Educational attainment: at least some primary (ISCED 1), population in Nepal

Nepal: Educational attainment: at least some primary (ISCED 1), population was 78.9% in 2021. ▲ Rising

Latest (2021)
78.9%
Change on year
up 4.3%
World rank
94th
of 99 countries
All-time high
79.5%
in 2008
All-time low
39.7%
in 1981
Years of data
6
1981–2021

Educational attainment: at least some primary (ISCED 1), population in Nepal, 1981–2021

0204060801981200120211981: 39.7 %2008: 79.5 %2016: 74.9 %2017: 73.7 %2019: 75.7 %2021: 78.9 %

Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.

Analysis

Nepal recorded 78.9% for educational attainment: at least some primary (isced 1), population in 2021.

Compared with earlier readings it is up 4.3% on the previous year and down 0.7% over ten years.

Over the whole period, educational attainment: at least some primary (isced 1), population in Nepal peaked at 79.5% in 2008 and was at its lowest, 39.7%, in 1981.

Nepal ranks 94th of 99 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.

Educational attainment: at least some primary (ISCED 1), population in Nepal, year by year

Annual values for Educational attainment: at least some primary (ISCED 1), population 25+ years, urban, male (%) in Nepal, 1981 to 2021.
Year % Change
1981 39.7%
2008 79.5% +100.2%
2016 74.9% -5.8%
2017 73.7% -1.6%
2019 75.7% +2.6%
2021 78.9% +4.3%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1980s 39.7% 39.7% 39.7% 1
2000s 79.5% 79.5% 79.5% 1
2010s 74.8% 73.7% 75.7% 3
2020s 78.9% 78.9% 78.9% 1

Countries ranked near Nepal

  1. 91 Ethiopia 86.1% compare
  2. 92 Bangladesh 83.4% compare
  3. 93 Pakistan 80.1% compare
  4. 95 Bhutan 75.7% compare
  5. 96 Burkina Faso 67.4% compare
  6. 97 Guinea 64.1% compare

See the full ranking of 99 places →

More education data for Nepal

All data for Nepal →

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 78.9% 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 79.5% in 2008.
What is the lowest educational attainment: at least some primary (isced 1), population recorded in Nepal?
The lowest recorded value was 39.7% in 1981.
How does Nepal rank for educational attainment: at least some primary (isced 1), population?
Nepal ranks 94th out of 99 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 down 0.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
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, urban, male (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Educational attainment: at least some primary (ISCED 1), population in Nepal. Statizoid, drawing on UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Retrieved 04 September 2026, from https://education.statizoid.com/stat/educational-attainment-at-least-some-primary-isced-1-population-25-years-urban-male/nepal/

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About this data

Indicator
Educational attainment: at least some primary (ISCED 1), population 25+ years, urban, male (%)
Unit
%
Source
UNESCO Institute for Statistics
Licence
CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics)
Coverage
99 places, 1,288 data points, 1970–2024
Last refreshed

February 2026 Data Release