Gender gap in primary, secondary and tertiary education in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka: Gender gap in primary, secondary and tertiary education was 91.4% in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
91.4%
Change on year
down 1.9%
World rank
122nd
of 190 countries
All-time high
97.0%
in 2001
All-time low
0.1%
in 1820
Years of data
53
1820–2023
Gender gap in primary, secondary and tertiary education in Sri Lanka, 1820–2023
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics (2026); Lee and Lee (2016) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2023, gender gap in primary, secondary and tertiary education in Sri Lanka stood at 91.4%.
That represents a change of down 1.9% on the previous year and down 1.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, gender gap in primary, secondary and tertiary education in Sri Lanka peaked at 97.0% in 2001 and was at its lowest, 0.1%, in 1820.
Sri Lanka ranks 122nd of 190 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.
Gender gap in primary, secondary and tertiary education in Sri Lanka, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1820 | 0.1% | — |
| 1825 | 0.1% | +42.9% |
| 1830 | 0.1% | +40.0% |
| 1835 | 0.2% | +35.7% |
| 1840 | 0.3% | +36.8% |
| 1845 | 0.4% | +38.5% |
| 1850 | 0.5% | +41.7% |
| 1855 | 0.7% | +37.3% |
| 1860 | 1.0% | +38.6% |
| 1865 | 1.4% | +39.2% |
| 1870 | 1.9% | +37.8% |
| 1875 | 2.6% | +38.2% |
| 1880 | 3.5% | +37.7% |
| 1885 | 4.9% | +37.3% |
| 1890 | 6.6% | +36.4% |
| 1895 | 9.0% | +35.4% |
| 1900 | 12.1% | +34.4% |
| 1905 | 18.4% | +52.2% |
| 1910 | 25.7% | +39.7% |
| 1915 | 33.0% | +28.4% |
| 1920 | 40.3% | +22.1% |
| 1925 | 47.6% | +18.1% |
| 1930 | 54.9% | +15.3% |
| 1935 | 62.2% | +13.3% |
| 1940 | 69.5% | +11.7% |
| 1945 | 76.8% | +10.5% |
| 1950 | 84.1% | +9.5% |
| 1955 | 84.6% | +0.6% |
| 1960 | 58.8% | -30.5% |
| 1965 | 64.0% | +8.9% |
| 1970 | 92.2% | +44.0% |
| 1975 | 72.5% | -21.3% |
| 1980 | 95.1% | +31.1% |
| 2001 | 97.0% | +2.0% |
| 2002 | 95.8% | -1.3% |
| 2003 | 94.2% | -1.7% |
| 2004 | 95.1% | +0.9% |
| 2005 | 91.9% | -3.3% |
| 2006 | 91.9% | +0.0% |
| 2007 | 92.3% | +0.4% |
| 2008 | 92.4% | +0.1% |
| 2009 | 91.0% | -1.5% |
| 2010 | 92.9% | +2.1% |
| 2011 | 92.6% | -0.3% |
| 2012 | 92.3% | -0.3% |
| 2013 | 92.9% | +0.7% |
| 2014 | 93.4% | +0.4% |
| 2015 | 95.7% | +2.5% |
| 2016 | 95.8% | +0.1% |
| 2017 | 95.6% | -0.2% |
| 2018 | 95.2% | -0.4% |
| 2022 | 93.2% | -2.2% |
| 2023 | 91.4% | -1.9% |
Sri Lanka compared with similar countries
- Sri Lanka's 91.4% is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 94.1%, 97% of the median. (52 countries reporting)
- Sri Lanka's 91.4% is below the median for South Asia, which is 97.9%, 93% of the median. (6 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1820s | 0.1% | 0.1% | 0.1% | 2 |
| 1830s | 0.2% | 0.1% | 0.2% | 2 |
| 1840s | 0.3% | 0.3% | 0.4% | 2 |
| 1850s | 0.6% | 0.5% | 0.7% | 2 |
| 1860s | 1.2% | 1.0% | 1.4% | 2 |
| 1870s | 2.2% | 1.9% | 2.6% | 2 |
| 1880s | 4.2% | 3.5% | 4.9% | 2 |
| 1890s | 7.8% | 6.6% | 9.0% | 2 |
| 1900s | 15.2% | 12.1% | 18.4% | 2 |
| 1910s | 29.3% | 25.7% | 33.0% | 2 |
| 1920s | 43.9% | 40.3% | 47.6% | 2 |
| 1930s | 58.5% | 54.9% | 62.2% | 2 |
| 1940s | 73.1% | 69.5% | 76.8% | 2 |
| 1950s | 84.3% | 84.1% | 84.6% | 2 |
| 1960s | 61.4% | 58.8% | 64.0% | 2 |
| 1970s | 82.4% | 72.5% | 92.2% | 2 |
| 1980s | 95.1% | 95.1% | 95.1% | 1 |
| 2000s | 93.5% | 91.0% | 97.0% | 9 |
| 2010s | 94.0% | 92.3% | 95.8% | 9 |
| 2020s | 92.3% | 91.4% | 93.2% | 2 |
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 gender gap in primary, secondary and tertiary education in Sri Lanka?
- Gender gap in primary, secondary and tertiary education in Sri Lanka was 91.4% in 2023, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics (2026); Lee and Lee (2016) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest gender gap in primary, secondary and tertiary education recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The highest recorded value was 97.0% in 2001.
- What is the lowest gender gap in primary, secondary and tertiary education recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.1% in 1820.
- How does Sri Lanka rank for gender gap in primary, secondary and tertiary education?
- Sri Lanka ranks 122nd out of 190 countries with data for 2023.
- Is gender gap in primary, secondary and tertiary education rising or falling in Sri Lanka?
- Over the last ten years it is down 1.6%. 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 (2026); Lee and Lee (2016) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Gender gap in primary, secondary and tertiary education. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of girls of primary school age (typically 6–11 years) who are enrolled in primary education.