Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number) in Japan
Japan: Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number) was 6.25 million in 2023. ▼ Falling
Latest (2023)
6.25 million
Change on year
down 1.0%
World rank
23rd
of 218 countries
All-time high
11.92 million
in 1982
All-time low
6.25 million
in 2023
Years of data
40
1971–2023
Enrolment in primary education, both sexes in Japan, 1971–2023
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
Japan recorded 6.25 million for enrolment in primary education, both sexes in 2023. That is the lowest value across all 40 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 1.0% on the previous year and down 8.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, enrolment in primary education, both sexes in Japan peaked at 11.92 million in 1982 and was at its lowest, 6.25 million, in 2023.
That places Japan 23rd out of 218 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 40 years of available data.
Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number) in Japan, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1971 | 9.63 million | — |
| 1972 | 9.73 million | +1.0% |
| 1973 | 9.83 million | +1.0% |
| 1974 | 9.82 million | -0.1% |
| 1975 | 10.09 million | +2.8% |
| 1976 | 10.36 million | +2.7% |
| 1977 | 10.61 million | +2.4% |
| 1978 | 10.82 million | +2.0% |
| 1979 | 11.15 million | +3.0% |
| 1980 | 11.63 million | +4.3% |
| 1981 | 11.83 million | +1.7% |
| 1982 | 11.92 million | +0.8% |
| 1983 | 11.90 million | -0.2% |
| 1984 | 11.74 million | -1.4% |
| 1985 | 11.46 million | -2.3% |
| 1986 | 11.10 million | -3.2% |
| 1987 | 10.67 million | -3.9% |
| 1988 | 10.23 million | -4.1% |
| 1989 | 9.87 million | -3.5% |
| 1990 | 9.61 million | -2.7% |
| 1991 | 9.37 million | -2.4% |
| 1992 | 9.16 million | -2.3% |
| 1993 | 8.95 million | -2.3% |
| 1994 | 8.80 million | -1.7% |
| 1995 | 8.61 million | -2.1% |
| 1996 | 8.37 million | -2.8% |
| 1997 | 8.11 million | -3.2% |
| 1998 | 7.88 million | -2.7% |
| 1999 | 7.69 million | -2.4% |
| 2013 | 6.80 million | -11.6% |
| 2014 | 6.71 million | -1.3% |
| 2015 | 6.64 million | -1.1% |
| 2016 | 6.58 million | -0.8% |
| 2017 | 6.53 million | -0.8% |
| 2018 | 6.50 million | -0.4% |
| 2019 | 6.49 million | -0.2% |
| 2020 | 6.44 million | -0.8% |
| 2021 | 6.38 million | -0.9% |
| 2022 | 6.31 million | -1.1% |
| 2023 | 6.25 million | -1.0% |
Japan compared with similar countries
- Japan's 6.25 million is above the median for high income countries, which is 236,668, 26.4× the median. (78 countries reporting)
- Japan's 6.25 million is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 227,656, 27.4× the median. (35 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 10.23 million | 9.63 million | 11.15 million | 9 |
| 1980s | 11.23 million | 9.87 million | 11.92 million | 10 |
| 1990s | 8.65 million | 7.69 million | 9.61 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 6.61 million | 6.49 million | 6.80 million | 7 |
| 2020s | 6.34 million | 6.25 million | 6.44 million | 4 |
Countries ranked near Japan
More education data for Japan
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 627,777 (2023)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 0 (1999)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 1.50 million (1999)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 1.46 million (1999)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 6.61 million (2023)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 6.25 million (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate -1.01 % change on previous year (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.0502 units per person (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is enrolment in primary education, both sexes in Japan?
- Enrolment in primary education, both sexes in Japan was 6.25 million in 2023, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest enrolment in primary education, both sexes recorded in Japan?
- The highest recorded value was 11.92 million in 1982.
- What is the lowest enrolment in primary education, both sexes recorded in Japan?
- The lowest recorded value was 6.25 million in 2023.
- How does Japan rank for enrolment in primary education, both sexes?
- Japan ranks 23rd out of 218 countries with data for 2023.
- Is enrolment in primary education, both sexes rising or falling in Japan?
- Over the last ten years it is down 8.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Japan 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