Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number) in Iran
Iran: Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number) was 9.09 million in 2023. ▲ Rising
Latest (2023)
9.09 million
Change on year
up 3.3%
World rank
15th
of 218 countries
All-time high
9.94 million
in 1993
All-time low
3.23 million
in 1972
Years of data
51
1971–2023
Enrolment in primary education, both sexes in Iran, 1971–2023
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
Iran recorded 9.09 million for enrolment in primary education, both sexes in 2023.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 3.3% on the previous year and up 15.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, enrolment in primary education, both sexes in Iran peaked at 9.94 million in 1993 and was at its lowest, 3.23 million, in 1972.
Iran ranks 15th of 218 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 51 years of available data.
Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number) in Iran, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1971 | 3.42 million | — |
| 1972 | 3.23 million | -5.4% |
| 1973 | 3.45 million | +6.6% |
| 1974 | 3.65 million | +5.8% |
| 1975 | 4.12 million | +13.0% |
| 1976 | 4.47 million | +8.5% |
| 1977 | 4.77 million | +6.7% |
| 1978 | 5.02 million | +5.3% |
| 1979 | 4.39 million | -12.5% |
| 1980 | 4.93 million | +12.2% |
| 1981 | 4.80 million | -2.6% |
| 1982 | 5.28 million | +10.1% |
| 1983 | 5.59 million | +5.9% |
| 1984 | 5.99 million | +7.2% |
| 1985 | 6.34 million | +5.8% |
| 1986 | 6.79 million | +7.0% |
| 1987 | 7.23 million | +6.5% |
| 1988 | 7.76 million | +7.3% |
| 1989 | 8.26 million | +6.5% |
| 1990 | 8.82 million | +6.7% |
| 1991 | 9.37 million | +6.3% |
| 1992 | 9.79 million | +4.5% |
| 1993 | 9.94 million | +1.5% |
| 1994 | 9.86 million | -0.8% |
| 1995 | 9.75 million | -1.2% |
| 1996 | 9.59 million | -1.6% |
| 1997 | 9.24 million | -3.7% |
| 1998 | 9.07 million | -1.9% |
| 1999 | 8.67 million | -4.4% |
| 2000 | 8.29 million | -4.4% |
| 2001 | 7.97 million | -3.9% |
| 2002 | 7.51 million | -5.7% |
| 2003 | 7.03 million | -6.4% |
| 2004 | 6.65 million | -5.4% |
| 2005 | 6.21 million | -6.6% |
| 2006 | 6.01 million | -3.2% |
| 2007 | 5.83 million | -3.0% |
| 2008 | 5.73 million | -1.8% |
| 2009 | 5.70 million | -0.5% |
| 2010 | 5.63 million | -1.2% |
| 2011 | 5.68 million | +0.9% |
| 2012 | 5.75 million | +1.2% |
| 2013 | 7.86 million | +36.7% |
| 2014 | 7.44 million | -5.3% |
| 2015 | 7.67 million | +3.1% |
| 2016 | 8.01 million | +4.4% |
| 2017 | 8.17 million | +2.1% |
| 2019 | 8.53 million | +4.4% |
| 2020 | 8.67 million | +1.6% |
| 2022 | 8.79 million | +1.4% |
| 2023 | 9.09 million | +3.3% |
Iran compared with similar countries
- Iran's 9.09 million is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 519,452, 17.5× the median. (58 countries reporting)
- Iran's 9.09 million is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 1.12 million, 8.1× the median. (23 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 4.06 million | 3.23 million | 5.02 million | 9 |
| 1980s | 6.30 million | 4.80 million | 8.26 million | 10 |
| 1990s | 9.41 million | 8.67 million | 9.94 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 6.69 million | 5.70 million | 8.29 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 7.19 million | 5.63 million | 8.53 million | 9 |
| 2020s | 8.85 million | 8.67 million | 9.09 million | 3 |
Countries ranked near Iran
More education data for Iran
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 406,399 (2023)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 108,066 (2023)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 519,698 (2020)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 505,053 (2020)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 6.62 million (2023)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 9.09 million (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 3.31 % change on previous year (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.1003 units per person (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is enrolment in primary education, both sexes in Iran?
- Enrolment in primary education, both sexes in Iran was 9.09 million in 2023, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest enrolment in primary education, both sexes recorded in Iran?
- The highest recorded value was 9.94 million in 1993.
- What is the lowest enrolment in primary education, both sexes recorded in Iran?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.23 million in 1972.
- How does Iran rank for enrolment in primary education, both sexes?
- Iran ranks 15th out of 218 countries with data for 2023.
- Is enrolment in primary education, both sexes rising or falling in Iran?
- Over the last ten years it is up 15.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Iran 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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About this data
February 2026 Data Release