Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka: Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) was 325,868 number in 2019. ◆ Volatile
Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in Sri Lanka, 1970–2019
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in number.
Analysis
Sri Lanka recorded 325,868 number for enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in 2019. That is the highest value across all 25 years on record.
That represents a change of up 8.3% on the previous year and up 24.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in Sri Lanka peaked at 325,868 number in 2019 and was at its lowest, 12,325 number, in 1970.
Sri Lanka ranks 65th of 193 countries on this measure, 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 | number | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 12,325 number | — |
| 1971 | 14,047 number | +14.0% |
| 1973 | 14,102 number | +0.4% |
| 1974 | 14,568 number | +3.3% |
| 1975 | 15,426 number | +5.9% |
| 1977 | 16,730 number | +8.5% |
| 1978 | 17,485 number | +4.5% |
| 1979 | 41,898 number | +139.6% |
| 1981 | 44,247 number | +5.6% |
| 1982 | 57,352 number | +29.6% |
| 1983 | 63,730 number | +11.1% |
| 1984 | 65,796 number | +3.2% |
| 1985 | 59,377 number | -9.8% |
| 1986 | 61,628 number | +3.8% |
| 1994 | 80,704 number | +31.0% |
| 2010 | 261,647 number | +224.2% |
| 2011 | 242,300 number | -7.4% |
| 2012 | 271,389 number | +12.0% |
| 2013 | 297,782 number | +9.7% |
| 2014 | 301,681 number | +1.3% |
| 2015 | 308,000 number | +2.1% |
| 2016 | 290,494 number | -5.7% |
| 2017 | 290,495 number | +0.0% |
| 2018 | 300,794 number | +3.5% |
| 2019 | 325,868 number | +8.3% |
Sri Lanka compared with similar countries
- Sri Lanka's 325,868 number is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 225,211 number, 1.4× the median. (55 countries reporting)
- Sri Lanka's 325,868 number is below the median for South Asia, which is 382,022 number, 85% 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 number | 261,647 number |
| 1979 | +139.6% | 17,485 number | 41,898 number |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 18,323 number | 12,325 number | 41,898 number | 8 |
| 1980s | 58,688 number | 44,247 number | 65,796 number | 6 |
| 1990s | 80,704 number | 80,704 number | 80,704 number | 1 |
| 2010s | 289,045 number | 242,300 number | 325,868 number | 10 |
Countries ranked near Sri Lanka
More education data for Sri Lanka
- Gender gap education levels, gaps filled 91.41 (2023)
- Primary enrollment selected countries, gaps filled 90.86 (2023)
- 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)
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 325,868 number in 2019, 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 325,868 number in 2019.
- What is the lowest enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The lowest recorded value was 12,325 number in 1970.
- How does Sri Lanka rank for enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes?
- Sri Lanka ranks 65th out of 193 countries with data for 2019.
- Is enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes rising or falling in Sri Lanka?
- Over the last ten years it is up 24.5%. 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
The total number of students enrolled at public and private tertiary education institutions.