St. Lucia Secondary Enrollment

St. Lucia’s secondary enrollment rate has undergone substantial expansion since the early 1970s, rising from a historic low of 25.61% in 1973 to reach 87.95% in 2025, placing it 110th globally. The most significant growth occurred over the final decades of the 20th century, culminating in an all-time peak of 97.03% in 2010, reflecting sustained investment in education and policy reforms aimed at broadening access. However, the rate has since receded by nearly 10 percentage points from its peak, settling below 88% in recent years. This current level is comparable to that of Kenya, which recorded 87.25%, and slightly below the Russian Federation’s 87.98%. The decline from the 2010 high suggests potential challenges related to retention, economic pressures on youth participation, or demographic shifts. While St. Lucia has made considerable progress from its low enrollment base in the 1970s, reversing the post-2010 downward trend will likely require targeted efforts to improve school completion rates and address socioeconomic barriers to sustained enrollment. Absent such interventions, the rate may stabilize below its previous high.