Broadly extended access but weak PISA results, a low share of tertiary graduates and strong inequalities — a system that has widened access but struggles on quality and retention.
Key points
- Mexico has widened access to schooling, but its PISA results remain among the weakest in the OECD.
- Secondary dropout and the low share of tertiary graduates are holding back human capital.
Citoyen synthesis for the Education category in Mexico. Grounded in the sector's quantitative data (SEP, INEGI, OECD, World Bank). All values are the latest realized observation available — never a forecast. Assessments are kept distinct from sourced facts. Data last updated: June 2026.
1. State of play — where the Mexican education system stands
Broadly extended access. Mexico has broadly extended access to basic education, with near-universal primary enrolment. The challenge now lies in quality, retention at secondary level and access to tertiary education.
Weak PISA results. At PISA 2022 (OECD), Mexico achieves results among the weakest in the OECD (around 395 points in mathematics, below the average), even if above Brazil — the quality challenge.
A low share of tertiary graduates. The share of tertiary graduates remains low relative to the OECD, and secondary dropout is significant — a brake on human capital and productivity (see the Economy category).
Strong inequalities. Quality and access vary strongly by region (North vs poorer South), income and origin (indigenous populations) — reproducing the country's inequalities (see the Social cohesion category).
Contested reforms. Education reforms (the 2013 reform and its subsequent revision, curricula) have been the subject of strong controversy, notably with the powerful teachers' union.
Mexico — PISA scores
Mexico — Education expenditure
Mexico — Tertiary attainment (25-34)
2. Outlook — where the system is heading
Improving quality. Raising learning outcomes, after broadening access, is the central challenge — teacher training, curricula, resources.
Reducing dropout and expanding tertiary. Improving secondary retention and tertiary access is necessary for human capital and formal employment (see the Labour category).
Reducing inequalities. Closing regional, social and indigenous-population gaps is an equity challenge.
Skills and nearshoring. Aligning training with industry needs (nearshoring, see the Economy category) is a productivity lever.
The open questions. Three trade-offs will shape the decade: (1) improving quality; (2) reducing dropout and expanding tertiary; (3) reducing inequalities.
3. International comparison — Mexico among its peers
Placed in its environment, Mexico has widened access but struggles on quality and tertiary — an emerging-economy profile.
Three takeaways. (1) PISA: weak. At ≈ 395 in mathematics, Mexico is below the OECD average and France, but above Brazil (≈ 379).
(2) Tertiary: low share. Mexico's share of tertiary graduates is low relative to the OECD — a brake on human capital.
(3) Strong inequalities. Regional and social gaps, more marked than in developed countries, are a distinguishing feature.
France — PISA scores
United States — PISA scores
Brazil — PISA scores
Mexico — PISA scores
International comparison — education
| Country | PISA maths (2022) | Tertiary graduates | Inequalities |
|---|---|---|---|
| France | ≈ 474 | ≈ 41% | moderate |
| United States | ≈ 465 | ≈ 50% | strong |
| European Union | ≈ 472 (OECD avg) | — | variable |
| Brazil | ≈ 379 | low | strong |
| Mexico | ≈ 395 | low | strong |
Sources: OECD (PISA 2022), SEP, World Bank. "≈" denotes a rounding.
Data mobilized (data-journalism base)
Show the table
| Data | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| PISA mathematics score (2022) | ≈ 395 (below OECD average) | OECD PISA (Citoyen chart) |
| Access to primary school | near-universal | SEP / INEGI |
| Tertiary graduates | low (OECD) | OECD (Citoyen chart) |
| Secondary dropout | significant | SEP |
| Inequalities | strong (region, indigenous) | INEGI |
Sources (national analyses and references)
SEP (Secretaría de Educación Pública) · INEGI · OECD (PISA 2022, Education at a Glance) · World Bank.
Methodological note — the synthesis keeps sourced facts distinct from assessments, stays neutral, dates each figure, and does not extrapolate beyond the sources. All values are the latest realized observation available (no forecast). Same safeguards as the rest of the observatory.