Primary-school-age children who are out of school by world region in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka: Primary-school-age children who are out of school by world region was 157,499 children in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Primary-school-age children who are out of school by world region in Sri Lanka, 1986–2023
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in children.
Analysis
The most recent figure for primary-school-age children who are out of school by world region in Sri Lanka is 157,499 children, measured in 2023. That is the highest value across all 24 years on record.
That represents a change of up 16.3% on the previous year and up 3,184.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, primary-school-age children who are out of school by world region in Sri Lanka peaked at 157,499 children in 2023 and was at its lowest, 3,098 children, in 2018.
Sri Lanka ranks 44th of 196 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Primary-school-age children who are out of school by world region in Sri Lanka, year by year
| Year | children | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1986 | 36,193 children | — |
| 2001 | 54,134 children | +49.6% |
| 2002 | 73,117 children | +35.1% |
| 2003 | 98,948 children | +35.3% |
| 2004 | 133,718 children | +35.1% |
| 2005 | 137,154 children | +2.6% |
| 2006 | 135,227 children | -1.4% |
| 2007 | 131,089 children | -3.1% |
| 2008 | 131,890 children | +0.6% |
| 2009 | 156,822 children | +18.9% |
| 2010 | 125,454 children | -20.0% |
| 2011 | 128,905 children | +2.8% |
| 2012 | 134,633 children | +4.4% |
| 2013 | 4,795 children | -96.4% |
| 2014 | 115,948 children | +2318.2% |
| 2015 | 71,920 children | -38.0% |
| 2016 | 68,933 children | -4.2% |
| 2017 | 6,061 children | -91.2% |
| 2018 | 3,098 children | -48.9% |
| 2019 | 8,815 children | +184.5% |
| 2020 | 13,116 children | +48.8% |
| 2021 | 34,687 children | +164.5% |
| 2022 | 135,382 children | +290.3% |
| 2023 | 157,499 children | +16.3% |
Sri Lanka compared with similar countries
- Sri Lanka's 157,499 children is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 21,241 children, 7.4× the median. (55 countries reporting)
- Sri Lanka's 157,499 children is above the median for South Asia, which is 78,056 children, 2.0× the median. (6 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Primary-school-age children who are out of school by world region 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | +2318.2% | 4,795 children | 115,948 children |
| 2022 | +290.3% | 34,687 children | 135,382 children |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 36,193 children | 36,193 children | 36,193 children | 1 |
| 2000s | 116,900 children | 54,134 children | 156,822 children | 9 |
| 2010s | 66,856 children | 3,098 children | 134,633 children | 10 |
| 2020s | 85,171 children | 13,116 children | 157,499 children | 4 |
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 primary-school-age children who are out of school by world region in Sri Lanka?
- Primary-school-age children who are out of school by world region in Sri Lanka was 157,499 children in 2023, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest primary-school-age children who are out of school by world region recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The highest recorded value was 157,499 children in 2023.
- What is the lowest primary-school-age children who are out of school by world region recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The lowest recorded value was 3,098 children in 2018.
- How does Sri Lanka rank for primary-school-age children who are out of school by world region?
- Sri Lanka ranks 44th out of 196 countries with data for 2023.
- Is primary-school-age children who are out of school by world region rising or falling in Sri Lanka?
- Over the last ten years it is up 3,184.8%. 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) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Primary-school-age children who are out of school by world region. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 24 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Children in the official primary school age range who are not enrolled in either primary or secondary education.