Costa Rica Tertiary Enrollment
School enrollment, tertiary (% gross) SE.TER.ENRR
Costa Rica's tertiary enrollment was 55.02% in 2019, ranked 57th globally. This represents a 4.6% increase from 2018. Data from World Bank, covering 2004–2019.
Overview
Costa Rica's tertiary enrollment stood at 55.02% in 2019, a rise of +2.41pp from 2018. Costa Rica ranked 57th globally.
Costa Rica's tertiary enrollment rate has shown a steady upward trend, with a significant increase from 25.81% in 2004 to 55.02% in 2019. This growth places Costa Rica at rank #57 globally, surpassing many of its regional peers, such as Moldova at 54.78%. The country's tertiary enrollment rate has reached its highest level in 2019, a year in which the global economic recovery from the 2008 financial crisis was underway. In contrast, the lowest point, 25.81% in 2004, predates the global economic downturn that began in 2008. With the rise of tertiary education, Costa Rica is likely to continue investing in human capital, potentially driving economic growth and development. However, the country's future trajectory may be influenced by changes in government policies, particularly those related to education and labor market regulations, which could impact the demand for tertiary education and, in turn, the enrollment rate.
Data & projection
| Year | Tertiary Enrollment | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 55.02% | +2.41pp | #57 |
| 2018 | 52.61% | −1.84pp | #62 |
| 2017 | 54.45% | +2.80pp | #61 |
| 2016 | 51.65% | +0.37pp | #64 |
| 2015 | 51.28% | +0.95pp | #61 |
| 2014 | 50.33% | +2.83pp | #59 |
| 2013 | 47.51% | +0.82pp | #58 |
| 2012 | 46.69% | +2.02pp | #56 |
| 2011 | 44.67% | +18.87pp | #58 |
| 2004 | 25.81% | – | #62 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Costa Rica matched the Orthodox Tightening Cycle pattern in 1995. Historically, 57% of countries showing this pattern (177 out of 311) saw tertiary enrollment improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
Costa Rica's tertiary enrollment was 55.02% in 2019. Ranked 57th globally. This represents a 4.6% increase from the previous year.
Costa Rica's tertiary enrollment peaked at 55.02% in 2019.
The lowest tertiary enrollment in Costa Rica was 25.81% in 2004.
Costa Rica ranks 57th globally in tertiary enrollment as of 2019.
The World Bank indicator code is SE.TER.ENRR. Data sourced from World Bank.
The tertiary enrollment of Costa Rica in 2019 was 55.02%. This ranks 57th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_costa-rica_tertiary-enrollment,
title = {Costa Rica Tertiary Enrollment},
url = {https://historysaid.com/costa-rica/tertiary-enrollment/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}