The bar chart compares the number of girls per 100 boys enrolled in primary, secondary, and tertiary education in both developing and developed countries in 1990 and 1998. A benchmark of gender equality is indicated by the target line at 100. Overall, developed countries consistently had more balanced, and even female-dominant, enrollment across all education levels. In contrast, developing countries showed a persistent gender gap, especially in secondary and tertiary education.
In developing countries, the number of girls per 100 boys increased across all levels from 1990 to 1998. Primary education saw a slight rise from 83 to 87, while secondary and tertiary levels rose more significantly, from 72 to 82 and from 66 to 75 respectively. Despite improvements, all remained below the gender parity target.
In contrast, developed countries achieved or exceeded the target in nearly all areas. For example, tertiary education saw female enrollment surpass male, with 105 girls per 100 boys in 1990 and 112 in 1998. Both primary and secondary education levels also slightly improved and were close to equal throughout.
In summary, while gender disparity in education persisted in developing countries, developed nations not only achieved parity but often had more girls enrolled than boys, particularly in higher education.