8 answers, 2 from Papua New Guinea's own official bodies, with a link to each figure.
87.0% of adults in Papua New Guinea could read and write in 2022, according to the World Bank, which uses UNESCO Institute for Statistics data. The previous figure was 70.1% for 2017.
The rate covers people aged 15 and over. Literacy is measured in household surveys or censuses, and methods can differ between rounds, so compare the two years with care. Breakdowns by sex are published by the UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
The government pays school fees through the Government Tuition Fee Subsidy (GTFS), according to the Department of Treasury's 2026 Mid-Year Economic and Fiscal Outlook. The report says K455.2 million was spent on the GTFS programme from the trust account between January and June 2026, and K904.5 million was moved out of the Department of Education's budget so that GTFS payments could be made centrally.
The subsidy is paid to schools in place of tuition fees. Details of what the subsidy covers each year are published by the National Department of Education.
The figures below use one definition for every country, so they can differ from national figures.
In 2016, net primary school enrolment in Papua New Guinea was 73.7%, according to the UNESCO Institute for Statistics. East Asia & Pacific median: 94.2%; Papua New Guinea is 18th highest of 20. World rank, highest first: 122nd of 133.
In 2023, gross secondary school enrolment in Papua New Guinea was 52.1%, according to the UNESCO Institute for Statistics. No year since 2012 has been higher. East Asia & Pacific median: 94.0%; Papua New Guinea is 22nd highest of 22. Of 138 countries with 2023 data, 124th highest.
According to the UNESCO Institute for Statistics, the adult literacy rate in Papua New Guinea was 87.0% in 2022. In 2010 the figure was 69.0%. East Asia & Pacific median: 95.8%; Papua New Guinea is 6th highest of 7. World rank, highest first: 27th of 44.
0.8% of GDP: that is government spending on education in Papua New Guinea for 2023, according to the UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Its high point since 2015 was 2017, at 2.0% of GDP; its low point was 2022, at 0.6% of GDP. Across East Asia & Pacific the middle value was 3.8% of GDP, and Papua New Guinea placed 20th highest of 20. World rank, highest first: 109th of 112.
The latest figure from the UNESCO Institute for Statistics, for 2016, is 36. It was 36 in 2001. East Asia & Pacific median: 18; Papua New Guinea is 3rd highest of 20. Of 136 countries with 2016 data, 25th highest.
In 2023, the primary completion rate in Papua New Guinea was 82.7%, according to the UNESCO Institute for Statistics. That compares with 71.1% in 2014. It is 21st highest of 23 in East Asia & Pacific, where the median is 98.3%. Of 131 countries with 2023 data, 105th highest.
Read on 14 October 2026. Definitions · Report an error