Education

Education is a cornerstone for job creation and poverty reduction, serving as a powerful catalyst for development, health, gender equality, and social stability. While global progress has been made in increasing school enrollment, a significant learning crisis persists, with millions of children lacking basic literacy and numeracy skills. Effective investment in education is essential to equip youth with the advanced cognitive, socioemotional, technical, and digital skills needed for success in today’s dynamic job market, yet many countries face challenges due to inadequate funding and the compounded effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Over 250 million children are currently out of school, and 70% of children in low- and middle-income countries cannot read or understand a simple paragraph by age 10.

Low-income countries spend only $55 per student annually on education, while public debt limits further investment in social services.

The COVID-19 pandemic could result in a combined loss of $21 trillion in lifetime earnings for this generation of children, equivalent to 17% of today’s global GDP.

To address these challenges, high-quality early childhood development and lifelong learning opportunities are critical for building foundational skills and enabling workers to adapt to evolving labor markets. The World Bank is actively supporting countries with a $26.5 billion education portfolio across 85 countries, benefiting 305 million students—including 146 million women and girls—by fostering pathways from classrooms to careers and ensuring that investments in education yield long-term benefits for individuals and societies.

The World Bank’s global education strategy aims to transform education systems so that learning is accessible and effective for all, regardless of background or circumstance. By fostering foundational skills and lifelong learning, the Bank seeks to empower individuals and drive national development, with a strong emphasis on evidence-based policy and inclusive practices. The approach spans early childhood to tertiary education, focusing on building resilient systems that can adapt to challenges such as conflict, climate change, and evolving labor market demands.

IDA operations make up 62% of the World Bank’s education portfolio, reflecting a strong commitment to the world’s poorest countries.

Investment in fragile, conflict, and violence-affected (FCV) settings has surged, now accounting for 26% of the education portfolio.

The World Bank supports over 18 million teachers through more than 160 active projects, reaching about one-third of teachers in low- and middle-income countries.

Through targeted initiatives—such as setting learning targets, advancing foundational literacy, expanding technical and vocational education, and mainstreaming climate education—the World Bank is helping countries recover lost learning, close equity gaps, and build forward better. By strengthening measurement and finance systems, and supporting teachers and vulnerable populations, the Bank is laying the groundwork for more equitable, effective, and resilient education systems worldwide.

Education is a cornerstone for job creation and poverty reduction, serving as a powerful catalyst for development, health, gender equality, and social stability. While global progress has been made in increasing school enrollment, a significant learning crisis persists, with millions of children lacking basic literacy and numeracy skills. Effective investment in education is essential to equip youth with the advanced cognitive, socioemotional, technical, and digital skills needed for success in today’s dynamic job market, yet many countries face challenges due to inadequate funding and the compounded effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Over 250 million children are currently out of school, and 70% of children in low- and middle-income countries cannot read or understand a simple paragraph by age 10.

Low-income countries spend only $55 per student annually on education, while public debt limits further investment in social services.

The COVID-19 pandemic could result in a combined loss of $21 trillion in lifetime earnings for this generation of children, equivalent to 17% of today’s global GDP.

To address these challenges, high-quality early childhood development and lifelong learning opportunities are critical for building foundational skills and enabling workers to adapt to evolving labor markets. The World Bank is actively supporting countries with a $26.5 billion education portfolio across 85 countries, benefiting 305 million students—including 146 million women and girls—by fostering pathways from classrooms to careers and ensuring that investments in education yield long-term benefits for individuals and societies.

World Bank Champions Inclusive, Quality Primary Education for All

The World Bank’s primary education projects aim to expand access, improve learning outcomes, and promote equity for disadvantaged children worldwide. Through investments in teacher training, school infrastructure, curriculum reform, and targeted support for girls and marginalized groups, these initiatives have reached hundreds of millions of students and helped countries build resilient, inclusive education systems

World Bank Drives Innovation and Equity in Tertiary Education Worldwide

The World Bank’s tertiary education projects aim to boost the quality, relevance, and accessibility of post-secondary education, equipping graduates with skills for today’s labor market and supporting economic growth. These initiatives focus on institutional reforms, innovative teaching, and expanded access—especially in STEM, digital, and green sectors—reaching millions of students and investing billions across more than 50 countries

Education Contact

Lillian Foo
lfoo@worldbankgroup.org