Children out of school in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka: Children out of school was 9.1% in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Children out of school in Sri Lanka, 1977–2023
Source: Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Measured in % of primary school age.
Analysis
In 2023, children out of school in Sri Lanka stood at 9.1%.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 17.8% on the previous year and up 34.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, children out of school in Sri Lanka peaked at 20.6% in 1977 and was at its lowest, 0.5%, in 2019.
Sri Lanka ranks 55th of 196 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Children out of school in Sri Lanka, year by year
| Year | % of primary school age | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1977 | 20.6% | — |
| 1986 | 1.9% | -90.6% |
| 2001 | 3.2% | +62.3% |
| 2002 | 4.3% | +35.0% |
| 2003 | 5.8% | +35.6% |
| 2004 | 7.8% | +35.3% |
| 2005 | 8.0% | +2.8% |
| 2006 | 7.9% | -1.5% |
| 2007 | 7.6% | -3.6% |
| 2008 | 7.6% | -0.1% |
| 2009 | 9.0% | +17.9% |
| 2010 | 7.1% | -20.9% |
| 2011 | 7.2% | +1.6% |
| 2012 | 7.5% | +3.3% |
| 2013 | 6.8% | -9.1% |
| 2014 | 6.4% | -6.3% |
| 2015 | 3.9% | -38.0% |
| 2016 | 3.8% | -3.8% |
| 2017 | 4.1% | +8.5% |
| 2018 | 4.6% | +12.8% |
| 2019 | 0.5% | -89.4% |
| 2020 | 0.7% | +49.8% |
| 2021 | 2.0% | +166.9% |
| 2022 | 7.8% | +294.2% |
| 2023 | 9.1% | +17.8% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 20.6% | 20.6% | 20.6% | 1 |
| 1980s | 1.9% | 1.9% | 1.9% | 1 |
| 2000s | 6.8% | 3.2% | 9.0% | 9 |
| 2010s | 5.2% | 0.5% | 7.5% | 10 |
| 2020s | 4.9% | 0.7% | 9.1% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Sri Lanka
- 52 Benin 9.6% compare
- 53 Palestine, State of 9.6% compare
- 54 Bolivia, Plurinational State of 9.3% compare
- 56 Kiribati 8.7% compare
- 57 El Salvador 8.7% compare
- 58 Mongolia 8.6% compare
More education data for Sri Lanka
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 155,543 (2023)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 0 (2023)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 224,799 (2023)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 214,300 (2023)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 2.54 million (2023)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 1.58 million (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate -2.89 % change on previous year (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.0715 units per person (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is children out of school in Sri Lanka?
- Children out of school in Sri Lanka was 9.1% in 2023, according to Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
- What is the highest children out of school recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The highest recorded value was 20.6% in 1977.
- What is the lowest children out of school recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.5% in 2019.
- How does Sri Lanka rank for children out of school?
- Sri Lanka ranks 55th out of 196 countries with data for 2023.
- Is children out of school rising or falling in Sri Lanka?
- Over the last ten years it is up 34.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Sri Lanka data come from?
- The figures come from Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), published as part of Children out of school (% of primary school age). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Children out of school are the percentage of primary-school-age children who are not enrolled in primary or secondary school. Children in the official primary age group that are in preprimary education should be considered out of school.