Enrolment in primary education, both sexes in MDG: World
MDG: World: Enrolment in primary education, both sexes was 780.85 million in 2024. ▲ Rising
Latest (2024)
780.85 million
Change on year
up 1.4%
Rank
3rd
of 221 groups
All-time high
780.85 million
in 2024
All-time low
414.89 million
in 1971
Years of data
55
1970–2024
Enrolment in primary education, both sexes in MDG: World, 1970–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
The most recent figure for enrolment in primary education, both sexes in MDG: World is 780.85 million, measured in 2024. That is the highest value across all 55 years on record.
The figure is up 1.4% on the previous year and up 9.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, enrolment in primary education, both sexes in MDG: World peaked at 780.85 million in 2024 and was at its lowest, 414.89 million, in 1971.
MDG: World ranks 3rd of 221 groups on this measure, in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 55 years of available data.
Enrolment in primary education, both sexes in MDG: World, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 463.42 million | — |
| 1971 | 414.89 million | -10.5% |
| 1972 | 428.38 million | +3.3% |
| 1973 | 451.00 million | +5.3% |
| 1974 | 465.60 million | +3.2% |
| 1975 | 481.06 million | +3.3% |
| 1976 | 493.02 million | +2.5% |
| 1977 | 502.35 million | +1.9% |
| 1978 | 504.85 million | +0.5% |
| 1979 | 511.96 million | +1.4% |
| 1980 | 528.82 million | +3.3% |
| 1981 | 535.82 million | +1.3% |
| 1982 | 544.46 million | +1.6% |
| 1983 | 547.92 million | +0.6% |
| 1984 | 552.14 million | +0.8% |
| 1985 | 555.47 million | +0.6% |
| 1986 | 556.24 million | +0.1% |
| 1987 | 560.99 million | +0.9% |
| 1988 | 572.32 million | +2.0% |
| 1989 | 576.36 million | +0.7% |
| 1990 | 578.62 million | +0.4% |
| 1991 | 584.10 million | +0.9% |
| 1992 | 592.40 million | +1.4% |
| 1993 | 600.86 million | +1.4% |
| 1994 | 611.90 million | +1.8% |
| 1995 | 616.75 million | +0.8% |
| 1996 | 625.06 million | +1.3% |
| 1997 | 642.37 million | +2.8% |
| 1998 | 644.91 million | +0.4% |
| 1999 | 654.38 million | +1.5% |
| 2000 | 655.54 million | +0.2% |
| 2001 | 654.54 million | -0.2% |
| 2002 | 651.86 million | -0.4% |
| 2003 | 655.18 million | +0.5% |
| 2004 | 676.90 million | +3.3% |
| 2005 | 678.96 million | +0.3% |
| 2006 | 679.52 million | +0.1% |
| 2007 | 689.68 million | +1.5% |
| 2008 | 693.77 million | +0.6% |
| 2009 | 694.98 million | +0.2% |
| 2010 | 697.57 million | +0.4% |
| 2011 | 702.46 million | +0.7% |
| 2012 | 710.48 million | +1.1% |
| 2013 | 716.27 million | +0.8% |
| 2014 | 715.03 million | -0.2% |
| 2015 | 719.56 million | +0.6% |
| 2016 | 737.06 million | +2.4% |
| 2017 | 743.46 million | +0.9% |
| 2018 | 732.80 million | -1.4% |
| 2019 | 741.60 million | +1.2% |
| 2020 | 750.55 million | +1.2% |
| 2021 | 754.48 million | +0.5% |
| 2022 | 764.78 million | +1.4% |
| 2023 | 769.86 million | +0.7% |
| 2024 | 780.85 million | +1.4% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 471.65 million | 414.89 million | 511.96 million | 10 |
| 1980s | 553.05 million | 528.82 million | 576.36 million | 10 |
| 1990s | 615.14 million | 578.62 million | 654.38 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 673.09 million | 651.86 million | 694.98 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 721.63 million | 697.57 million | 743.46 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 764.10 million | 750.55 million | 780.85 million | 5 |
Countries ranked near MDG: World
More education data for MDG: World
- Share of all students in secondary education enrolled in general 89.8% (2024)
- Share of all students in secondary education enrolled in general 88.7% (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, female 314.66 million (2024)
- Share of all students in secondary education enrolled in vocational 10.2% (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, male 337.02 million (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes 206.57 million (2024)
- Teachers in primary education, both sexes 34.10 million (2024)
- Enrolment in primary education, male 404.43 million (2024)
- School age population, upper secondary education, male 213.09 million (2024)
- School age population, upper secondary education, female 199.67 million (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is enrolment in primary education, both sexes in MDG: World?
- Enrolment in primary education, both sexes in MDG: World was 780.85 million in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest enrolment in primary education, both sexes recorded in MDG: World?
- The highest recorded value was 780.85 million in 2024.
- What is the lowest enrolment in primary education, both sexes recorded in MDG: World?
- The lowest recorded value was 414.89 million in 1971.
- How does MDG: World rank for enrolment in primary education, both sexes?
- MDG: World ranks 3rd out of 221 groups with data for 2024.
- Is enrolment in primary education, both sexes rising or falling in MDG: World?
- Over the last ten years it is up 9.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this MDG: World 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