According to the Global Gender Gap Report 2020, 88 percent of females worldwide had primary education, compared to 91 percent of males. By comparison, more females than males had attained tertiary education. The Global Gender Index benchmarks national gender gaps on economic, political, education, and health-based criteria. In 2020, the leading country was Iceland with a score of 0.87.

United States US: Primary Education: Pupils: % Female data was reported at 48.937 % in 2015. This records an increase from the previous number of 48.838 % for 2014. United States US: Primary Education: Pupils: % Female data is updated yearly, averaging 48.719 % from Dec 1981 (Median) to 2015, with 31 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 49.474 % in 1999 and a record low of 48.294 % in 1983. United States US: Primary Education: Pupils: % Female data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s United States – Table US.World Bank.WDI: Education Statistics. Female pupils as a percentage of total pupils at primary level include enrollments in public and private schools.; ; UNESCO Institute for Statistics; Weighted average; Each economy is classified based on the classification of World Bank Group's fiscal year 2018 (July 1, 2017-June 30, 2018).

United States US: Secondary Education: Pupils: % Female data was reported at 49.172 % in 2015. This records an increase from the previous number of 49.145 % for 2014. United States US: Secondary Education: Pupils: % Female data is updated yearly, averaging 48.936 % from Dec 1972 (Median) to 2015, with 32 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 49.713 % in 1998 and a record low of 34.965 % in 1972. United States US: Secondary Education: Pupils: % Female data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s USA – Table US.World Bank: Education Statistics. Female pupils as a percentage of total pupils at secondary level includes enrollments in public and private schools.; ; UNESCO Institute for Statistics; Weighted average; Each economy is classified based on the classification of World Bank Group's fiscal year 2018 (July 1, 2017-June 30, 2018).

In an impressive increase from years past, 39 percent of women in the United States had completed four years or more of college in 2022. This figure is up from 3.8 percent of women in 1940. A significant increase can also be seen in males, with 36.2 percent of the U.S. male population having completed four years or more of college in 2022, up from 5.5 percent in 1940.

4- and 2-year colleges

In the United States, college students are able to choose between attending a 2-year postsecondary program and a 4-year postsecondary program. Generally, attending a 2-year program results in an Associate’s Degree, and 4-year programs result in a Bachelor’s Degree.

Many 2-year programs are designed so that attendees can transfer to a college or university offering a 4-year program upon completing their Associate’s. Completion of a 4-year program is the generally accepted standard for entry-level positions when looking for a job.

Earnings after college

Factors such as gender, degree achieved, and the level of postsecondary education can have an impact on employment and earnings later in life. Some Bachelor’s degrees continue to attract more male students than female, particularly in STEM fields, while liberal arts degrees such as education, languages and literatures, and communication tend to see higher female attendance.

All of these factors have an impact on earnings after college, and despite nearly the same rate of attendance within the American population between males and females, men with a Bachelor’s Degree continue to have higher weekly earnings on average than their female counterparts.

As of 2021, India recorded a higher nationwide share of men with at least 10 years of schooling than that of women. Around half of the male population age between 15 and 49 years stayed in school for at least 10 years, compared to only 41 percent of their female counterparts. The gender education gap also remained evident in rural India, with only one out of three women in this region receiving at least 10 years of schooling.

As of the first quarter of 2025, there were approximately ****million women in the education sector in the UK, compared with just *****one million men.

Percentage of students in tertiary education who are female (%) in Qatar was reported at 69.66 % in 2018, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Qatar - Percentage of students in tertiary education who are female - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on July of 2025.

United States US: School Enrollment: Secondary: Female: % Gross data was reported at 97.698 % in 2015. This records an increase from the previous number of 96.379 % for 2014. United States US: School Enrollment: Secondary: Female: % Gross data is updated yearly, averaging 94.920 % from Dec 1972 (Median) to 2015, with 32 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 98.104 % in 1998 and a record low of 60.766 % in 1972. United States US: School Enrollment: Secondary: Female: % Gross data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s USA – Table US.World Bank: Education Statistics. Gross enrollment ratio is the ratio of total enrollment, regardless of age, to the population of the age group that officially corresponds to the level of education shown. Secondary education completes the provision of basic education that began at the primary level, and aims at laying the foundations for lifelong learning and human development, by offering more subject- or skill-oriented instruction using more specialized teachers.; ; UNESCO Institute for Statistics; Weighted average; Each economy is classified based on the classification of World Bank Group's fiscal year 2018 (July 1, 2017-June 30, 2018).

Luxembourg LU: Primary Education: Teachers: % Female data was reported at 75.842 % in 2015. This records an increase from the previous number of 74.504 % for 2014. Luxembourg LU: Primary Education: Teachers: % Female data is updated yearly, averaging 53.143 % from Dec 1970 (Median) to 2015, with 31 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 75.982 % in 2013 and a record low of 48.156 % in 1989. Luxembourg LU: Primary Education: Teachers: % Female data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Luxembourg – Table LU.World Bank: Education Statistics. Female teachers as a percentage of total primary education teachers includes full-time and part-time teachers.; ; UNESCO Institute for Statistics; Weighted average; Each economy is classified based on the classification of World Bank Group's fiscal year 2018 (July 1, 2017-June 30, 2018).

Mexico MX: Literacy Rate: Youth Female: % of Females Aged 15-24 data was reported at 99.207 % in 2016. This records an increase from the previous number of 99.015 % for 2015. Mexico MX: Literacy Rate: Youth Female: % of Females Aged 15-24 data is updated yearly, averaging 98.356 % from Dec 1980 (Median) to 2016, with 17 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 99.207 % in 2016 and a record low of 90.861 % in 1980. Mexico MX: Literacy Rate: Youth Female: % of Females Aged 15-24 data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Mexico – Table MX.World Bank.WDI: Education Statistics. Youth literacy rate is the percentage of people ages 15-24 who can both read and write with understanding a short simple statement about their everyday life.; ; UNESCO Institute for Statistics (http://uis.unesco.org/); Weighted average;

Azerbaijan Literacy Rate: Youth Female: % of Females Aged 15-24 data was reported at 100.000 % in 2023. This stayed constant from the previous number of 100.000 % for 2019. Azerbaijan Literacy Rate: Youth Female: % of Females Aged 15-24 data is updated yearly, averaging 100.000 % from Dec 1999 (Median) to 2023, with 14 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 100.000 % in 2023 and a record low of 100.000 % in 2023. Azerbaijan Literacy Rate: Youth Female: % of Females Aged 15-24 data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Azerbaijan – Table AZ.World Bank.WDI: Social: Education Statistics. Youth literacy rate is the percentage of people ages 15-24 who can both read and write with understanding a short simple statement about their everyday life.;UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS). UIS.Stat Bulk Data Download Service. Accessed April 5, 2025. https://apiportal.uis.unesco.org/bdds.;Weighted average;

France FR: Primary Education: Teachers: % Female data was reported at 83.036 % in 2013. This records an increase from the previous number of 82.812 % for 2012. France FR: Primary Education: Teachers: % Female data is updated yearly, averaging 78.645 % from Dec 1975 (Median) to 2013, with 30 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 83.036 % in 2013 and a record low of 59.036 % in 1982. France FR: Primary Education: Teachers: % Female data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s France – Table FR.World Bank.WDI: Education Statistics. Female teachers as a percentage of total primary education teachers includes full-time and part-time teachers.; ; UNESCO Institute for Statistics; Weighted average; Each economy is classified based on the classification of World Bank Group's fiscal year 2018 (July 1, 2017-June 30, 2018).

Egypt EG: School Enrollment: Secondary: Female: % Gross data was reported at 85.165 % in 2016. This records an increase from the previous number of 82.964 % for 2014. Egypt EG: School Enrollment: Secondary: Female: % Gross data is updated yearly, averaging 61.987 % from Dec 1971 (Median) to 2016, with 39 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 85.165 % in 2016 and a record low of 21.152 % in 1971. Egypt EG: School Enrollment: Secondary: Female: % Gross data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Egypt – Table EG.World Bank: Education Statistics. Gross enrollment ratio is the ratio of total enrollment, regardless of age, to the population of the age group that officially corresponds to the level of education shown. Secondary education completes the provision of basic education that began at the primary level, and aims at laying the foundations for lifelong learning and human development, by offering more subject- or skill-oriented instruction using more specialized teachers.; ; UNESCO Institute for Statistics; Weighted average; Each economy is classified based on the classification of World Bank Group's fiscal year 2018 (July 1, 2017-June 30, 2018).

Canada CA: Primary Education: Pupils: % Female data was reported at 48.750 % in 2017. This records a decrease from the previous number of 48.766 % for 2016. Canada CA: Primary Education: Pupils: % Female data is updated yearly, averaging 48.645 % from Dec 1971 (Median) to 2017, with 43 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 48.891 % in 2014 and a record low of 47.918 % in 1989. Canada CA: Primary Education: Pupils: % Female data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Canada – Table CA.World Bank.WDI: Social: Education Statistics. Female pupils as a percentage of total pupils at primary level include enrollments in public and private schools.;UNESCO Institute for Statistics (http://uis.unesco.org/). Data as of February 2020.;Weighted average;

Andorra AD: Over-Age Students: Primary: Female: % of Female Enrollment data was reported at 6.138 % in 2018. This records a decrease from the previous number of 6.784 % for 2017. Andorra AD: Over-Age Students: Primary: Female: % of Female Enrollment data is updated yearly, averaging 6.957 % from Dec 2014 (Median) to 2018, with 5 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 8.185 % in 2015 and a record low of 6.138 % in 2018. Andorra AD: Over-Age Students: Primary: Female: % of Female Enrollment data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Andorra – Table AD.World Bank.WDI: Social: Education Statistics. Over-age students are the percentage of those enrolled who are older than the official school-age range for primary education.;UNESCO Institute for Statistics (http://uis.unesco.org/). Data as of February 2020.;;

Germany DE: Primary Education: Pupils: % Female data was reported at 48.549 % in 2017. This records a decrease from the previous number of 48.570 % for 2016. Germany DE: Primary Education: Pupils: % Female data is updated yearly, averaging 48.568 % from Dec 1992 (Median) to 2017, with 26 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 48.997 % in 1992 and a record low of 48.489 % in 1998. Germany DE: Primary Education: Pupils: % Female data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Germany – Table DE.World Bank.WDI: Social: Education Statistics. Female pupils as a percentage of total pupils at primary level include enrollments in public and private schools.;UNESCO Institute for Statistics (http://uis.unesco.org/). Data as of February 2020.;Weighted average;

Sri Lanka LK: Literacy Rate: Adult Female: % of Females Aged 15 and Above data was reported at 89.959 % in 2010. This records an increase from the previous number of 89.073 % for 2008. Sri Lanka LK: Literacy Rate: Adult Female: % of Females Aged 15 and Above data is updated yearly, averaging 89.091 % from Dec 1981 (Median) to 2010, with 5 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 89.959 % in 2010 and a record low of 82.022 % in 1981. Sri Lanka LK: Literacy Rate: Adult Female: % of Females Aged 15 and Above data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Sri Lanka – Table LK.World Bank.WDI: Education Statistics. Adult literacy rate is the percentage of people ages 15 and above who can both read and write with understanding a short simple statement about their everyday life.; ; UNESCO Institute for Statistics; Weighted average; Each economy is classified based on the classification of World Bank Group's fiscal year 2018 (July 1, 2017-June 30, 2018).

TD: Trained Teachers in Upper Secondary Education: Female: % of Female Teachers data was reported at 48.493 % in 2016. TD: Trained Teachers in Upper Secondary Education: Female: % of Female Teachers data is updated yearly, averaging 48.493 % from Dec 2016 (Median) to 2016, with 1 observations. TD: Trained Teachers in Upper Secondary Education: Female: % of Female Teachers data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Chad – Table TD.World Bank.WDI: Education Statistics. Trained teachers in upper secondary education are the percentage of upper secondary school teachers who have received the minimum organized teacher training (pre-service or in-service) required for teaching in a given country.; ; UNESCO Institute for Statistics (http://uis.unesco.org/); Weighted average;

Guyana GY: Literacy Rate: Adult Female: % of Females Aged 15 and Above data was reported at 85.035 % in 2014. This records a decrease from the previous number of 87.252 % for 2009. Guyana GY: Literacy Rate: Adult Female: % of Females Aged 15 and Above data is updated yearly, averaging 86.143 % from Dec 2009 (Median) to 2014, with 2 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 87.252 % in 2009 and a record low of 85.035 % in 2014. Guyana GY: Literacy Rate: Adult Female: % of Females Aged 15 and Above data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Guyana – Table GY.World Bank: Education Statistics. Adult literacy rate is the percentage of people ages 15 and above who can both read and write with understanding a short simple statement about their everyday life.; ; UNESCO Institute for Statistics; Weighted average; Each economy is classified based on the classification of World Bank Group's fiscal year 2018 (July 1, 2017-June 30, 2018).

United Kingdom UK: Secondary Education: Pupils: % Female data was reported at 49.596 % in 2015. This records a decrease from the previous number of 49.805 % for 2014. United Kingdom UK: Secondary Education: Pupils: % Female data is updated yearly, averaging 49.195 % from Dec 1971 (Median) to 2015, with 45 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 49.921 % in 2013 and a record low of 48.422 % in 1971. United Kingdom UK: Secondary Education: Pupils: % Female data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s UK – Table UK.World Bank: Education Statistics. Female pupils as a percentage of total pupils at secondary level includes enrollments in public and private schools.; ; UNESCO Institute for Statistics; Weighted average; Each economy is classified based on the classification of World Bank Group's fiscal year 2018 (July 1, 2017-June 30, 2018).