Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number) in Eswatini
Eswatini: Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number) was 222,351 in 2023. ▲ Rising
Latest (2023)
222,351
Change on year
down 0.2%
World rank
138th
of 218 countries
All-time high
241,404
in 2015
All-time low
69,055
in 1970
Years of data
51
1970–2023
Enrolment in primary education, both sexes in Eswatini, 1970–2023
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
The most recent figure for enrolment in primary education, both sexes in Eswatini is 222,351, measured in 2023.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.2% on the previous year and down 7.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, enrolment in primary education, both sexes in Eswatini peaked at 241,404 in 2015 and was at its lowest, 69,055, in 1970.
Eswatini ranks 138th of 218 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 51 years of available data.
Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number) in Eswatini, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 69,055 | — |
| 1971 | 71,455 | +3.5% |
| 1972 | 76,343 | +6.8% |
| 1973 | 81,694 | +7.0% |
| 1974 | 86,110 | +5.4% |
| 1975 | 89,528 | +4.0% |
| 1976 | 92,721 | +3.6% |
| 1977 | 96,835 | +4.4% |
| 1978 | 100,700 | +4.0% |
| 1979 | 105,607 | +4.9% |
| 1980 | 112,019 | +6.1% |
| 1981 | 119,913 | +7.0% |
| 1982 | 125,303 | +4.5% |
| 1983 | 129,767 | +3.6% |
| 1984 | 134,528 | +3.7% |
| 1985 | 139,345 | +3.6% |
| 1986 | 142,206 | +2.1% |
| 1987 | 147,743 | +3.9% |
| 1988 | 152,895 | +3.5% |
| 1989 | 157,345 | +2.9% |
| 1990 | 166,454 | +5.8% |
| 1991 | 172,908 | +3.9% |
| 1992 | 180,285 | +4.3% |
| 1993 | 186,271 | +3.3% |
| 1994 | 192,599 | +3.4% |
| 1995 | 201,307 | +4.5% |
| 1996 | 202,439 | +0.6% |
| 1997 | 205,829 | +1.7% |
| 1998 | 208,779 | +1.4% |
| 1999 | 213,041 | +2.0% |
| 2000 | 213,986 | +0.4% |
| 2001 | 212,063 | -0.9% |
| 2002 | 209,037 | -1.4% |
| 2003 | 208,444 | -0.3% |
| 2004 | 218,352 | +4.8% |
| 2005 | 221,596 | +1.5% |
| 2006 | 229,686 | +3.7% |
| 2007 | 232,572 | +1.3% |
| 2009 | 231,349 | -0.5% |
| 2010 | 241,237 | +4.3% |
| 2011 | 239,721 | -0.6% |
| 2012 | 239,422 | -0.1% |
| 2013 | 239,019 | -0.2% |
| 2014 | 240,434 | +0.6% |
| 2015 | 241,404 | +0.4% |
| 2016 | 239,028 | -1.0% |
| 2017 | 237,451 | -0.7% |
| 2018 | 237,074 | -0.2% |
| 2019 | 236,002 | -0.5% |
| 2022 | 222,877 | -5.6% |
| 2023 | 222,351 | -0.2% |
Eswatini compared with similar countries
- Eswatini's 222,351 is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 1.66 million, 13% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Eswatini's 222,351 is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 2.40 million, 9% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 87,005 | 69,055 | 105,607 | 10 |
| 1980s | 136,106 | 112,019 | 157,345 | 10 |
| 1990s | 192,991 | 166,454 | 213,041 | 10 |
| 2000s | 219,676 | 208,444 | 232,572 | 9 |
| 2010s | 239,079 | 236,002 | 241,404 | 10 |
| 2020s | 222,614 | 222,351 | 222,877 | 2 |
Countries ranked near Eswatini
More education data for Eswatini
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 7,225 (2022)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 15,165 (2023)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 12,768 (2015)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 11,269 (2015)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 108,288 (2016)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 222,351 (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate -0.236 % change on previous year (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.1807 units per person (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is enrolment in primary education, both sexes in Eswatini?
- Enrolment in primary education, both sexes in Eswatini was 222,351 in 2023, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest enrolment in primary education, both sexes recorded in Eswatini?
- The highest recorded value was 241,404 in 2015.
- What is the lowest enrolment in primary education, both sexes recorded in Eswatini?
- The lowest recorded value was 69,055 in 1970.
- How does Eswatini rank for enrolment in primary education, both sexes?
- Eswatini ranks 138th out of 218 countries with data for 2023.
- Is enrolment in primary education, both sexes rising or falling in Eswatini?
- Over the last ten years it is down 7.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Eswatini 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.
Download this data
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release