leon | 29.4% |
| 4 | Queretaro | 29.3% |
| 5 | Aguascalientes | 28.6% |
| 6 | Colima | 28.4% |
| 7 | Sonora | 27.9% |
School attendance, ages 15 to 29 (2025)
Nuevo Leon ranks 24 of 32, highest first. Mexico 34.4%
| Rank | Region | School attendance, ages 15 to 29 |
|---|---|---|
| 21 | Queretaro | 33.1% |
| 22 | Baja California | 32.8% |
| 23 | Jalisco | 32.0% |
| 24 | Nuevo Leon | 31.6% |
| 25 | Baja California Sur | 31.6% |
| 26 | San Luis Potosi | 31.5% |
| 27 | Oaxaca | 30.9% |
More on Nuevo Leon: overview · economy and jobs · health · poverty and living standards · government budget · Mexico
Sources
- Instituto Nacional de Estadistica y Geografia (INEGI): Encuesta Intercensal 2025, tabulado 00_EIC_07_02: population aged 15 and over by literacy, by state (API response), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 27af4908583c…)
- Instituto Nacional de Estadistica y Geografia (INEGI): Encuesta Intercensal 2025, tabulado 00_EIC_07_03: population aged 3 and over by school attendance and age group, by state (API response), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 2ed197022ebf…)
- Instituto Nacional de Estadistica y Geografia (INEGI): Grado promedio de escolaridad de la poblacion de 15 anos y mas por entidad federativa segun sexo, 2000, 2010, 2015, 2020 and 2025 (censuses and intercensal surveys; API response), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 86868b0b467c…)
- Instituto Nacional de Estadistica y Geografia (INEGI): Encuesta Intercensal 2025, tabulado 00_EIC_07_04: population aged 15 and over by level of schooling and age group, by state (API response), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 fc8c3139dc7a…)
- Instituto Nacional de Estadistica y Geografia (INEGI): Pobreza Multidimensional (PM) 2024: indicadores de pobreza segun entidad federativa, 2016-2024 (poverty, extreme poverty, vulnerability, social deprivations and income lines by state; CONEVAL methodology, ENIGH 2024), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 8ea643bcb158…)
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