Enrolment in primary education, both sexes in UNICEF: South Asia
UNICEF: South Asia: Enrolment in primary education, both sexes was 193.66 million in 2024. ▲ Rising
Latest (2024)
193.66 million
Change on year
up 4.2%
Rank
38th
of 221 groups
All-time high
197.35 million
in 2016
All-time low
68.86 million
in 1971
Years of data
55
1970–2024
Enrolment in primary education, both sexes in UNICEF: South Asia, 1970–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
In 2024, enrolment in primary education, both sexes in UNICEF: South Asia stood at 193.66 million.
The figure is up 4.2% on the previous year and up 3.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, enrolment in primary education, both sexes in UNICEF: South Asia peaked at 197.35 million in 2016 and was at its lowest, 68.86 million, in 1971.
That places UNICEF: South Asia 38th out of 221 groups with data for 2024, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 55 years of available data.
Enrolment in primary education, both sexes in UNICEF: South Asia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 125.40 million | — |
| 1971 | 68.86 million | -45.1% |
| 1972 | 71.94 million | +4.5% |
| 1973 | 77.27 million | +7.4% |
| 1974 | 78.32 million | +1.4% |
| 1975 | 80.91 million | +3.3% |
| 1976 | 82.43 million | +1.9% |
| 1977 | 85.93 million | +4.2% |
| 1978 | 84.27 million | -1.9% |
| 1979 | 85.93 million | +2.0% |
| 1980 | 88.81 million | +3.3% |
| 1981 | 92.24 million | +3.9% |
| 1982 | 94.30 million | +2.2% |
| 1983 | 98.75 million | +4.7% |
| 1984 | 102.38 million | +3.7% |
| 1985 | 104.30 million | +1.9% |
| 1986 | 108.41 million | +3.9% |
| 1987 | 108.64 million | +0.2% |
| 1988 | 114.44 million | +5.3% |
| 1989 | 120.66 million | +5.4% |
| 1990 | 123.49 million | +2.3% |
| 1991 | 126.42 million | +2.4% |
| 1992 | 129.99 million | +2.8% |
| 1993 | 134.86 million | +3.7% |
| 1994 | 139.02 million | +3.1% |
| 1995 | 141.00 million | +1.4% |
| 1996 | 142.59 million | +1.1% |
| 1997 | 144.03 million | +1.0% |
| 1998 | 143.84 million | -0.1% |
| 1999 | 146.07 million | +1.6% |
| 2000 | 149.39 million | +2.3% |
| 2001 | 149.80 million | +0.3% |
| 2002 | 153.72 million | +2.6% |
| 2003 | 166.07 million | +8.0% |
| 2004 | 170.93 million | +2.9% |
| 2005 | 175.06 million | +2.4% |
| 2006 | 178.51 million | +2.0% |
| 2007 | 183.04 million | +2.5% |
| 2008 | 184.67 million | +0.9% |
| 2009 | 184.88 million | +0.1% |
| 2010 | 186.21 million | +0.7% |
| 2011 | 186.36 million | +0.1% |
| 2012 | 188.81 million | +1.3% |
| 2013 | 190.01 million | +0.6% |
| 2014 | 187.83 million | -1.1% |
| 2015 | 188.65 million | +0.4% |
| 2016 | 197.35 million | +4.6% |
| 2017 | 194.54 million | -1.4% |
| 2018 | 175.13 million | -10.0% |
| 2019 | 173.69 million | -0.8% |
| 2020 | 175.37 million | +1.0% |
| 2021 | 175.92 million | +0.3% |
| 2022 | 185.27 million | +5.3% |
| 2023 | 185.79 million | +0.3% |
| 2024 | 193.66 million | +4.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 84.13 million | 68.86 million | 125.40 million | 10 |
| 1980s | 103.29 million | 88.81 million | 120.66 million | 10 |
| 1990s | 137.13 million | 123.49 million | 146.07 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 169.61 million | 149.39 million | 184.88 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 186.86 million | 173.69 million | 197.35 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 183.20 million | 175.37 million | 193.66 million | 5 |
Countries ranked near UNICEF: South Asia
More education data for UNICEF: South Asia
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes (number), annual 7.86 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, both sexes (number), annual growth -0.6662 % change on previous year (2024)
- Teachers in primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 6.43 million (2024)
- Teachers in primary education, both sexes (number), annual growth rate 2.87 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, female (number), gaps filled 84.88 million (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, female (number), annual growth rate 0.1267 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), gaps filled 91.07 million (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), annual growth rate -1.39 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 53.53 million (2024)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, male (number), gaps 26.43 million (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is enrolment in primary education, both sexes in UNICEF: South Asia?
- Enrolment in primary education, both sexes in UNICEF: South Asia was 193.66 million in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest enrolment in primary education, both sexes recorded in UNICEF: South Asia?
- The highest recorded value was 197.35 million in 2016.
- What is the lowest enrolment in primary education, both sexes recorded in UNICEF: South Asia?
- The lowest recorded value was 68.86 million in 1971.
- How does UNICEF: South Asia rank for enrolment in primary education, both sexes?
- UNICEF: South Asia ranks 38th out of 221 groups with data for 2024.
- Is enrolment in primary education, both sexes rising or falling in UNICEF: South Asia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 3.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this UNICEF: South Asia 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