Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka: Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled was 1.58 million in 2023. ▼ Falling
Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled in Sri Lanka, 1970–2023
Source: Statizoid (derived).
Analysis
In 2023, enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled in Sri Lanka stood at 1.58 million.
The figure is down 2.9% on the previous year and down 10.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled in Sri Lanka peaked at 2.30 million in 1986 and was at its lowest, 1.44 million, in 1975.
That places Sri Lanka 75th out of 218 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 54 years of available data.
Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled in Sri Lanka, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 1.67 million | — |
| 1971 | 1.71 million | +2.4% |
| 1972 | 1.56 million | -8.6% |
| 1973 | 1.54 million | -1.6% |
| 1974 | 1.47 million | -4.5% |
| 1975 | 1.44 million | -2.3% |
| 1976 | 1.44 million | +0.2% |
| 1977 | 1.53 million | +6.5% |
| 1978 | 1.94 million | +26.8% |
| 1979 | 2.00 million | +3.1% |
| 1980 | 2.08 million | +4.0% |
| 1981 | 2.13 million | +2.5% |
| 1982 | 2.14 million | +0.5% |
| 1983 | 2.15 million | +0.5% |
| 1984 | 2.19 million | +1.5% |
| 1985 | 2.24 million | +2.6% |
| 1986 | 2.30 million | +2.8% |
| 1987 | 2.04 million | -11.6% |
| 1988 | 2.08 million | +2.3% |
| 1989 | 2.11 million | +1.5% |
| 1990 | 2.11 million | -0.1% |
| 1991 | 2.11 million | +0.0% |
| 1992 | 2.06 million | -2.5% |
| 1993 | 2.01 million | -2.3% |
| 1994 | 1.96 million | -2.6% |
| 1995 | 1.96 million | +0.1% |
| 1996 | 1.84 million | -6.0% |
| 1997 | 1.82 million | -1.1% |
| 1998 | 1.80 million | -1.1% |
| 1999 | 1.79 million | -0.6% |
| 2000 | 1.78 million | -0.6% |
| 2001 | 1.77 million | -0.6% |
| 2002 | 1.73 million | -2.2% |
| 2003 | 1.67 million | -3.5% |
| 2004 | 1.58 million | -5.3% |
| 2005 | 1.61 million | +1.9% |
| 2006 | 1.61 million | +0.1% |
| 2007 | 1.62 million | +0.6% |
| 2008 | 1.63 million | +0.6% |
| 2009 | 1.62 million | -0.7% |
| 2010 | 1.72 million | +6.3% |
| 2011 | 1.74 million | +0.9% |
| 2012 | 1.75 million | +1.0% |
| 2013 | 1.77 million | +0.9% |
| 2014 | 1.78 million | +0.6% |
| 2015 | 1.78 million | +0.0% |
| 2016 | 1.76 million | -0.8% |
| 2017 | 1.75 million | -0.9% |
| 2018 | 1.73 million | -1.2% |
| 2019 | 1.71 million | -0.9% |
| 2020 | 1.69 million | -0.9% |
| 2021 | 1.67 million | -1.7% |
| 2022 | 1.62 million | -2.5% |
| 2023 | 1.58 million | -2.9% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 1.63 million | 1.44 million | 2.00 million | 10 |
| 1980s | 2.15 million | 2.04 million | 2.30 million | 10 |
| 1990s | 1.95 million | 1.79 million | 2.11 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 1.66 million | 1.58 million | 1.78 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.75 million | 1.71 million | 1.78 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.64 million | 1.58 million | 1.69 million | 4 |
Countries ranked near Sri Lanka
- 72 Papua New Guinea 1.65 million compare
- 73 Poland 1.60 million compare
- 74 Kazakhstan 1.58 million compare
- 76 Chile 1.49 million compare
- 77 Ukraine 1.40 million compare
- 78 Bolivia, Plurinational State of 1.38 million 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 enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled in Sri Lanka?
- Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled in Sri Lanka was 1.58 million in 2023, according to Statizoid (derived).
- What is the highest enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The highest recorded value was 2.30 million in 1986.
- What is the lowest enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.44 million in 1975.
- How does Sri Lanka rank for enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled?
- Sri Lanka ranks 75th out of 218 countries with data for 2023.
- Is enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled rising or falling in Sri Lanka?
- Over the last ten years it is down 10.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Sri Lanka data come from?
- The figures come from Statizoid (derived), published as part of Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 54 observations, free to reuse under Derived by Statizoid from the sources named on the page.
How this figure is calculated
Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number) with 607 missing years estimated by linear interpolation between the nearest real observations. Only gaps of 4 years or fewer are filled, and never beyond the first or last actual measurement — these are filled holes, not forecasts.
Computed from
- Enrolment in primary education, both sexes UNESCO Institute for Statistics
Statizoid computes this series; the underlying measurements belong to the publishers named above. The arithmetic is applied to every country and year where both inputs report, and nothing is estimated unless the page says so.
About this data
Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number) with 607 missing years estimated by linear interpolation between the nearest real observations. Only gaps of 4 years or fewer are filled, and never beyond the first or last actual measurement — these are filled holes, not forecasts.