Gross enrolment ratio, primary and secondary, both sexes in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka: Gross enrolment ratio, primary and secondary, both sexes was 89.3% in 2023. ▲ Rising
Gross enrolment ratio, primary and secondary, both sexes in Sri Lanka, 1970–2023
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2023, gross enrolment ratio, primary and secondary, both sexes in Sri Lanka stood at 89.3%.
The figure is down 0.8% on the previous year and down 7.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, gross enrolment ratio, primary and secondary, both sexes in Sri Lanka peaked at 99.7% in 1995 and was at its lowest, 64.0%, in 1976.
That places Sri Lanka 149th out of 211 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 34 years of available data.
Gross enrolment ratio, primary and secondary, both sexes in Sri Lanka, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 74.4% | — |
| 1971 | 76.0% | +2.1% |
| 1972 | 73.3% | -3.5% |
| 1973 | 71.8% | -2.0% |
| 1974 | 68.2% | -5.0% |
| 1976 | 64.0% | -6.1% |
| 1980 | 81.8% | +27.7% |
| 1981 | 83.2% | +1.8% |
| 1982 | 83.6% | +0.4% |
| 1983 | 84.7% | +1.4% |
| 1984 | 86.4% | +2.0% |
| 1985 | 88.0% | +1.8% |
| 1986 | 89.8% | +2.1% |
| 1987 | 91.1% | +1.5% |
| 1988 | 92.6% | +1.6% |
| 1989 | 94.3% | +1.8% |
| 1990 | 95.4% | +1.2% |
| 1991 | 96.4% | +1.0% |
| 1992 | 97.1% | +0.8% |
| 1993 | 97.7% | +0.5% |
| 1994 | 98.7% | +1.0% |
| 1995 | 99.7% | +1.0% |
| 2010 | 94.4% | -5.3% |
| 2011 | 95.3% | +1.0% |
| 2012 | 95.6% | +0.3% |
| 2013 | 96.0% | +0.3% |
| 2014 | 95.1% | -0.9% |
| 2015 | 95.6% | +0.6% |
| 2016 | 95.1% | -0.6% |
| 2017 | 95.1% | -0.1% |
| 2018 | 95.9% | +0.9% |
| 2021 | 91.6% | -4.5% |
| 2022 | 90.0% | -1.7% |
| 2023 | 89.3% | -0.8% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 71.3% | 64.0% | 76.0% | 6 |
| 1980s | 87.6% | 81.8% | 94.3% | 10 |
| 1990s | 97.5% | 95.4% | 99.7% | 6 |
| 2010s | 95.3% | 94.4% | 96.0% | 9 |
| 2020s | 90.3% | 89.3% | 91.6% | 3 |
Countries ranked near Sri Lanka
- 146 Palestine, State of 90.0% compare
- 147 Togo 89.8% compare
- 148 Philippines 89.7% compare
- 150 Dominican Republic 89.2% compare
- 151 Ghana 89.1% compare
- 152 Gibraltar 89.0% 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 gross enrolment ratio, primary and secondary, both sexes in Sri Lanka?
- Gross enrolment ratio, primary and secondary, both sexes in Sri Lanka was 89.3% in 2023, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest gross enrolment ratio, primary and secondary, both sexes recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The highest recorded value was 99.7% in 1995.
- What is the lowest gross enrolment ratio, primary and secondary, both sexes recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The lowest recorded value was 64.0% in 1976.
- How does Sri Lanka rank for gross enrolment ratio, primary and secondary, both sexes?
- Sri Lanka ranks 149th out of 211 countries with data for 2023.
- Is gross enrolment ratio, primary and secondary, both sexes rising or falling in Sri Lanka?
- Over the last ten years it is down 7.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Sri Lanka data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Gross enrolment ratio, primary and secondary, both sexes (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release