13 answers, 6 from Russia's own official bodies, with a link to each figure.
Fee-paying admissions to Russian universities in 40 fields fell 28% in 2026, by almost 100,000 students, after limits were introduced, Science and Higher Education Minister Valery Falkov said on 14 October 2026, according to the ministry.
The limits cover fields that the ministry considers oversupplied for the labour market, mainly management, economics and law, at universities for which these are not core subjects and at private universities with weak admission and employment results. Full-time places fell by 30,047 and part-time by 66,965. The average entrance exam score rose 1.5 points.
Russia has 50 advanced engineering schools at leading universities, funded with 38.5 billion roubles from the state and 60.3 billion roubles from business, Science and Higher Education Minister Valery Falkov said on 14 October 2026, according to the ministry.
The programme started in 2022. Under a pilot project to update higher education, 581 new study programmes have been launched, and modules on artificial intelligence have been added to 1,433 programmes so that students learn to use the technology in their fields. About 70,000 students and postgraduates work in 556 student design bureaus.
Russia plans to spend 105 billion roubles on building schools in 2027–2029, with 77 new education facilities, Finance Minister Anton Siluanov said on 12 October 2026, according to the Ministry of Finance. Funds are also planned for repairing 2,346 schools.
Federal spending on education and health development programmes is set at 3.6 trillion roubles in 2027, and more than 17 trillion roubles across the budget system. The figures are in the budget bill, which can still change.
Russian government spending on education was 4.2% of GDP in 2023, according to the World Bank's education expenditure indicator, based on UNESCO data. It was 4.1% in 2022 and 4.0% in 2021.
The figure covers spending by federal, regional and local governments on all levels of education. It does not include what families pay for private tuition or fee-paying university places. Planned federal spending for 2027–2029 is set out in the budget bill described by the Ministry of Finance.
99.9% of Russians aged 15 and over were literate in 2021, according to the World Bank's adult literacy indicator, based on UNESCO data. The rate was 99.7% in 2010.
Literacy figures for Russia are updated only every decade or so. With basic literacy close to universal, measures of skills and school results give more information about differences in education.
Russia's gross enrolment ratio for secondary education was 92.5% in 2023, according to the World Bank's secondary enrolment indicator, based on UNESCO data. It was 92.8% in 2022 and 92.2% in 2021.
The gross ratio compares all secondary pupils, regardless of age, with the population of official secondary school age. It can differ from 100% because of pupils who start late or repeat years. The latest year in the series is 2023.
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 Russia was 95.1% in 2017. Its high point since 2006 was 2016, at 96.7%; its low point was 2006, at 90.0%. It is 27th highest of 45 in Europe & Central Asia, where the median is 95.7%. World rank, highest first: 57th of 134.
The UNESCO Institute for Statistics puts gross secondary school enrolment in Russia at 92.5% in 2023. Since 2005 it has ranged from 86.5% (2006) to 100.5% (2019). It is 40th highest of 48 in Europe & Central Asia, where the median is 102.3%. Of 138 countries with 2023 data, 76th highest.
60.4%: that is gross tertiary enrolment in Russia for 2024, according to the UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Since 2005 it has ranged from 53.9% (2022) to 93.7% (2023). It is 24th highest of 34 in Europe & Central Asia, where the median is 71.1%. Worldwide: 35th of 90.
According to the UNESCO Institute for Statistics, the adult literacy rate in Russia was 99.9% in 2021. That compares with 99.7% in 2010. Europe & Central Asia median: 99.8%; Russia is 2nd highest of 6. Worldwide: 2nd of 43.
The UNESCO Institute for Statistics puts government spending on education in Russia at 4.2% of GDP in 2023. Since 2005 it has ranged from 3.7% of GDP (2019) to 4.7% of GDP (2017). It is 7th highest of 16 in Europe & Central Asia, where the median is 3.7% of GDP. World rank, highest first: 46th of 112.
In 2017, the number of primary pupils per teacher in Russia was 21, according to the UNESCO Institute for Statistics. That is the highest since at least 2005. Across Europe & Central Asia the middle value was 13, and Russia placed 3rd highest of 39. World rank, highest first: 52nd of 130.
According to the UNESCO Institute for Statistics, the primary completion rate in Russia was 100.0% in 2019. It is the top of the series, which starts in 2007. It is 10th highest of 46 in Europe & Central Asia, where the median is 98.4%. Of 136 countries with 2019 data, 30th highest.
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