Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number), per square in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka: Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number), per square was 25.48 units per square kilometre in 2023. ▼ Falling
Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number), per square in Sri Lanka, 1970–2023
Source: Statizoid (derived). Measured in units per square kilometre.
Analysis
The most recent figure for enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number), per square in Sri Lanka is 25.48 units per square kilometre, measured in 2023.
That represents a change of down 2.9% on the previous year and down 9.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number), per square in Sri Lanka peaked at 36.75 units per square kilometre in 1986 and was at its lowest, 22.9 units per square kilometre, in 1975.
That places Sri Lanka 44th out of 206 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 51 years of available data.
Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number), per square in Sri Lanka, year by year
| Year | units per square kilometre | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 26.65 units per square kilometre | — |
| 1971 | 27.3 units per square kilometre | +2.4% |
| 1972 | 24.95 units per square kilometre | -8.6% |
| 1973 | 24.55 units per square kilometre | -1.6% |
| 1974 | 23.45 units per square kilometre | -4.5% |
| 1975 | 22.9 units per square kilometre | -2.3% |
| 1976 | 22.95 units per square kilometre | +0.2% |
| 1977 | 24.44 units per square kilometre | +6.5% |
| 1978 | 30.98 units per square kilometre | +26.8% |
| 1979 | 31.93 units per square kilometre | +3.1% |
| 1980 | 33.19 units per square kilometre | +4.0% |
| 1981 | 34.01 units per square kilometre | +2.5% |
| 1982 | 34.16 units per square kilometre | +0.5% |
| 1983 | 34.34 units per square kilometre | +0.5% |
| 1984 | 34.87 units per square kilometre | +1.5% |
| 1985 | 35.76 units per square kilometre | +2.6% |
| 1986 | 36.75 units per square kilometre | +2.8% |
| 1987 | 32.49 units per square kilometre | -11.6% |
| 1988 | 33.23 units per square kilometre | +2.3% |
| 1989 | 33.72 units per square kilometre | +1.5% |
| 1990 | 33.68 units per square kilometre | -0.1% |
| 1991 | 33.69 units per square kilometre | +0.0% |
| 1992 | 32.84 units per square kilometre | -2.5% |
| 1993 | 32.1 units per square kilometre | -2.3% |
| 1994 | 31.26 units per square kilometre | -2.6% |
| 1995 | 31.29 units per square kilometre | +0.1% |
| 1996 | 29.4 units per square kilometre | -6.0% |
| 1998 | 28.73 units per square kilometre | -2.3% |
| 2001 | 28.19 units per square kilometre | -1.9% |
| 2002 | 27.57 units per square kilometre | -2.2% |
| 2003 | 26.6 units per square kilometre | -3.5% |
| 2004 | 25.2 units per square kilometre | -5.3% |
| 2005 | 25.69 units per square kilometre | +1.9% |
| 2006 | 25.7 units per square kilometre | +0.1% |
| 2007 | 25.86 units per square kilometre | +0.6% |
| 2008 | 26.02 units per square kilometre | +0.6% |
| 2009 | 25.82 units per square kilometre | -0.7% |
| 2010 | 27.44 units per square kilometre | +6.3% |
| 2011 | 27.67 units per square kilometre | +0.9% |
| 2012 | 27.94 units per square kilometre | +1.0% |
| 2013 | 28.18 units per square kilometre | +0.9% |
| 2014 | 28.35 units per square kilometre | +0.6% |
| 2015 | 28.73 units per square kilometre | +1.3% |
| 2016 | 28.49 units per square kilometre | -0.8% |
| 2017 | 28.22 units per square kilometre | -0.9% |
| 2018 | 27.89 units per square kilometre | -1.2% |
| 2019 | 27.65 units per square kilometre | -0.9% |
| 2020 | 27.4 units per square kilometre | -0.9% |
| 2021 | 26.92 units per square kilometre | -1.7% |
| 2022 | 26.24 units per square kilometre | -2.5% |
| 2023 | 25.48 units per square kilometre | -2.9% |
Sri Lanka compared with similar countries
- Sri Lanka's 25.48 units per square kilometre is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 6.93 units per square kilometre, 3.7× the median. (58 countries reporting)
- Sri Lanka's 25.48 units per square kilometre is below the median for South Asia, which is 34.82 units per square kilometre, 73% of the median. (6 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number), per square in Sri Lanka changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1978 | +26.8% | 24.44 units per square kilometre | 30.98 units per square kilometre |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 26.01 units per square kilometre | 22.9 units per square kilometre | 31.93 units per square kilometre | 10 |
| 1980s | 34.25 units per square kilometre | 32.49 units per square kilometre | 36.75 units per square kilometre | 10 |
| 1990s | 31.62 units per square kilometre | 28.73 units per square kilometre | 33.69 units per square kilometre | 8 |
| 2000s | 26.29 units per square kilometre | 25.2 units per square kilometre | 28.19 units per square kilometre | 9 |
| 2010s | 28.06 units per square kilometre | 27.44 units per square kilometre | 28.73 units per square kilometre | 10 |
| 2020s | 26.51 units per square kilometre | 25.48 units per square kilometre | 27.4 units per square kilometre | 4 |
Countries ranked near Sri Lanka
- 41 Sierra Leone 27.95 units per square kilometre compare
- 42 South Korea 26.79 units per square kilometre compare
- 43 Belgium 26.71 units per square kilometre compare
- 45 Nepal 25.19 units per square kilometre compare
- 46 Trinidad and Tobago 25.14 units per square kilometre compare
- 47 Saint Lucia 24.49 units per square kilometre 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), per square in Sri Lanka?
- Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number), per square in Sri Lanka was 25.48 units per square kilometre in 2023, according to Statizoid (derived).
- What is the highest enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number), per square recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The highest recorded value was 36.75 units per square kilometre in 1986.
- What is the lowest enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number), per square recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The lowest recorded value was 22.9 units per square kilometre in 1975.
- How does Sri Lanka rank for enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number), per square?
- Sri Lanka ranks 44th out of 206 countries with data for 2023.
- Is enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number), per square rising or falling in Sri Lanka?
- Over the last ten years it is down 9.6%. 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), per square kilometre. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 51 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) divided by Land area (sq. km), matched on country and year. Neither publisher issues this ratio as a series; it is computed here from both.
Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number) ÷ Land area (sq. km)
Computed from
- Enrolment in primary education, both sexes UNESCO Institute for Statistics
- Land area FAOSTAT, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
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) divided by Land area (sq. km), matched on country and year. Neither publisher issues this ratio as a series; it is computed here from both.