11 answers, 4 from Uruguay's own official bodies, with a link to each figure.
1.1% of people aged 15 and over in Uruguay could not read or write in 2024, according to the Ministry of Education and Culture's educational attainment statistics for 2024, based on the INE household survey. In rural areas the rate was 1.9%. The rate was 8.8% in the 1963 census.
The MEC notes a break in the series between 2019 and 2022 because of a change in the household survey method during the COVID-19 emergency. The same publication reports school attendance by age and completion of education cycles by income quintile.
Public spending on education in Uruguay was 156,563 million pesos in 2024, at constant 2024 prices, up from 152,133 million pesos in 2023, according to the Ministry of Education and Culture's overview of public spending on education 2024. ANEP, which runs public schools, accounted for 105,920 million pesos and the University of the Republic (Udelar) for 26,556 million pesos.
Constant prices remove the effect of inflation, so years can be compared directly. The MEC builds the series from MEF and INE data; the same publication gives spending as a share of GDP and cost per pupil.
The gross enrolment ratio for secondary education in Uruguay was 119.11% in 2023, according to UNESCO data on World Bank Open Data. Primary net enrolment was 99.38% in 2017, the latest year available.
A gross ratio above 100% means that many pupils are older than the official age for secondary school, often because they have repeated years. The Ministry of Education and Culture publishes educational attainment by age from the household survey, and ANEP publishes enrolment in public schools.
The gross enrolment ratio for tertiary education in Uruguay was 79.95% in 2023, up from 76.4% in 2022, according to UNESCO data on World Bank Open Data. The ratio compares all students in higher education with the population in the five years after the secondary school leaving age.
The public University of the Republic (Udelar) is free and has no entrance exams, and accounts for most students. Other public institutions include the Technological University (UTEC) and teacher training under ANEP. Because many students study part-time or take longer to graduate, the gross ratio overstates the share of young people in higher education.
The figures below use one definition for every country, so they can differ from national figures.
The latest figure from the UNESCO Institute for Statistics, for 2017, is 99.4%. The peak was 99.7% in 2006 and the low 96.6% in 2014. Latin America & Caribbean median: 93.9%; Uruguay is 1st highest of 24. Of 134 countries with 2017 data, 9th highest.
According to the UNESCO Institute for Statistics, gross secondary school enrolment in Uruguay was 119.1% in 2023. The peak was 121.1% in 2022 and the low 88.0% in 2008. It is 4th highest of 28 in Latin America & Caribbean, where the median is 92.9%. Worldwide: 12th of 138.
The UNESCO Institute for Statistics puts gross tertiary enrolment in Uruguay at 80.0% in 2023. It is the top of the series, which starts in 2005. It is 3rd highest of 16 in Latin America & Caribbean, where the median is 48.6%. Worldwide: 24th of 120.
According to the UNESCO Institute for Statistics, the adult literacy rate in Uruguay was 98.9% in 2024. The peak was 99.0% in 2020 and the low 97.8% in 2006. Across Latin America & Caribbean the middle value was 94.7%, and Uruguay placed 1st highest of 13.
The latest figure from the UNESCO Institute for Statistics, for 2023, is 4.8% of GDP. It is the top of the series, which starts in 2005. It is 7th highest of 26 in Latin America & Caribbean, where the median is 3.8% of GDP. World rank, highest first: 34th of 112.
The UNESCO Institute for Statistics puts the number of primary pupils per teacher in Uruguay at 11 in 2017. No year since 2005 has been lower. Across Latin America & Caribbean the middle value was 18, and Uruguay placed 22nd highest of 23. Worldwide: 116th of 130.
According to the UNESCO Institute for Statistics, the primary completion rate in Uruguay was 101.2% in 2023. The peak was 102.4% in 2016 and the low 95.6% in 2005. Across Latin America & Caribbean the middle value was 96.2%, and Uruguay placed 5th highest of 23. World rank, highest first: 22nd of 131.
Read on 14 October 2026. Definitions · Report an error