Enrolment in primary education, both sexes in UNICEF: World
UNICEF: World: Enrolment in primary education, both sexes was 780.30 million in 2024. ▲ Rising
Latest (2024)
780.30 million
Change on year
up 1.4%
Rank
5th
of 221 groups
All-time high
780.30 million
in 2024
All-time low
413.60 million
in 1971
Years of data
55
1970–2024
Enrolment in primary education, both sexes in UNICEF: World, 1970–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
UNICEF: World recorded 780.30 million for enrolment in primary education, both sexes in 2024. That is the highest value across all 55 years on record.
That represents a change of 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 UNICEF: World peaked at 780.30 million in 2024 and was at its lowest, 413.60 million, in 1971.
That places UNICEF: World 5th out of 221 groups with data for 2024, putting it 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 UNICEF: World, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 462.35 million | — |
| 1971 | 413.60 million | -10.5% |
| 1972 | 427.09 million | +3.3% |
| 1973 | 449.72 million | +5.3% |
| 1974 | 464.36 million | +3.3% |
| 1975 | 479.87 million | +3.3% |
| 1976 | 491.87 million | +2.5% |
| 1977 | 501.22 million | +1.9% |
| 1978 | 503.77 million | +0.5% |
| 1979 | 510.92 million | +1.4% |
| 1980 | 527.65 million | +3.3% |
| 1981 | 534.66 million | +1.3% |
| 1982 | 543.32 million | +1.6% |
| 1983 | 546.79 million | +0.6% |
| 1984 | 551.00 million | +0.8% |
| 1985 | 554.33 million | +0.6% |
| 1986 | 555.09 million | +0.1% |
| 1987 | 559.85 million | +0.9% |
| 1988 | 571.18 million | +2.0% |
| 1989 | 575.23 million | +0.7% |
| 1990 | 577.51 million | +0.4% |
| 1991 | 583.00 million | +1.0% |
| 1992 | 591.32 million | +1.4% |
| 1993 | 599.79 million | +1.4% |
| 1994 | 610.84 million | +1.8% |
| 1995 | 615.71 million | +0.8% |
| 1996 | 624.02 million | +1.4% |
| 1997 | 641.42 million | +2.8% |
| 1998 | 644.00 million | +0.4% |
| 1999 | 653.45 million | +1.5% |
| 2000 | 654.59 million | +0.2% |
| 2001 | 653.60 million | -0.2% |
| 2002 | 650.92 million | -0.4% |
| 2003 | 654.25 million | +0.5% |
| 2004 | 676.00 million | +3.3% |
| 2005 | 678.08 million | +0.3% |
| 2006 | 678.68 million | +0.1% |
| 2007 | 688.86 million | +1.5% |
| 2008 | 692.98 million | +0.6% |
| 2009 | 694.23 million | +0.2% |
| 2010 | 696.84 million | +0.4% |
| 2011 | 701.78 million | +0.7% |
| 2012 | 709.81 million | +1.1% |
| 2013 | 715.61 million | +0.8% |
| 2014 | 714.38 million | -0.2% |
| 2015 | 718.91 million | +0.6% |
| 2016 | 736.41 million | +2.4% |
| 2017 | 742.82 million | +0.9% |
| 2018 | 732.15 million | -1.4% |
| 2019 | 740.96 million | +1.2% |
| 2020 | 749.92 million | +1.2% |
| 2021 | 753.86 million | +0.5% |
| 2022 | 764.19 million | +1.4% |
| 2023 | 769.29 million | +0.7% |
| 2024 | 780.30 million | +1.4% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 470.48 million | 413.60 million | 510.92 million | 10 |
| 1980s | 551.91 million | 527.65 million | 575.23 million | 10 |
| 1990s | 614.11 million | 577.51 million | 653.45 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 672.22 million | 650.92 million | 694.23 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 720.97 million | 696.84 million | 742.82 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 763.51 million | 749.92 million | 780.30 million | 5 |
Countries ranked near UNICEF: World
- 2 China 108.57 million compare
- 3 Nigeria 33.42 million compare
- 4 Indonesia 28.68 million compare
- 5 Pakistan 25.38 million compare
- 6 United States 23.83 million compare
- 7 Democratic Republic of Congo 21.15 million compare
- 8 Bangladesh 16.69 million compare
More education data for UNICEF: World
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) 1.35 % change on previous year (2024)
- Teachers in primary education, both sexes (number), annual growth rate 1.22 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, female (number), gaps filled 314.34 million (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), gaps filled 336.69 million (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), annual growth rate 0.4208 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 206.38 million (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes (number), annual -0.3082 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) 268.06 million (2024)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, male (number), gaps 129.28 million (2024)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female (number) 1.15 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is enrolment in primary education, both sexes in UNICEF: World?
- Enrolment in primary education, both sexes in UNICEF: World was 780.30 million in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest enrolment in primary education, both sexes recorded in UNICEF: World?
- The highest recorded value was 780.30 million in 2024.
- What is the lowest enrolment in primary education, both sexes recorded in UNICEF: World?
- The lowest recorded value was 413.60 million in 1971.
- How does UNICEF: World rank for enrolment in primary education, both sexes?
- UNICEF: World ranks 5th out of 221 groups with data for 2024.
- Is enrolment in primary education, both sexes rising or falling in UNICEF: World?
- Over the last ten years it is up 9.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this UNICEF: 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