Nicaragua
Last updated February 1, 2026
Composite GEFRI Score
Critically unprepared
Nicaragua is critically unprepared for education futures (19th percentile worldwide). Core capabilities are weak across most dimensions, and essential systems face significant constraints. Higher scores indicate a system that is better prepared to anticipate and shape the future of learning.
- Global percentile
- 19th
- Global rank
- #145
- Regional rank
- #26
- Viewing data for
Country profile
Nicaragua trails global peers in Human Capital (39, 28th percentile), Innovation (31, 30th percentile), Governance (24, 14th percentile), and School Access and Gender Parity (0, 6th percentile). A coordinated reform effort is needed to strengthen education futures readiness.
Uneven scores across dimensions highlight areas that need targeted coordination. Low internet adoption slows digital participation and constrains system-wide modernization. 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.
Infrastructure and Human Capital present 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
- Falls below many peers at the 19th percentile.
- Places 145th worldwide.
- Holds a regional position of 26th within Latin America & Caribbean .
- Scores range from Infrastructure (49.8) to Access & Parity (0.1), reflecting variation across dimensions.
- Trails regional peers most clearly in Access & Parity.
Regional peers: Latin America & Caribbean
Composite GEFRI score
| Global rank | Regional rank | Country | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 34 | 1 | Chile | 69.50 |
| 42 | 2 | Argentina | 63.66 |
| 45 | 3 | Costa Rica | 62.89 |
| 47 | 4 | Uruguay | 62.23 |
| — | — | Cayman IslandsMicrostate | 60.38 |
| — | — | Antigua and BarbudaMicrostate | 57.67 |
| 63 | 5 | Peru | 57.45 |
| — | — | St. Kitts and NevisMicrostate | 56.38 |
| — | — | GrenadaMicrostate | 56.28 |
| — | — | Turks and Caicos IslandsMicrostate | 55.09 |
| 76 | 6 | Colombia | 55.01 |
| 77 | 7 | Mexico | 54.66 |
| 79 | 8 | Brazil | 54.12 |
| 83 | 9 | Cuba | 52.99 |
| 85 | 10 | Puerto Rico (US) | 52.67 |
| — | — | BarbadosMicrostate | 52.47 |
| — | — | DominicaMicrostate | 52.34 |
| — | — | CuracaoMicrostate | 52.11 |
| 89 | 11 | Ecuador | 50.85 |
| — | — | St. LuciaMicrostate | 50.63 |
| 91 | 12 | Dominican Republic | 50.59 |
| 94 | 13 | Bolivia | 50.07 |
| 98 | 14 | Bahamas, The | 48.94 |
| — | — | ArubaMicrostate | 47.65 |
| — | — | Sint Maarten (Dutch part)Microstate | 47.32 |
| 101 | 15 | Jamaica | 47.03 |
| — | — | St. Vincent and the GrenadinesMicrostate | 46.98 |
| 102 | 16 | Belize | 46.55 |
| — | — | St. Martin (French part)Microstate | 46.35 |
| 103 | 17 | Panama | 46.27 |
| — | — | Virgin Islands (U.S.)Microstate | 46.26 |
| — | — | British Virgin IslandsMicrostate | 45.57 |
| 106 | 18 | Paraguay | 44.53 |
| 109 | 19 | Trinidad and Tobago | 42.48 |
| 114 | 20 | Venezuela, RBFCS | 39.06 |
| 120 | 21 | El Salvador | 37.18 |
| 121 | 22 | Suriname | 36.88 |
| 123 | 23 | Guyana | 36.78 |
| 133 | 24 | Honduras | 32.94 |
| 135 | 25 | Guatemala | 31.74 |
| 145 | 26 | Nicaragua | 28.87 |
| 165 | 27 | HaitiFCS | 21.75 |