Costa Rica has one of the most literate populations in Latin America; by the year 2000, adult illiteracy dropped to 4.4% (males, 4.5%; females, 4.3%) (UNESCO). Approximately 22.8% of the government's expenditure went toward education in the latter half of the 1990s. As of 1999, public expenditure on education was estimated at 6.1% of GDP. Primary education lasts for six years followed by three years of secondary education. This again is followed by a two-year highly specialized course. Primary and secondary education is free, and primary-school attendance is compulsory. In 1998, enrollment in 3,711 primary schools totaled 529,637 students, with 19,235 teachers. Student-to-teacher ratio stood at 28 to 1. Also in 1998, 202,415 students were taught by 10,943 teachers in secondary schools. As of 1999, 92% of primary-school-age children were enrolled in school, while 43% of those eligible attended secondary school.
The country has 39 universities, including an open university. The University of Costa Rica (founded in 1843) is supported by the government and enrolls about 28,000 students. The Open University (1977), in San José, operates 28 regional centers for all students who apply. There are also the Autonomous University of Central America (1976), in San José, and the National Autonomous University of Heredia (1973), among others.