El Salvador
Last updated February 1, 2026
Composite GEFRI Score
Severely underprepared
El Salvador is severely underprepared (33rd 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
- 33rd
- Global rank
- #120
- Regional rank
- #21
- Viewing data for
Country profile
El Salvador performs close to the global average across all GEFRI dimensions. Progress is evident, yet stronger ambition is needed to reach futures readiness among global peers.
All or most indicators are based on observed data, giving planners a dependable evidence base for decisions. 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. Regulatory quality falls short of global standards, signalling structural hurdles in policy execution. Gender parity across secondary pathways reflects sustained commitment to equitable participation.
Governance 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. Regionally, School Access and Gender Parity lags peers the most, signalling where investment could have the highest impact.
Key insights
- Falls below many peers at the 33rd percentile.
- Places 120th worldwide.
- Holds a regional position of 21st within Latin America & Caribbean .
- Scores range from Infrastructure (60.5) to Access & Parity (10.0), 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 |