Papua New Guinea vs Sri Lanka: Enrolment in primary education, both sexes

Papua New Guinea
1.65 million
in 2023
Sri Lanka
1.58 million
in 2023
Papua New Guinea rank
72nd
Sri Lanka rank
75th

Enrolment in primary education, both sexes over time

  • Papua New Guinea
  • Sri Lanka
0500.0k1.0M1.5M2.0M2.5M197019962023

How they compare

Papua New Guinea currently reports 1.65 million against 1.58 million in Sri Lanka, a difference of 78,430.

The two have swapped places 1 time across 42 shared years of data; in 1970 it was Sri Lanka ahead.

Papua New Guinea ranks 72nd and Sri Lanka ranks 75th of 218 countries.

Sri Lanka has averaged higher in every one of the 6 decades both report.

Head to head by decade

Decade Papua New Guinea Sri Lanka Difference Ahead
1970s 232,285 1.63 million 1.40 million Sri Lanka
1980s 354,681 2.14 million 1.78 million Sri Lanka
1990s 485,959 1.98 million 1.50 million Sri Lanka
2000s 529,299 1.66 million 1.13 million Sri Lanka
2010s 1.27 million 1.75 million 475,204 Sri Lanka
2020s 1.46 million 1.64 million 177,330 Sri Lanka

Averages of every year both report within each decade.

Frequently asked questions

Which has higher enrolment in primary education, both sexes, Papua New Guinea or Sri Lanka?
Papua New Guinea, at 1.65 million against 1.58 million in Sri Lanka as of 2023.
What is the difference in enrolment in primary education, both sexes between Papua New Guinea and Sri Lanka?
78,430, with Papua New Guinea ahead.
How many years of comparable data are there for Papua New Guinea and Sri Lanka?
42 years are reported by both, from 1970 to 2023.
How do Papua New Guinea and Sri Lanka rank globally for enrolment in primary education, both sexes?
Papua New Guinea ranks 72nd and Sri Lanka ranks 75th of 218 countries.
Where does this data come from?
UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number). Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.

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Papua New Guinea vs Sri Lanka: Enrolment in primary education, both sexes. Statizoid, drawing on UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Retrieved 14 September 2026, from https://education.statizoid.com/compare/enrolment-in-primary-education-both-sexes-number/papua-new-guinea/sri-lanka/

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About this data

Indicator
Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number)
Source
UNESCO Institute for Statistics
Licence
CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics)
Coverage
439 places, 21,055 data points, 1970–2025
Last refreshed

February 2026 Data Release