Enrolment in primary education, both sexes in Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea: Enrolment in primary education, both sexes was 1.65 million in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Enrolment in primary education, both sexes in Papua New Guinea, 1970–2023
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
The most recent figure for enrolment in primary education, both sexes in Papua New Guinea is 1.65 million, measured in 2023. That is the highest value across all 44 years on record.
That represents a change of up 10.3% on the previous year and up 46.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, enrolment in primary education, both sexes in Papua New Guinea peaked at 1.65 million in 2023 and was at its lowest, 191,083, in 1970.
Papua New Guinea ranks 72nd of 218 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Enrolment in primary education, both sexes in Papua New Guinea, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 191,083 | — |
| 1971 | 195,859 | +2.5% |
| 1972 | 204,218 | +4.3% |
| 1973 | 218,167 | +6.8% |
| 1974 | 229,527 | +5.2% |
| 1975 | 238,267 | +3.8% |
| 1976 | 250,715 | +5.2% |
| 1977 | 253,987 | +1.3% |
| 1978 | 263,171 | +3.6% |
| 1979 | 277,854 | +5.6% |
| 1980 | 299,823 | +7.9% |
| 1981 | 300,536 | +0.2% |
| 1982 | 313,790 | +4.4% |
| 1984 | 349,889 | +11.5% |
| 1986 | 373,759 | +6.8% |
| 1987 | 384,367 | +2.8% |
| 1988 | 397,463 | +3.4% |
| 1989 | 417,818 | +5.1% |
| 1990 | 415,195 | -0.6% |
| 1991 | 422,348 | +1.7% |
| 1992 | 443,552 | +5.0% |
| 1993 | 478,040 | +7.8% |
| 1994 | 505,153 | +5.7% |
| 1995 | 516,797 | +2.3% |
| 1996 | 525,962 | +1.8% |
| 1997 | 538,730 | +2.4% |
| 1998 | 580,623 | +7.8% |
| 2000 | 559,817 | -3.6% |
| 2001 | 520,846 | -7.0% |
| 2002 | 514,735 | -1.2% |
| 2003 | 496,616 | -3.5% |
| 2004 | 508,333 | +2.4% |
| 2005 | 531,759 | +4.6% |
| 2006 | 532,250 | +0.1% |
| 2008 | 600,557 | +12.8% |
| 2012 | 1.13 million | +88.5% |
| 2014 | 1.19 million | +5.5% |
| 2016 | 1.28 million | +6.8% |
| 2018 | 1.39 million | +9.3% |
| 2019 | 1.36 million | -2.6% |
| 2020 | 1.34 million | -1.4% |
| 2021 | 1.36 million | +1.4% |
| 2022 | 1.50 million | +10.5% |
| 2023 | 1.65 million | +10.3% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 232,285 | 191,083 | 277,854 | 10 |
| 1980s | 354,681 | 299,823 | 417,818 | 8 |
| 1990s | 491,822 | 415,195 | 580,623 | 9 |
| 2000s | 533,114 | 496,616 | 600,557 | 8 |
| 2010s | 1.27 million | 1.13 million | 1.39 million | 5 |
| 2020s | 1.46 million | 1.34 million | 1.65 million | 4 |
Countries ranked near Papua New Guinea
More education data for Papua New Guinea
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 14,791 (2016)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 80,915 (2023)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 226,545 (2023)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 208,353 (2023)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 655,030 (2023)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 1.65 million (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 10.31 % change on previous year (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.1593 units per person (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is enrolment in primary education, both sexes in Papua New Guinea?
- Enrolment in primary education, both sexes in Papua New Guinea was 1.65 million in 2023, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest enrolment in primary education, both sexes recorded in Papua New Guinea?
- The highest recorded value was 1.65 million in 2023.
- What is the lowest enrolment in primary education, both sexes recorded in Papua New Guinea?
- The lowest recorded value was 191,083 in 1970.
- How does Papua New Guinea rank for enrolment in primary education, both sexes?
- Papua New Guinea ranks 72nd out of 218 countries with data for 2023.
- Is enrolment in primary education, both sexes rising or falling in Papua New Guinea?
- Over the last ten years it is up 46.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Papua New Guinea 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