Gross enrolment ratio, primary to tertiary, both sexes in South Asia
South Asia: Gross enrolment ratio, primary to tertiary, both sexes was 65.9% in 2019. ▲ Rising
Gross enrolment ratio, primary to tertiary, both sexes in South Asia, 1997–2019
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for gross enrolment ratio, primary to tertiary, both sexes in South Asia is 65.9%, measured in 2019.
That represents a change of down 0.2% on the previous year and up 10.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, gross enrolment ratio, primary to tertiary, both sexes in South Asia peaked at 69.5% in 2016 and was at its lowest, 48.6%, in 1999.
South Asia ranks 34th of 45 groups on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 23 years of available data.
Gross enrolment ratio, primary to tertiary, both sexes in South Asia, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1997 | 49.4% | — |
| 1998 | 48.7% | -1.3% |
| 1999 | 48.6% | -0.3% |
| 2000 | 49.6% | +2.2% |
| 2001 | 49.5% | -0.3% |
| 2002 | 50.5% | +2.1% |
| 2003 | 53.3% | +5.4% |
| 2004 | 54.4% | +2.1% |
| 2005 | 55.6% | +2.2% |
| 2006 | 56.7% | +2.0% |
| 2007 | 58.4% | +3.0% |
| 2008 | 59.8% | +2.4% |
| 2009 | 59.9% | +0.0% |
| 2010 | 61.5% | +2.8% |
| 2011 | 63.5% | +3.2% |
| 2012 | 65.1% | +2.6% |
| 2013 | 65.3% | +0.3% |
| 2014 | 66.9% | +2.5% |
| 2015 | 67.4% | +0.7% |
| 2016 | 69.5% | +3.1% |
| 2017 | 68.6% | -1.4% |
| 2018 | 66.0% | -3.8% |
| 2019 | 65.9% | -0.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 48.9% | 48.6% | 49.4% | 3 |
| 2000s | 54.8% | 49.5% | 59.9% | 10 |
| 2010s | 66.0% | 61.5% | 69.5% | 10 |
Countries ranked near South Asia
More education data for South Asia
- Population ages 0-14 24.6% (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 4.5 % change on previous year (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.0959 units per person (2024)
- Secondary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 152.88 million (2024)
- Population ages 15-64 68.1% (2025)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 160.82 million (2024)
- Primary education, teachers, gaps filled 5.84 million (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is gross enrolment ratio, primary to tertiary, both sexes in South Asia?
- Gross enrolment ratio, primary to tertiary, both sexes in South Asia was 65.9% in 2019, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest gross enrolment ratio, primary to tertiary, both sexes recorded in South Asia?
- The highest recorded value was 69.5% in 2016.
- What is the lowest gross enrolment ratio, primary to tertiary, both sexes recorded in South Asia?
- The lowest recorded value was 48.6% in 1999.
- How does South Asia rank for gross enrolment ratio, primary to tertiary, both sexes?
- South Asia ranks 34th out of 45 groups with data for 2019.
- Is gross enrolment ratio, primary to tertiary, both sexes rising or falling in South Asia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 10.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this South Asia data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Gross enrolment ratio, primary to tertiary, both sexes (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Total enrollment in primary, secondary and tertiary education, regardless of age, expressed as a percentage of the total population of primary school age, secondary school age, and the five-year age group following on from secondary school leaving. GER can exceed 100% due to the inclusion of over-aged and under-aged students because of early or late school entrance and grade repetition.