Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka: Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) was 5.79 units per square kilometre in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) in Sri Lanka, 1970–2023
Source: Statizoid (derived). Measured in units per square kilometre.
Analysis
In 2023, enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) in Sri Lanka stood at 5.79 units per square kilometre.
The figure is down 6.0% on the previous year and up 21.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) in Sri Lanka peaked at 6.16 units per square kilometre in 2022 and was at its lowest, 0.1965 units per square kilometre, in 1970.
That places Sri Lanka 46th out of 195 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the top quarter.
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 | units per square kilometre | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 0.1965 units per square kilometre | — |
| 1971 | 0.224 units per square kilometre | +14.0% |
| 1973 | 0.2249 units per square kilometre | +0.4% |
| 1974 | 0.2323 units per square kilometre | +3.3% |
| 1975 | 0.246 units per square kilometre | +5.9% |
| 1977 | 0.2668 units per square kilometre | +8.5% |
| 1978 | 0.2788 units per square kilometre | +4.5% |
| 1979 | 0.6681 units per square kilometre | +139.6% |
| 1981 | 0.7056 units per square kilometre | +5.6% |
| 1982 | 0.9146 units per square kilometre | +29.6% |
| 1983 | 1.02 units per square kilometre | +11.1% |
| 1984 | 1.05 units per square kilometre | +3.2% |
| 1985 | 0.9469 units per square kilometre | -9.8% |
| 1986 | 0.9827 units per square kilometre | +3.8% |
| 1994 | 1.29 units per square kilometre | +31.0% |
| 2010 | 4.17 units per square kilometre | +224.2% |
| 2011 | 3.86 units per square kilometre | -7.4% |
| 2012 | 4.33 units per square kilometre | +12.0% |
| 2013 | 4.75 units per square kilometre | +9.7% |
| 2014 | 4.81 units per square kilometre | +1.3% |
| 2015 | 4.98 units per square kilometre | +3.4% |
| 2016 | 4.69 units per square kilometre | -5.7% |
| 2017 | 4.69 units per square kilometre | +0.0% |
| 2018 | 4.86 units per square kilometre | +3.6% |
| 2019 | 5.27 units per square kilometre | +8.3% |
| 2020 | 5.46 units per square kilometre | +3.7% |
| 2021 | 5.66 units per square kilometre | +3.7% |
| 2022 | 6.16 units per square kilometre | +8.8% |
| 2023 | 5.79 units per square kilometre | -6.0% |
Sri Lanka compared with similar countries
- Sri Lanka's 5.79 units per square kilometre is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 2.67 units per square kilometre, 2.2× the median. (55 countries reporting)
- Sri Lanka's 5.79 units per square kilometre is below the median for South Asia, which is 10.09 units per square kilometre, 57% 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% | 1.29 units per square kilometre | 4.17 units per square kilometre |
| 1979 | +139.6% | 0.2788 units per square kilometre | 0.6681 units per square kilometre |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 0.2922 units per square kilometre | 0.1965 units per square kilometre | 0.6681 units per square kilometre | 8 |
| 1980s | 0.9359 units per square kilometre | 0.7056 units per square kilometre | 1.05 units per square kilometre | 6 |
| 1990s | 1.29 units per square kilometre | 1.29 units per square kilometre | 1.29 units per square kilometre | 1 |
| 2010s | 4.64 units per square kilometre | 3.86 units per square kilometre | 5.27 units per square kilometre | 10 |
| 2020s | 5.77 units per square kilometre | 5.46 units per square kilometre | 6.16 units per square kilometre | 4 |
Countries ranked near Sri Lanka
- 43 Tonga 6.33 units per square kilometre compare
- 44 China 6.33 units per square kilometre compare
- 45 Liechtenstein 6.07 units per square kilometre compare
- 47 Andorra 5.76 units per square kilometre compare
- 48 Cyprus 5.73 units per square kilometre compare
- 49 France 5.29 units per square kilometre compare
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 (number) in Sri Lanka?
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) in Sri Lanka was 5.79 units per square kilometre in 2023, according to Statizoid (derived).
- What is the highest enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The highest recorded value was 6.16 units per square kilometre in 2022.
- What is the lowest enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.1965 units per square kilometre in 1970.
- How does Sri Lanka rank for enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number)?
- Sri Lanka ranks 46th out of 195 countries with data for 2023.
- Is enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) rising or falling in Sri Lanka?
- Over the last ten years it is up 21.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Sri Lanka data come from?
- The figures come from Statizoid (derived), published as part of Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number), per square kilometre. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 29 observations, free to reuse under Derived by Statizoid from the sources named on the page.
How this figure is calculated
Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) divided by Land area (sq. km), matched on country and year. Neither publisher issues this ratio as a series; it is computed here from both.
Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) ÷ Land area (sq. km)
Computed from
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes UNESCO Institute for Statistics
- Land area FAOSTAT, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
Statizoid computes this series; the underlying measurements belong to the publishers named above. The arithmetic is applied to every country and year where both inputs report, and nothing is estimated unless the page says so.
About this data
Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) divided by Land area (sq. km), matched on country and year. Neither publisher issues this ratio as a series; it is computed here from both.