Belize
Last updated April 1, 2026
Composite GEFRI Score
Severely underprepared
Belize is severely underprepared (42nd percentile worldwide). Key structural conditions limit capacity to plan, implement, and sustain forward-looking reforms. Higher scores indicate a system that is better prepared to anticipate and shape the future of learning.
- Global percentile
- 42nd
- Global rank
- #103
- Regional rank
- #17
- Viewing data for
Country profile
Belize trails global peers in Innovation (16, 2nd percentile). A coordinated reform effort is needed to strengthen education futures readiness.
Uneven scores across dimensions highlight areas that need targeted coordination. Literacy or tertiary enrollment gaps thin the talent pipeline and limit the country’s capacity to develop future-ready skills.
Sparse R&D investment and a small research workforce slow experimentation and delay new ideas from reaching learners. Policy execution and regulatory capacity remain weak, leaving reforms fragmented and hard to sustain. Gender parity across secondary pathways reflects sustained commitment to equitable participation.
Human Capital presents a near-term leapfrog opportunity: performance is just below the global average, backed by enough observed data to support forward planning.
Note: Several indicators use imputed values. Policymakers and planners should validate results further before committing to major initiatives.
Key insights
- Places 103rd worldwide.
- Holds a regional position of 17th within Latin America & Caribbean .
- Scores range from Infrastructure (61.7) to Innovation (15.7), reflecting variation across dimensions.
- Trails regional peers most clearly in Innovation.
Regional peers: Latin America & Caribbean
Composite GEFRI score
| Global rank | Regional rank | Country | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 32 | 1 | Chile | 69.22 |
| 41 | 2 | Argentina | 63.46 |
| 45 | 3 | Uruguay | 61.84 |
| — | — | BarbadosMicrostate | 61.53 |
| — | — | Cayman IslandsMicrostate | 60.64 |
| — | — | St. Kitts and NevisMicrostate | 59.49 |
| — | — | Antigua and BarbudaMicrostate | 58.12 |
| 61 | 4 | Peru | 57.90 |
| — | — | GrenadaMicrostate | 56.27 |
| — | — | Turks and Caicos IslandsMicrostate | 55.44 |
| 73 | 5 | Colombia | 55.23 |
| 75 | 6 | Mexico | 54.99 |
| 79 | 7 | Cuba | 53.32 |
| 81 | 8 | Puerto Rico (US) | 53.10 |
| 86 | 9 | Dominican Republic | 51.42 |
| — | — | DominicaMicrostate | 51.11 |
| 88 | 10 | Ecuador | 51.07 |
| 89 | 11 | Brazil | 51.03 |
| — | — | St. LuciaMicrostate | 50.66 |
| 93 | 12 | Bolivia | 50.30 |
| 94 | 13 | Costa Rica | 50.00 |
| — | — | St. Vincent and the GrenadinesMicrostate | 49.59 |
| — | — | ArubaMicrostate | 48.98 |
| — | — | British Virgin IslandsMicrostate | 48.56 |
| — | — | St. Martin (French part)Microstate | 47.36 |
| 100 | 14 | Jamaica | 46.92 |
| — | — | CuracaoMicrostate | 46.80 |
| — | — | Sint Maarten (Dutch part)Microstate | 46.76 |
| — | — | Virgin Islands (U.S.)Microstate | 46.46 |
| 101 | 15 | Panama | 46.26 |
| 102 | 16 | Bahamas, The | 46.13 |
| 103 | 17 | Belize | 44.33 |
| 104 | 18 | Trinidad and Tobago | 43.67 |
| 105 | 19 | Paraguay | 43.39 |
| 111 | 20 | Venezuela, RBFCS | 39.80 |
| 118 | 21 | El Salvador | 37.88 |
| 120 | 22 | Guyana | 37.09 |
| 123 | 23 | Suriname | 35.94 |
| 130 | 24 | Honduras | 33.08 |
| 133 | 25 | Guatemala | 32.18 |
| 139 | 26 | Nicaragua | 30.15 |
| 161 | 27 | HaitiFCS | 22.72 |