2 People surveys and are generally considered reliable measures of fertility
primary completion rate may exceed 100 percent. The numerator
in the recent past. Where no empirical information on age-specific
may include late entrants and overage children who have repeated
fertility rates is available, a model is used to estimate the share
one or more grades of primary education as well as children who
of births to adolescents. For countries without vital registration
entered school early, while the denominator is the number of chil-
systems fertility rates are generally based on extrapolations from
dren at the entrance age for the last grade of primary education.
trends observed in censuses or surveys from earlier years.
Youth literacy Prevalence of HIV
The youth literacy rate for ages 15–24 is a standard measure of
HIV prevalence rates reflect the rate of HIV infection in each coun-
recent progress in student achievement. It reflects the accumulated
try’s population. Low national prevalence rates can be misleading,
outcomes of primary education by indicating the proportion of the
however. They often disguise epidemics that are initially concen-
population that has acquired basic literacy and numeracy skills over
trated in certain localities or population groups and threaten to spill
the previous 10 years or so. In practice, however, literacy is difficult
over into the wider population. In many developing countries most
to measure. Estimating literacy rates requires census or survey mea-
new infections occur in young adults, with young women especially
surements under controlled conditions. Many countries estimate
vulnerable.
the number of literate people from self-reported data. Some use
Data on HIV prevalence are from the Joint United Nations Pro-
educational attainment data as a proxy but apply different lengths
gramme on HIV/AIDS. Changes in procedures and assumptions for
of school attendance or levels of completion. Because definitions
estimating the data and better coordination with countries have
and methods of data collection differ across countries, data should
resulted in improved estimates. The models, which are routinely
be used cautiously. Generally, literacy encompasses numeracy, the
updated, track the course of HIV epidemics and their impacts, mak-
ability to make simple arithmetic calculations.
ing full use of information on HIV prevalence trends from surveil-
Data on youth literacy are compiled by the United Nations Educa-
lance data as well as survey data. The models take into account
tional, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Institute for
reduced infectivity among people receiving antiretroviral therapy
Statistics based on national censuses and household surveys dur-
(which is having a larger impact on HIV prevalence and allowing HIV-
ing 1985–2012 and, for countries without recent literacy data, using
positive people to live longer) and allow for changes in urbanization
the Global Age-Specific Literacy Projection Model.
over time in generalized epidemics (important because prevalence is higher in urban areas and because many countries have seen rapid
Labor force participation
urbanization over the past two decades). The estimates include
The labor force is the supply of labor available for producing goods
plausibility bounds, available at http://data.worldbank.org, which
and services in an economy. It includes people who are currently
reflect the certainty associated with each of the estimates.
employed, people who are unemployed but seeking work, and firsttime job-seekers. Not everyone who works is included, however.
36
Primary completion
Unpaid workers, family workers, and students are often omitted,
Many governments publish statistics that indicate how their educa-
and some countries do not count members of the armed forces.
tion systems are working and developing—statistics on enrollment
Labor force size tends to vary during the year as seasonal workers
and efficiency indicators such as repetition rates, pupil–teacher
enter and leave.
ratios, and cohort progression. The primary completion rate, also
Data on the labor force are compiled by the International Labour
called the gross intake ratio to last grade of primary education, is
Organization (ILO) from labor force surveys, censuses, and estab-
a core indicator of an education system’s performance. It reflects
lishment censuses and surveys and from administrative records
an education system’s coverage and the educational attainment
such as employment exchange registers and unemployment insur-
of students. It is a key measure of progress toward the Millennium
ance schemes. Labor force surveys are the most comprehensive
Development Goals and the Education for All initiative. However, a
source for internationally comparable labor force data. Labor force
high primary completion rate does not necessarily mean high levels
data from population censuses are often based on a limited number
of student learning.
of questions on the economic characteristics of individuals, with
The indicator reflects the primary cycle as defined by the Interna-
little scope to probe. Establishment censuses and surveys provide
tional Standard Classification of Education (ISCED97), ranging from
data on the employed population only, not unemployed workers,
three or four years of primary education (in a very small number of
workers in small establishments, or workers in the informal sector
countries) to fi ve or six years (in most countries) and seven (in a
(ILO, Key Indicators of the Labour Market 2001–2002).
small number of countries). It is a proxy that should be taken as an
Besides the data sources, there are other important factors that
upper estimate of the actual primary completion rate, since data
affect data comparability, such as census or survey reference period,
limitations preclude adjusting for students who drop out during the
definition of working age, and geographic coverage. For country-level
final year of primary education. There are many reasons why the
information on source, reference period, or definition, consult the
World Development Indicators 2014
Front
?
User guide
World view
People
Environment