Educational attainment rate, completed lower … lower urban both in Nepal
Nepal: Educational attainment rate, completed lower … lower urban both was 38.9% in 2021. ▲ Rising
Educational attainment rate, completed lower secondary education or in Nepal, 1981–2021
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for educational attainment rate, completed lower secondary education or in Nepal is 38.9%, measured in 2021.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 1.9% on the previous year and down 28.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, educational attainment rate, completed lower secondary education or in Nepal peaked at 56.4% in 2008 and was at its lowest, 22.0%, in 1981.
That places Nepal 86th out of 97 countries with data for 2021, putting it in the bottom quarter.
Educational attainment rate, completed lower … lower urban both in Nepal, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1981 | 22.0% | — |
| 2008 | 56.4% | +156.5% |
| 2011 | 54.0% | -4.3% |
| 2016 | 33.9% | -37.2% |
| 2019 | 38.2% | +12.6% |
| 2021 | 38.9% | +1.9% |
Nepal compared with similar countries
- Nepal's 38.9% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 55.2%, 70% of the median. (21 countries reporting)
- Nepal's 38.9% is below the median for South Asia, which is 59.2%, 66% of the median. (5 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 22.0% | 22.0% | 22.0% | 1 |
| 2000s | 56.4% | 56.4% | 56.4% | 1 |
| 2010s | 42.0% | 33.9% | 54.0% | 3 |
| 2020s | 38.9% | 38.9% | 38.9% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Nepal
More education data for Nepal
- Gender gap education levels, gaps filled 98.55 (2025)
- Primary enrollment selected countries, gaps filled 99.24 (2025)
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 124,257 (2025)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 263,796 (2025)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 752,326 (2025)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 609,324 (2025)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 3.67 million (2024)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 3.57 million (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 1.31 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is educational attainment rate, completed lower secondary education or in Nepal?
- Educational attainment rate, completed lower secondary education or in Nepal was 38.9% in 2021, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest educational attainment rate, completed lower secondary education or recorded in Nepal?
- The highest recorded value was 56.4% in 2008.
- What is the lowest educational attainment rate, completed lower secondary education or recorded in Nepal?
- The lowest recorded value was 22.0% in 1981.
- How does Nepal rank for educational attainment rate, completed lower secondary education or?
- Nepal ranks 86th out of 97 countries with data for 2021.
- Is educational attainment rate, completed lower secondary education or rising or falling in Nepal?
- Over the last ten years it is down 28.0%. 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 rate, completed lower secondary education or higher, population 25+ years, urban, both sexes (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release