Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number) in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka: Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number) was 1.58 million in 2023. ▼ Falling
Enrolment in primary education, both sexes in Sri Lanka, 1970–2023
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
In 2023, enrolment in primary education, both sexes in Sri Lanka stood at 1.58 million.
That represents a change of down 2.9% on the previous year and down 10.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, enrolment in primary education, both sexes in Sri Lanka peaked at 2.30 million in 1986 and was at its lowest, 1.44 million, in 1975.
That places Sri Lanka 75th out of 218 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 51 years of available data.
Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number) in Sri Lanka, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 1.67 million | — |
| 1971 | 1.71 million | +2.4% |
| 1972 | 1.56 million | -8.6% |
| 1973 | 1.54 million | -1.6% |
| 1974 | 1.47 million | -4.5% |
| 1975 | 1.44 million | -2.3% |
| 1976 | 1.44 million | +0.2% |
| 1977 | 1.53 million | +6.5% |
| 1978 | 1.94 million | +26.8% |
| 1979 | 2.00 million | +3.1% |
| 1980 | 2.08 million | +4.0% |
| 1981 | 2.13 million | +2.5% |
| 1982 | 2.14 million | +0.5% |
| 1983 | 2.15 million | +0.5% |
| 1984 | 2.19 million | +1.5% |
| 1985 | 2.24 million | +2.6% |
| 1986 | 2.30 million | +2.8% |
| 1987 | 2.04 million | -11.6% |
| 1988 | 2.08 million | +2.3% |
| 1989 | 2.11 million | +1.5% |
| 1990 | 2.11 million | -0.1% |
| 1991 | 2.11 million | +0.0% |
| 1992 | 2.06 million | -2.5% |
| 1993 | 2.01 million | -2.3% |
| 1994 | 1.96 million | -2.6% |
| 1995 | 1.96 million | +0.1% |
| 1996 | 1.84 million | -6.0% |
| 1998 | 1.80 million | -2.3% |
| 2001 | 1.77 million | -1.9% |
| 2002 | 1.73 million | -2.2% |
| 2003 | 1.67 million | -3.5% |
| 2004 | 1.58 million | -5.3% |
| 2005 | 1.61 million | +1.9% |
| 2006 | 1.61 million | +0.1% |
| 2007 | 1.62 million | +0.6% |
| 2008 | 1.63 million | +0.6% |
| 2009 | 1.62 million | -0.7% |
| 2010 | 1.72 million | +6.3% |
| 2011 | 1.74 million | +0.9% |
| 2012 | 1.75 million | +1.0% |
| 2013 | 1.77 million | +0.9% |
| 2014 | 1.78 million | +0.6% |
| 2015 | 1.78 million | +0.0% |
| 2016 | 1.76 million | -0.8% |
| 2017 | 1.75 million | -0.9% |
| 2018 | 1.73 million | -1.2% |
| 2019 | 1.71 million | -0.9% |
| 2020 | 1.69 million | -0.9% |
| 2021 | 1.67 million | -1.7% |
| 2022 | 1.62 million | -2.5% |
| 2023 | 1.58 million | -2.9% |
Sri Lanka compared with similar countries
- Sri Lanka's 1.58 million is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 519,452, 3.0× the median. (58 countries reporting)
- Sri Lanka's 1.58 million is below the median for South Asia, which is 2.57 million, 61% of the median. (6 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number) in Sri Lanka changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1978 | +26.8% | 1.53 million | 1.94 million |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 1.63 million | 1.44 million | 2.00 million | 10 |
| 1980s | 2.15 million | 2.04 million | 2.30 million | 10 |
| 1990s | 1.98 million | 1.80 million | 2.11 million | 8 |
| 2000s | 1.65 million | 1.58 million | 1.77 million | 9 |
| 2010s | 1.75 million | 1.71 million | 1.78 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.64 million | 1.58 million | 1.69 million | 4 |
Countries ranked near Sri Lanka
More education data for Sri Lanka
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 155,543 (2023)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 0 (2023)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 224,799 (2023)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 214,300 (2023)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 2.54 million (2023)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 1.58 million (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate -2.89 % change on previous year (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.0715 units per person (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is enrolment in primary education, both sexes in Sri Lanka?
- Enrolment in primary education, both sexes in Sri Lanka was 1.58 million in 2023, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest enrolment in primary education, both sexes recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The highest recorded value was 2.30 million in 1986.
- What is the lowest enrolment in primary education, both sexes recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.44 million in 1975.
- How does Sri Lanka rank for enrolment in primary education, both sexes?
- Sri Lanka ranks 75th out of 218 countries with data for 2023.
- Is enrolment in primary education, both sexes rising or falling in Sri Lanka?
- Over the last ten years it is down 10.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Sri Lanka 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