Enrolment in primary education, both sexes in WB: South Asia
WB: South Asia: Enrolment in primary education, both sexes was 160.82 million in 2024. ▲ Rising
Latest (2024)
160.82 million
Change on year
up 4.5%
Rank
59th
of 221 groups
All-time high
169.53 million
in 2016
All-time low
64.29 million
in 1971
Years of data
55
1970–2024
Enrolment in primary education, both sexes in WB: South Asia, 1970–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
The most recent figure for enrolment in primary education, both sexes in WB: South Asia is 160.82 million, measured in 2024.
That represents a change of up 4.5% on the previous year and down 0.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, enrolment in primary education, both sexes in WB: South Asia peaked at 169.53 million in 2016 and was at its lowest, 64.29 million, in 1971.
WB: South Asia ranks 59th of 221 groups on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 55 years of available data.
Enrolment in primary education, both sexes in WB: South Asia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 120.99 million | — |
| 1971 | 64.29 million | -46.9% |
| 1972 | 67.23 million | +4.6% |
| 1973 | 72.19 million | +7.4% |
| 1974 | 72.85 million | +0.9% |
| 1975 | 75.23 million | +3.3% |
| 1976 | 76.46 million | +1.6% |
| 1977 | 79.64 million | +4.2% |
| 1978 | 78.45 million | -1.5% |
| 1979 | 79.90 million | +1.9% |
| 1980 | 82.63 million | +3.4% |
| 1981 | 85.75 million | +3.8% |
| 1982 | 88.19 million | +2.9% |
| 1983 | 92.17 million | +4.5% |
| 1984 | 95.52 million | +3.6% |
| 1985 | 96.99 million | +1.5% |
| 1986 | 100.81 million | +3.9% |
| 1987 | 100.42 million | -0.4% |
| 1988 | 105.82 million | +5.4% |
| 1989 | 111.76 million | +5.6% |
| 1990 | 114.25 million | +2.2% |
| 1991 | 116.64 million | +2.1% |
| 1992 | 119.65 million | +2.6% |
| 1993 | 123.89 million | +3.5% |
| 1994 | 127.14 million | +2.6% |
| 1995 | 128.41 million | +1.0% |
| 1996 | 129.52 million | +0.9% |
| 1997 | 130.49 million | +0.7% |
| 1998 | 129.84 million | -0.5% |
| 1999 | 131.72 million | +1.4% |
| 2000 | 134.66 million | +2.2% |
| 2001 | 134.82 million | +0.1% |
| 2002 | 136.56 million | +1.3% |
| 2003 | 147.20 million | +7.8% |
| 2004 | 150.29 million | +2.1% |
| 2005 | 153.49 million | +2.1% |
| 2006 | 157.15 million | +2.4% |
| 2007 | 160.35 million | +2.0% |
| 2008 | 161.52 million | +0.7% |
| 2009 | 161.46 million | -0.0% |
| 2010 | 162.18 million | +0.4% |
| 2011 | 163.02 million | +0.5% |
| 2012 | 164.93 million | +1.2% |
| 2013 | 165.87 million | +0.6% |
| 2014 | 162.18 million | -2.2% |
| 2015 | 162.60 million | +0.3% |
| 2016 | 169.53 million | +4.3% |
| 2017 | 166.50 million | -1.8% |
| 2018 | 145.65 million | -12.5% |
| 2019 | 143.33 million | -1.6% |
| 2020 | 144.67 million | +0.9% |
| 2021 | 144.93 million | +0.2% |
| 2022 | 154.19 million | +6.4% |
| 2023 | 153.90 million | -0.2% |
| 2024 | 160.82 million | +4.5% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 78.72 million | 64.29 million | 120.99 million | 10 |
| 1980s | 96.01 million | 82.63 million | 111.76 million | 10 |
| 1990s | 125.16 million | 114.25 million | 131.72 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 149.75 million | 134.66 million | 161.52 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 160.58 million | 143.33 million | 169.53 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 151.70 million | 144.67 million | 160.82 million | 5 |
Countries ranked near WB: South Asia
More education data for WB: South Asia
- Enrolment in primary education, male (number), annual growth rate 4.46 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, female (number), annual growth rate -1.3 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, female (number), gaps filled 74.44 million (2024)
- Teachers in primary education, both sexes (number), annual growth rate 3.24 % change on previous year (2024)
- Teachers in primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 5.84 million (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, both sexes (number), annual growth -2.02 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 152.88 million (2024)
- Enrolment in primary education, female (number), gaps filled 77.39 million (2024)
- Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 160.82 million (2024)
- Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number), annual growth 4.5 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is enrolment in primary education, both sexes in WB: South Asia?
- Enrolment in primary education, both sexes in WB: South Asia was 160.82 million in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest enrolment in primary education, both sexes recorded in WB: South Asia?
- The highest recorded value was 169.53 million in 2016.
- What is the lowest enrolment in primary education, both sexes recorded in WB: South Asia?
- The lowest recorded value was 64.29 million in 1971.
- How does WB: South Asia rank for enrolment in primary education, both sexes?
- WB: South Asia ranks 59th out of 221 groups with data for 2024.
- Is enrolment in primary education, both sexes rising or falling in WB: South Asia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 0.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this WB: 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