When will countries reach universal primary education?

Rich countries are achieving universal primary education much faster than poorer ones. Countries are coloured by their status as either high income, middle income or low income

Years ahead of target

Years behind target

2015

-50

-40

-30

-20

-10

+10

+20

+30

+40

+50

+60

+70

+80

+90

Austria

Czech Republic

Denmark

Estonia

Despite being a target for 2015, eleven countries won’t achieve universal primary education until 2100, including Niger, Rwanda and the Central African Republic, putting them over 100 years behind high-income countries such as Austria, the US and Germany

Finland

Germany

Iceland

Ireland

Latvia

Norway

Poland

Slovakia

Sweden

Switzerland

Belarus

Georgia

Russia

Ukraine

Canada

Hungary

Japan

Lithuania

New Zealand

Slovenia

Armenia

Bulgaria

Turkmenistan

Australia

France

Albania

Kazakhstan

Kyrgyzstan

Moldova

Montenegro

Serbia

Croatia

Cyprus

Italy

South Korea

Azerbaijan

Romania

Tonga

Greece

Malta

Mongolia

Samoa

Belgium

Tajikistan

Puerto Rico

Bosnia and Herzegovina

Cuba

Bahamas

Singapore

Spain

Trinidad and Tobago

China

Jamaica

Saint Lucia

Netherlands

Bahrain

Luxembourg

Lebanon

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

Guyana

Aruba

Chile

Kuwait

Despite being neighbours,

there is a 65 year gap in achieving universal primary education between the US and Mexico, which won’t reach the goal until 2035

UAE

Uruguay

Malaysia

Suriname

Thailand

Tunisia

Saudi Arabia

Jordan

Current forecasts suggest that South Africa will achieve universal primary education by 2030, making it the first country in sub-Saharan Africa to meet the goal

Maldives

Argentina

Algeria

Indonesia

Iran

Myanmar

Palestine

Turkey

Brazil

Egypt

Panama

Peru

Philippines

Vietnam

Portugal is forecast to be the last country in Europe & Central Asia to reach universal primary education, 30 years behind the MDG target

Portugal

Colombia

Zimbabwe will be the first low-income country to reach universal primary education. Despite its much greater economic development, Qatar won’t reach this goal for another 5 years, some 35 years behind the MDG

Costa Rica

Dominican Republic

Equatorial Guinea

Venezuela

Ecuador

India

Iraq

Paraguay

Nepal

Bangladesh

Mauritius

Bhutan

El Salvador

Laos

Namibia

Pakistan

Syria

Timor-Leste

Cape Verde

Gabon

Ghana

Kenya

Morocco

Belize

Honduras

Nicaragua

Nigeria

Swaziland

Vanuatu

Gambia

Cambodia

Cameroon

Congo-Brazzaville

DR Congo

Guatemala

Zambia

Haiti

Malawi

Tanzania

Lesotho

Sao Tome and Principe

Sudan

Benin

Guinea-Bissau

Somalia

Comoros

Uganda

Madagascar

Senegal

Sierra Leone

Burkina Faso

Burundi

CAR

All of the 16 countries that

are at least 75 years behind the MDG are low-income African nations

Chad

Ethiopia

Guinea

Liberia

Mali

Mozambique

Niger

Rwanda

Years ahead

of target

Years behind

target

-50

-40

-30

-20

-10

+10

+20

+30

+40

+50

+60

+70

+80

+90

2015

Despite being a target for 2015, eleven countries won’t achieve universal primary education until 2100, including Niger, Rwanda and the Central African Republic, putting them over 100 years behind high-income countries such as Austria, the US and Germany

Germany

Sweden

Russia

Australia

Montenegro

Greece

Despite being neighbours,

there is a 65

year gap in achieving universal primary education between the US and Mexico, which won’t reach the goal until 2035

South Africa is forecast to be the first country in sub-Saharan Africa to reach universal primary education

Zimbabwe will be the first low-income country to reach universal primary education. Despite its much greater economic development, Qatar won’t reach this goal for another 5 years, some 35 years behind the MDG

Brazil

Portugal is forecast to be the last country in Europe & Central Asia to reach universal primary education, 30 years behind the MDG target

Syria

Kenya

Cambodia

Haiti

All of the 16 countries that

are at least 75 years behind the MDG are low-income African nations

Uganda

Chad

Rwanda

Years ahead of target

Years behind target

-50

-40

-30

-20

-10

+10

+20

+30

+40

+50

+60

+70

+80

+90

2015

Despite being a target for 2015, eleven countries won’t achieve universal primary education until 2100, including Niger, Rwanda and the Central African Republic, putting them over 100 years behind high-income countries such as Austria, the US and Germany

Germany

Sweden

Russia

Australia

Montenegro

Greece

Despite being neighbours,

there is a 65

year gap in achieving universal primary education between the US and Mexico, which won’t reach the goal until 2035

South Africa is forecast to be the first country in sub-Saharan Africa to reach universal primary education

Zimbabwe will be the first low-income country to reach universal primary education. Despite its much greater economic development, Qatar won’t reach this goal for another 5 years, some 35 years behind the MDG

Brazil

Portugal is forecast to be the last country in Europe & Central Asia to reach universal primary education, 30 years behind the MDG target

Nepal

Syria

Kenya

Cambodia

Haiti

All of the 16 countries that are at least 75 years behind the

MDG are low-income African nations

Uganda

Chad

Rwanda