Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number) in Democratic Republic of Congo
Democratic Republic of Congo: Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number) was 21.15 million in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Enrolment in primary education, both sexes in Democratic Republic of Congo, 1971–2023
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
The most recent figure for enrolment in primary education, both sexes in Democratic Republic of Congo is 21.15 million, measured in 2023. That is the highest value across all 40 years on record.
That represents a change of up 4.8% on the previous year and up 67.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, enrolment in primary education, both sexes in Democratic Republic of Congo peaked at 21.15 million in 2023 and was at its lowest, 3.09 million, in 1971.
That places Democratic Republic of Congo 7th out of 218 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number) in Democratic Republic of Congo, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1971 | 3.09 million | — |
| 1972 | 3.18 million | +3.0% |
| 1973 | 3.29 million | +3.5% |
| 1974 | 3.36 million | +2.2% |
| 1975 | 3.43 million | +2.0% |
| 1976 | 3.54 million | +3.4% |
| 1977 | 3.64 million | +2.8% |
| 1978 | 3.79 million | +4.0% |
| 1979 | 3.92 million | +3.4% |
| 1980 | 4.05 million | +3.5% |
| 1981 | 4.20 million | +3.5% |
| 1982 | 4.34 million | +3.5% |
| 1983 | 4.50 million | +3.5% |
| 1984 | 4.65 million | +3.5% |
| 1985 | 4.52 million | -2.8% |
| 1986 | 4.65 million | +2.8% |
| 1987 | 4.16 million | -10.6% |
| 1988 | 4.36 million | +4.8% |
| 1990 | 3.43 million | -21.3% |
| 1991 | 4.56 million | +33.0% |
| 1992 | 4.62 million | +1.3% |
| 1993 | 4.87 million | +5.4% |
| 1994 | 4.94 million | +1.4% |
| 1995 | 5.42 million | +9.7% |
| 1998 | 4.83 million | -10.9% |
| 1999 | 4.02 million | -16.7% |
| 2002 | 5.46 million | +35.6% |
| 2007 | 8.84 million | +62.0% |
| 2008 | 9.97 million | +12.8% |
| 2009 | 10.24 million | +2.7% |
| 2010 | 10.57 million | +3.2% |
| 2011 | 11.08 million | +4.8% |
| 2012 | 12.00 million | +8.3% |
| 2013 | 12.60 million | +5.0% |
| 2014 | 13.53 million | +7.4% |
| 2015 | 13.76 million | +1.7% |
| 2018 | 16.81 million | +22.1% |
| 2020 | 18.79 million | +11.8% |
| 2021 | 20.17 million | +7.3% |
| 2023 | 21.15 million | +4.8% |
Democratic Republic of Congo compared with similar countries
- Democratic Republic of Congo's 21.15 million is above the median for low income countries, which is 3.01 million, 7.0× the median. (23 countries reporting)
- Democratic Republic of Congo's 21.15 million is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 2.40 million, 8.8× the median. (47 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number) in Democratic Republic of Congo 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | +62.0% | 5.46 million | 8.84 million |
| 2002 | +35.6% | 4.02 million | 5.46 million |
| 1991 | +33.0% | 3.43 million | 4.56 million |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 3.47 million | 3.09 million | 3.92 million | 9 |
| 1980s | 4.38 million | 4.05 million | 4.65 million | 9 |
| 1990s | 4.59 million | 3.43 million | 5.42 million | 8 |
| 2000s | 8.63 million | 5.46 million | 10.24 million | 4 |
| 2010s | 12.91 million | 10.57 million | 16.81 million | 7 |
| 2020s | 20.03 million | 18.79 million | 21.15 million | 3 |
Countries ranked near Democratic Republic of Congo
More education data for Democratic Republic of Congo
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 621,578 (2023)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 1.99 million (2023)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 410,532 (2023)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 427,300 (2023)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 7.93 million (2023)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 21.15 million (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 7.35 % change on previous year (2021)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0.0003 units per US$ of GDP (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.1999 units per person (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is enrolment in primary education, both sexes in Democratic Republic of Congo?
- Enrolment in primary education, both sexes in Democratic Republic of Congo was 21.15 million in 2023, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest enrolment in primary education, both sexes recorded in Democratic Republic of Congo?
- The highest recorded value was 21.15 million in 2023.
- What is the lowest enrolment in primary education, both sexes recorded in Democratic Republic of Congo?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.09 million in 1971.
- How does Democratic Republic of Congo rank for enrolment in primary education, both sexes?
- Democratic Republic of Congo ranks 7th out of 218 countries with data for 2023.
- Is enrolment in primary education, both sexes rising or falling in Democratic Republic of Congo?
- Over the last ten years it is up 67.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Democratic Republic of Congo data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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CSV · JSON — 40 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
About this data
February 2026 Data Release