Out-of-school rate for children, adolescents and youth of primary in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka: Out-of-school rate for children, adolescents and youth of primary was 11.2% in 2023. ▼ Falling
Out-of-school rate for children, adolescents and youth of primary in Sri Lanka, 2010–2023
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for out-of-school rate for children, adolescents and youth of primary in Sri Lanka is 11.2%, measured in 2023.
That represents a change of up 10.8% on the previous year and down 13.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, out-of-school rate for children, adolescents and youth of primary in Sri Lanka peaked at 13.5% in 2010 and was at its lowest, 7.9%, in 2018.
That places Sri Lanka 61st out of 171 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.
Out-of-school rate for children, adolescents and youth of primary in Sri Lanka, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 13.5% | — |
| 2011 | 12.9% | -4.1% |
| 2017 | 8.7% | -32.6% |
| 2018 | 7.9% | -9.6% |
| 2022 | 10.1% | +28.5% |
| 2023 | 11.2% | +10.8% |
Sri Lanka compared with similar countries
- Sri Lanka's 11.2% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 7.5%, 1.5× the median. (51 countries reporting)
- Sri Lanka's 11.2% is below the median for South Asia, which is 13.5%, 83% of the median. (5 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 10.7% | 7.9% | 13.5% | 4 |
| 2020s | 10.7% | 10.1% | 11.2% | 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 out-of-school rate for children, adolescents and youth of primary in Sri Lanka?
- Out-of-school rate for children, adolescents and youth of primary in Sri Lanka was 11.2% in 2023, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest out-of-school rate for children, adolescents and youth of primary recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The highest recorded value was 13.5% in 2010.
- What is the lowest out-of-school rate for children, adolescents and youth of primary recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The lowest recorded value was 7.9% in 2018.
- How does Sri Lanka rank for out-of-school rate for children, adolescents and youth of primary?
- Sri Lanka ranks 61st out of 171 countries with data for 2023.
- Is out-of-school rate for children, adolescents and youth of primary rising or falling in Sri Lanka?
- Over the last ten years it is down 13.3%. 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 Out-of-school rate for children, adolescents and youth of primary, lower secondary and upper secondary school age, female (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release