Percentage of enrolment in primary education in private institutions in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka: Percentage of enrolment in primary education in private institutions was 3.2% in 2020. ◆ Volatile
Percentage of enrolment in primary education in private institutions in Sri Lanka, 1972–2020
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for percentage of enrolment in primary education in private institutions in Sri Lanka is 3.2%, measured in 2020.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 1.0% on the previous year and up 14.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, percentage of enrolment in primary education in private institutions in Sri Lanka peaked at 7.3% in 1972 and was at its lowest, 0.0%, in 2001.
That places Sri Lanka 170th out of 212 countries with data for 2020, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Percentage of enrolment in primary education in private institutions in Sri Lanka, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1972 | 7.3% | — |
| 1973 | 6.3% | -14.2% |
| 1980 | 1.3% | -79.5% |
| 1981 | 1.3% | -1.8% |
| 1982 | 1.4% | +8.1% |
| 1983 | 1.4% | +2.1% |
| 1985 | 1.4% | -1.3% |
| 1986 | 1.6% | +17.1% |
| 1987 | 1.5% | -6.8% |
| 1989 | 1.4% | -8.5% |
| 1990 | 1.5% | +6.6% |
| 1991 | 1.5% | +2.2% |
| 1992 | 1.6% | +6.0% |
| 1993 | 1.6% | +2.6% |
| 1994 | 1.7% | +1.9% |
| 1995 | 1.7% | -0.3% |
| 1996 | 1.8% | +10.0% |
| 2001 | 0.0% | -100.0% |
| 2002 | 0.0% | — |
| 2003 | 0.0% | — |
| 2004 | 0.0% | — |
| 2005 | 0.0% | — |
| 2006 | 0.0% | — |
| 2007 | 0.0% | — |
| 2008 | 0.0% | — |
| 2009 | 0.0% | — |
| 2010 | 2.8% | — |
| 2011 | 3.0% | +6.7% |
| 2012 | 3.1% | +2.9% |
| 2013 | 3.1% | -0.1% |
| 2014 | 2.9% | -5.5% |
| 2015 | 3.0% | +2.3% |
| 2016 | 3.0% | +2.3% |
| 2017 | 3.0% | -0.3% |
| 2018 | 3.1% | +2.1% |
| 2019 | 3.2% | +2.7% |
| 2020 | 3.2% | +1.0% |
Sri Lanka compared with similar countries
- Sri Lanka's 3.2% is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 9.8%, 32% of the median. (56 countries reporting)
- Sri Lanka's 3.2% is below the median for South Asia, which is 14.6%, 22% of the median. (6 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Percentage of enrolment in primary education in private institutions 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | -100.0% | 1.8% | 0.0% |
| 1980 | -79.5% | 6.3% | 1.3% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 6.8% | 6.3% | 7.3% | 2 |
| 1980s | 1.4% | 1.3% | 1.6% | 8 |
| 1990s | 1.6% | 1.5% | 1.8% | 7 |
| 2000s | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 9 |
| 2010s | 3.0% | 2.8% | 3.2% | 10 |
| 2020s | 3.2% | 3.2% | 3.2% | 1 |
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 percentage of enrolment in primary education in private institutions in Sri Lanka?
- Percentage of enrolment in primary education in private institutions in Sri Lanka was 3.2% in 2020, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest percentage of enrolment in primary education in private institutions recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The highest recorded value was 7.3% in 1972.
- What is the lowest percentage of enrolment in primary education in private institutions recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.0% in 2001.
- How does Sri Lanka rank for percentage of enrolment in primary education in private institutions?
- Sri Lanka ranks 170th out of 212 countries with data for 2020.
- Is percentage of enrolment in primary education in private institutions rising or falling in Sri Lanka?
- Over the last ten years it is up 14.4%. 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 Percentage of enrolment in primary education in private institutions, both sexes (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release