Out-of-school rate for children of primary school age, both sexes in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka: Out-of-school rate for children of primary school age, both sexes was 9.1% in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Out-of-school rate for children of primary school age, both sexes in Sri Lanka, 1977–2023
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.
Analysis
Sri Lanka recorded 9.1% for out-of-school rate for children of primary school age, both sexes in 2023.
That represents a change of up 17.8% on the previous year and up 34.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, out-of-school rate for children of primary school age, both sexes in Sri Lanka peaked at 20.6% in 1977 and was at its lowest, 0.5%, in 2019.
Sri Lanka ranks 57th of 203 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Out-of-school rate for children of primary school age, both sexes in Sri Lanka, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1977 | 20.6% | — |
| 1986 | 1.9% | -90.6% |
| 2001 | 3.2% | +62.3% |
| 2002 | 4.3% | +35.0% |
| 2003 | 5.8% | +35.6% |
| 2004 | 7.8% | +35.3% |
| 2005 | 8.0% | +2.8% |
| 2006 | 7.9% | -1.5% |
| 2007 | 7.6% | -3.6% |
| 2008 | 7.6% | -0.1% |
| 2009 | 9.0% | +17.9% |
| 2010 | 7.1% | -20.9% |
| 2011 | 7.2% | +1.6% |
| 2012 | 7.5% | +3.3% |
| 2013 | 6.8% | -9.1% |
| 2014 | 6.4% | -6.3% |
| 2015 | 3.9% | -38.0% |
| 2016 | 3.8% | -3.8% |
| 2017 | 4.1% | +8.5% |
| 2018 | 4.6% | +12.8% |
| 2019 | 0.5% | -89.4% |
| 2020 | 0.7% | +49.8% |
| 2021 | 2.0% | +166.9% |
| 2022 | 7.8% | +294.2% |
| 2023 | 9.1% | +17.8% |
Sri Lanka compared with similar countries
- Sri Lanka's 9.1% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 3.9%, 2.4× the median. (56 countries reporting)
- Sri Lanka's 9.1% is above the median for South Asia, which is 3.4%, 2.7× the median. (6 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Out-of-school rate for children of primary school age, both sexes 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | +294.2% | 2.0% | 7.8% |
| 2021 | +166.9% | 0.7% | 2.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 20.6% | 20.6% | 20.6% | 1 |
| 1980s | 1.9% | 1.9% | 1.9% | 1 |
| 2000s | 6.8% | 3.2% | 9.0% | 9 |
| 2010s | 5.2% | 0.5% | 7.5% | 10 |
| 2020s | 4.9% | 0.7% | 9.1% | 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 out-of-school rate for children of primary school age, both sexes in Sri Lanka?
- Out-of-school rate for children of primary school age, both sexes in Sri Lanka was 9.1% in 2023, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest out-of-school rate for children of primary school age, both sexes recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The highest recorded value was 20.6% in 1977.
- What is the lowest out-of-school rate for children of primary school age, both sexes recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.5% in 2019.
- How does Sri Lanka rank for out-of-school rate for children of primary school age, both sexes?
- Sri Lanka ranks 57th out of 203 countries with data for 2023.
- Is out-of-school rate for children of primary school age, both sexes rising or falling in Sri Lanka?
- Over the last ten years it is up 34.7%. 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, published as part of Out-of-school rate for children of primary school age, both sexes (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release