Education in Western Province, Papua New Guinea: official figures
67.4% of women aged 15-49 in Western Province could read at least part of a sentence (the DHS literacy test) in the 2016-18 survey, 10th lowest of 22 provinces; national figure 66.4%.
What is the literacy rate of men in Western Province?
87.5% of men aged 15-49 in Western Province could read at least part of a sentence in the 2016-18 survey, 6th highest of 22 provinces; national figure 79.9%.
Source: National Statistical Office of Papua New Guinea (with ICF, The DHS Program) · saved copyHow many women in Western Province have been to secondary school?
4.4% of women aged 15-49 in Western Province had attended secondary school or higher in the 2016-18 survey, 7th highest of 22 provinces; national figure 4.0%.
Source: National Statistical Office of Papua New Guinea (with ICF, The DHS Program) · saved copyHow many men in Western Province have been to secondary school?
1.7% of men aged 15-49 in Western Province had attended secondary school or higher in the 2016-18 survey, 3rd lowest of 22 provinces; national figure 5.3%.
Source: National Statistical Office of Papua New Guinea (with ICF, The DHS Program) · saved copyHow many children in Western Province attend elementary school?
The net attendance ratio in elementary school (children of the official age who are in elementary school) in Western Province was 46.2% in the 2016-18 survey, 11th highest of 22 provinces; national figure 43.6%.
Source: National Statistical Office of Papua New Guinea (with ICF, The DHS Program) · saved copyHow many children in Western Province go to primary school?
The net attendance ratio in primary school in Western Province was 54.1% in the 2016-18 survey (children of primary age who were in primary school), 10th highest of 22 provinces; national figure 50.3%.
Source: National Statistical Office of Papua New Guinea (with ICF, The DHS Program) · saved copyHow many children in Western Province go to secondary school?
The net attendance ratio in secondary school in Western Province was 17.1% in the 2016-18 survey (children of secondary age who were in secondary school), 10th highest of 22 provinces; national figure 20.6%.
Source: National Statistical Office of Papua New Guinea (with ICF, The DHS Program) · saved copyHow Western Province compares with other provinces
Women aged 15-49 able to read at least part of a sentence (2016-18)
Western Province ranks 13 of 22, highest first. Demographic and Health Survey literacy test
| Rank | Region | Women aged 15-49 able to read at least part of a sentence |
|---|---|---|
| 10 | Morobe | 72.1% |
| 11 | Madang | 70.0% |
| 12 | Northern Province | 69.5% |
| 13 | Western Province | 67.4% |
| 14 | Chimbu | 66.3% |
| 15 | Western Highlands | 62.9% |
| 16 | Eastern Highlands | 60.5% |
Primary school net attendance ratio (2016-18)
Western Province ranks 10 of 22, highest first. Share of primary-age children in primary school
| Rank | Region | Primary school net attendance ratio |
|---|---|---|
| 7 | Milne Bay | 56.5% |
| 8 | Autonomous Region of Bougainville | 55.8% |
| 9 | Morobe | 55.2% |
| 10 | Western Province | 54.1% |
| 11 | Southern Highlands | 54.0% |
| 12 | Central Province | 53.4% |
| 13 | New Ireland | 51.9% |
Secondary school net attendance ratio (2016-18)
Western Province ranks 10 of 22, highest first. Share of secondary-age children in secondary school
| Rank | Region | Secondary school net attendance ratio |
|---|---|---|
| 7 | Morobe | 19.3% |
| 8 | Enga | 18.3% |
| 9 | East New Britain | 17.5% |
| 10 | Western Province | 17.1% |
| 11 | Manus | 16.6% |
| 12 | West New Britain | 16.5% |
| 13 | Central Province | 14.9% |
More on Western Province: overview · economy and jobs · health · poverty and living standards · government budget · Papua New Guinea
Sources
- National Statistical Office of Papua New Guinea (with ICF, The DHS Program): Papua New Guinea Demographic and Health Survey 2016-18, Table 2.16: school attendance ratios by province, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 051ea8481cf8…)
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