Gross enrolment ratio, primary, both sexes in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka: Gross enrolment ratio, primary, both sexes was 91.5% in 2023. ▼ Falling
Latest (2023)
91.5%
Change on year
down 1.6%
World rank
182nd
of 217 countries
All-time high
123.7%
in 1985
All-time low
83.2%
in 1976
Years of data
51
1970–2023
Gross enrolment ratio, primary, both sexes in Sri Lanka, 1970–2023
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2023, gross enrolment ratio, primary, both sexes in Sri Lanka stood at 91.5%.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 1.6% on the previous year and down 5.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, gross enrolment ratio, primary, both sexes in Sri Lanka peaked at 123.7% in 1985 and was at its lowest, 83.2%, in 1976.
Sri Lanka ranks 182nd of 217 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 51 years of available data.
Gross enrolment ratio, primary, both sexes in Sri Lanka, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 104.5% | — |
| 1971 | 105.4% | +0.9% |
| 1972 | 95.1% | -9.8% |
| 1973 | 92.4% | -2.9% |
| 1974 | 86.9% | -5.9% |
| 1975 | 83.8% | -3.6% |
| 1976 | 83.2% | -0.7% |
| 1977 | 87.8% | +5.6% |
| 1978 | 110.7% | +26.1% |
| 1979 | 114.0% | +3.0% |
| 1980 | 118.7% | +4.1% |
| 1981 | 122.0% | +2.7% |
| 1982 | 122.5% | +0.4% |
| 1983 | 122.3% | -0.1% |
| 1984 | 123.1% | +0.6% |
| 1985 | 123.7% | +0.6% |
| 1986 | 123.6% | -0.1% |
| 1987 | 106.8% | -13.7% |
| 1988 | 107.2% | +0.4% |
| 1989 | 108.7% | +1.4% |
| 1990 | 110.4% | +1.6% |
| 1991 | 113.8% | +3.1% |
| 1992 | 114.8% | +0.8% |
| 1993 | 116.8% | +1.8% |
| 1994 | 117.2% | +0.4% |
| 1995 | 120.0% | +2.4% |
| 1996 | 112.0% | -6.7% |
| 1998 | 107.3% | -4.2% |
| 2001 | 102.9% | -4.1% |
| 2002 | 100.6% | -2.2% |
| 2003 | 97.2% | -3.4% |
| 2004 | 92.2% | -5.2% |
| 2005 | 94.2% | +2.2% |
| 2006 | 94.2% | +0.0% |
| 2007 | 94.3% | +0.1% |
| 2008 | 94.2% | -0.1% |
| 2009 | 92.7% | -1.6% |
| 2010 | 97.5% | +5.1% |
| 2011 | 97.2% | -0.2% |
| 2012 | 97.1% | -0.1% |
| 2013 | 97.2% | +0.1% |
| 2014 | 97.4% | +0.2% |
| 2015 | 97.5% | +0.0% |
| 2016 | 96.9% | -0.5% |
| 2017 | 96.6% | -0.3% |
| 2018 | 95.9% | -0.7% |
| 2019 | 95.5% | -0.5% |
| 2020 | 95.2% | -0.3% |
| 2021 | 94.5% | -0.8% |
| 2022 | 93.0% | -1.6% |
| 2023 | 91.5% | -1.6% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 96.4% | 83.2% | 114.0% | 10 |
| 1980s | 117.9% | 106.8% | 123.7% | 10 |
| 1990s | 114.0% | 107.3% | 120.0% | 8 |
| 2000s | 95.8% | 92.2% | 102.9% | 9 |
| 2010s | 96.9% | 95.5% | 97.5% | 10 |
| 2020s | 93.5% | 91.5% | 95.2% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Sri Lanka
- 179 Tanzania, United Republic of 92.7% compare
- 180 Mongolia 92.3% compare
- 181 Suriname 91.9% compare
- 183 Palestine, State of 91.4% compare
- 184 Malaysia 90.4% compare
- 185 El Salvador 90.1% compare
More education data for Sri Lanka
- 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)
- Secondary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 1.58 million (2023)
- Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number), annual growth -2.89 % change on previous year (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is gross enrolment ratio, primary, both sexes in Sri Lanka?
- Gross enrolment ratio, primary, both sexes in Sri Lanka was 91.5% in 2023, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest gross enrolment ratio, primary, both sexes recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The highest recorded value was 123.7% in 1985.
- What is the lowest gross enrolment ratio, primary, both sexes recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The lowest recorded value was 83.2% in 1976.
- How does Sri Lanka rank for gross enrolment ratio, primary, both sexes?
- Sri Lanka ranks 182nd out of 217 countries with data for 2023.
- Is gross enrolment ratio, primary, both sexes rising or falling in Sri Lanka?
- Over the last ten years it is down 5.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Sri Lanka data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Gross enrolment ratio, primary, both sexes (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release