Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka: Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) was 358,218 in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in Sri Lanka, 1970–2023
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
Sri Lanka recorded 358,218 for enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in 2023.
That represents a change of down 6.0% on the previous year and up 20.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in Sri Lanka peaked at 381,009 in 2022 and was at its lowest, 12,325, in 1970.
That places Sri Lanka 65th out of 200 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) in Sri Lanka, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 12,325 | — |
| 1971 | 14,047 | +14.0% |
| 1973 | 14,102 | +0.4% |
| 1974 | 14,568 | +3.3% |
| 1975 | 15,426 | +5.9% |
| 1977 | 16,730 | +8.5% |
| 1978 | 17,485 | +4.5% |
| 1979 | 41,898 | +139.6% |
| 1981 | 44,247 | +5.6% |
| 1982 | 57,352 | +29.6% |
| 1983 | 63,730 | +11.1% |
| 1984 | 65,796 | +3.2% |
| 1985 | 59,377 | -9.8% |
| 1986 | 61,628 | +3.8% |
| 1994 | 80,704 | +31.0% |
| 2010 | 261,647 | +224.2% |
| 2011 | 242,300 | -7.4% |
| 2012 | 271,389 | +12.0% |
| 2013 | 297,782 | +9.7% |
| 2014 | 301,681 | +1.3% |
| 2015 | 308,000 | +2.1% |
| 2016 | 290,494 | -5.7% |
| 2017 | 290,495 | +0.0% |
| 2018 | 300,794 | +3.5% |
| 2019 | 325,868 | +8.3% |
| 2020 | 337,740 | +3.6% |
| 2021 | 350,308 | +3.7% |
| 2022 | 381,009 | +8.8% |
| 2023 | 358,218 | -6.0% |
Sri Lanka compared with similar countries
- Sri Lanka's 358,218 is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 237,490, 1.5× the median. (56 countries reporting)
- Sri Lanka's 358,218 is below the median for South Asia, which is 495,636, 72% of the median. (6 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | +224.2% | 80,704 | 261,647 |
| 1979 | +139.6% | 17,485 | 41,898 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 18,323 | 12,325 | 41,898 | 8 |
| 1980s | 58,688 | 44,247 | 65,796 | 6 |
| 1990s | 80,704 | 80,704 | 80,704 | 1 |
| 2010s | 289,045 | 242,300 | 325,868 | 10 |
| 2020s | 356,819 | 337,740 | 381,009 | 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 tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in Sri Lanka?
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in Sri Lanka was 358,218 in 2023, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The highest recorded value was 381,009 in 2022.
- What is the lowest enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The lowest recorded value was 12,325 in 1970.
- How does Sri Lanka rank for enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes?
- Sri Lanka ranks 65th out of 200 countries with data for 2023.
- Is enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes rising or falling in Sri Lanka?
- Over the last ten years it is up 20.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Sri Lanka data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release