Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number) in Turkey
Turkey: Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number) was 5.54 million in 2023. ▬ Flat
Latest (2023)
5.54 million
Change on year
up 1.9%
World rank
24th
of 218 countries
All-time high
6.88 million
in 1988
All-time low
4.97 million
in 2017
Years of data
50
1971–2023
Enrolment in primary education, both sexes in Turkey, 1971–2023
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
Turkey recorded 5.54 million for enrolment in primary education, both sexes in 2023.
That represents a change of up 1.9% on the previous year and down 1.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, enrolment in primary education, both sexes in Turkey peaked at 6.88 million in 1988 and was at its lowest, 4.97 million, in 2017.
Turkey ranks 24th of 218 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number) in Turkey, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1971 | 5.01 million | — |
| 1972 | 5.10 million | +1.8% |
| 1973 | 5.24 million | +2.8% |
| 1974 | 5.32 million | +1.5% |
| 1975 | 5.38 million | +1.0% |
| 1976 | 5.46 million | +1.6% |
| 1977 | 5.50 million | +0.7% |
| 1978 | 5.45 million | -0.8% |
| 1979 | 5.57 million | +2.1% |
| 1981 | 5.66 million | +1.5% |
| 1982 | 5.86 million | +3.6% |
| 1983 | 6.04 million | +3.0% |
| 1984 | 6.50 million | +7.6% |
| 1985 | 6.52 million | +0.4% |
| 1986 | 6.64 million | +1.7% |
| 1987 | 6.70 million | +1.0% |
| 1988 | 6.88 million | +2.6% |
| 1989 | 6.77 million | -1.6% |
| 1990 | 6.85 million | +1.2% |
| 1991 | 6.86 million | +0.2% |
| 1992 | 6.88 million | +0.3% |
| 1993 | 6.71 million | -2.5% |
| 1994 | 6.53 million | -2.7% |
| 1995 | 6.47 million | -0.9% |
| 1997 | 6.39 million | -1.2% |
| 1999 | 6.58 million | +3.0% |
| 2000 | 6.56 million | -0.3% |
| 2001 | 6.69 million | +2.0% |
| 2002 | 6.76 million | +0.9% |
| 2003 | 6.58 million | -2.7% |
| 2004 | 6.62 million | +0.6% |
| 2005 | 6.68 million | +0.9% |
| 2006 | 6.71 million | +0.4% |
| 2007 | 6.77 million | +0.9% |
| 2008 | 6.76 million | -0.1% |
| 2009 | 6.59 million | -2.5% |
| 2010 | 6.64 million | +0.7% |
| 2011 | 6.58 million | -0.8% |
| 2012 | 6.43 million | -2.3% |
| 2013 | 5.59 million | -13.0% |
| 2014 | 5.57 million | -0.3% |
| 2015 | 5.43 million | -2.5% |
| 2016 | 5.36 million | -1.4% |
| 2017 | 4.97 million | -7.2% |
| 2018 | 5.10 million | +2.7% |
| 2019 | 5.27 million | +3.2% |
| 2020 | 5.28 million | +0.2% |
| 2021 | 5.33 million | +0.9% |
| 2022 | 5.43 million | +2.0% |
| 2023 | 5.54 million | +1.9% |
Turkey compared with similar countries
- Turkey's 5.54 million is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 519,452, 10.7× the median. (58 countries reporting)
- Turkey's 5.54 million is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 432,238, 12.8× the median. (53 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 5.34 million | 5.01 million | 5.57 million | 9 |
| 1980s | 6.40 million | 5.66 million | 6.88 million | 9 |
| 1990s | 6.66 million | 6.39 million | 6.88 million | 8 |
| 2000s | 6.67 million | 6.56 million | 6.77 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 5.70 million | 4.97 million | 6.64 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 5.39 million | 5.28 million | 5.54 million | 4 |
Countries ranked near Turkey
More education data for Turkey
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 788,294 (2023)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 184,302 (2023)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 1.05 million (2023)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 980,973 (2023)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 12.31 million (2023)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 5.54 million (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 1.87 % change on previous year (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.0649 units per person (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is enrolment in primary education, both sexes in Turkey?
- Enrolment in primary education, both sexes in Turkey was 5.54 million in 2023, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest enrolment in primary education, both sexes recorded in Turkey?
- The highest recorded value was 6.88 million in 1988.
- What is the lowest enrolment in primary education, both sexes recorded in Turkey?
- The lowest recorded value was 4.97 million in 2017.
- How does Turkey rank for enrolment in primary education, both sexes?
- Turkey ranks 24th out of 218 countries with data for 2023.
- Is enrolment in primary education, both sexes rising or falling in Turkey?
- Over the last ten years it is down 1.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Turkey 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.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 50 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
About this data
February 2026 Data Release