Educational attainment: at least some primary (ISCED 1), population in Nepal
Nepal: Educational attainment: at least some primary (ISCED 1), population was 46.4% in 2021. ◆ Volatile
Educational attainment: at least some primary (ISCED 1), population in Nepal, 1971–2021
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for educational attainment: at least some primary (isced 1), population in Nepal is 46.4%, measured in 2021. That is the highest value across all 8 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 7.5% on the previous year and up 89.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, educational attainment: at least some primary (isced 1), population in Nepal peaked at 46.4% in 2021 and was at its lowest, 0.6%, in 1971.
Nepal ranks 125th of 135 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
Educational attainment: at least some primary (ISCED 1), population in Nepal, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1971 | 0.6% | — |
| 1981 | 4.1% | +607.1% |
| 2001 | 17.1% | +313.0% |
| 2008 | 24.5% | +43.1% |
| 2016 | 37.5% | +52.8% |
| 2017 | 40.2% | +7.4% |
| 2019 | 43.1% | +7.3% |
| 2021 | 46.4% | +7.5% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 0.6% | 0.6% | 0.6% | 1 |
| 1980s | 4.1% | 4.1% | 4.1% | 1 |
| 2000s | 20.8% | 17.1% | 24.5% | 2 |
| 2010s | 40.3% | 37.5% | 43.1% | 3 |
| 2020s | 46.4% | 46.4% | 46.4% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Nepal
More education data for Nepal
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 3.57 million (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 1.31 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.1204 units per person (2025)
- Secondary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 3.57 million (2025)
- Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number), annual growth 1.31 % change on previous year (2025)
- Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number), per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number), per capita 0.1204 units per person (2025)
- Enrolment in primary education, female (number), gaps filled 1.69 million (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is educational attainment: at least some primary (isced 1), population in Nepal?
- Educational attainment: at least some primary (isced 1), population in Nepal was 46.4% in 2021, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest educational attainment: at least some primary (isced 1), population recorded in Nepal?
- The highest recorded value was 46.4% in 2021.
- What is the lowest educational attainment: at least some primary (isced 1), population recorded in Nepal?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.6% in 1971.
- How does Nepal rank for educational attainment: at least some primary (isced 1), population?
- Nepal ranks 125th out of 135 countries with data for 2021.
- Is educational attainment: at least some primary (isced 1), population rising or falling in Nepal?
- Over the last ten years it is up 89.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Nepal data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Educational attainment: at least some primary (ISCED 1), population 25+ years, female (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 8 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
About this data
February 2026 Data Release