enrollment in primary education in developing regions reached percent in up from percent in in net enrollment among girls in primary education reached nearly percent in the region against a world average of percent the ratio of femaletomale primary enrollment in the region was percent in against percent worldwide literacy rates among adults and youth are rising and gender gaps are narrowing in some countries particularly those in the gcc young womens participation in education is rapidly outpacing mens qatar and the united arab emirates have the highest femaletomale university enrollment ratios in the world even among extremely conservative families young womens educational achievement is often encouraged and prized