Percentage of enrolment in primary education in public institutions in Gambia
Gambia: Percentage of enrolment in primary education in public institutions was 53.4% in 2021. ▲ Rising
Percentage of enrolment in primary education in public institutions in Gambia, 1999–2021
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.
Analysis
Gambia recorded 53.4% for percentage of enrolment in primary education in public institutions in 2021. That is the highest value across all 23 years on record.
The figure is up 0.4% on the previous year and up 3.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, percentage of enrolment in primary education in public institutions in Gambia peaked at 53.4% in 2021 and was at its lowest, 45.7%, in 1999.
That places Gambia 4th out of 200 countries with data for 2021, putting it in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 23 years of available data.
Percentage of enrolment in primary education in public institutions in Gambia, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1999 | 45.7% | — |
| 2000 | 46.5% | +1.6% |
| 2001 | 47.4% | +2.1% |
| 2002 | 47.5% | +0.0% |
| 2003 | 49.5% | +4.4% |
| 2004 | 50.3% | +1.6% |
| 2005 | 51.0% | +1.3% |
| 2006 | 51.5% | +1.0% |
| 2007 | 51.7% | +0.3% |
| 2008 | 51.9% | +0.5% |
| 2009 | 51.8% | -0.2% |
| 2010 | 51.7% | -0.2% |
| 2011 | 51.7% | +0.0% |
| 2012 | 51.8% | +0.1% |
| 2013 | 51.8% | +0.1% |
| 2014 | 52.1% | +0.5% |
| 2015 | 52.1% | +0.1% |
| 2016 | 52.3% | +0.3% |
| 2017 | 52.4% | +0.3% |
| 2018 | 52.6% | +0.3% |
| 2019 | 53.0% | +0.8% |
| 2020 | 53.2% | +0.3% |
| 2021 | 53.4% | +0.4% |
Gambia compared with similar countries
- Gambia's 53.4% is above the median for low income countries, which is 48.5%, 1.1× the median. (21 countries reporting)
- Gambia's 53.4% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 48.5%, 1.1× the median. (45 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 45.7% | 45.7% | 45.7% | 1 |
| 2000s | 49.9% | 46.5% | 51.9% | 10 |
| 2010s | 52.2% | 51.7% | 53.0% | 10 |
| 2020s | 53.3% | 53.2% | 53.4% | 2 |
Countries ranked near Gambia
More education data for Gambia
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 12,452 (2021)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 16,389 (2025)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 71,238 (2025)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 77,061 (2025)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 369,783 (2021)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 442,901 (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 2.4 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0.0002 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.1569 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is percentage of enrolment in primary education in public institutions in Gambia?
- Percentage of enrolment in primary education in public institutions in Gambia was 53.4% in 2021, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest percentage of enrolment in primary education in public institutions recorded in Gambia?
- The highest recorded value was 53.4% in 2021.
- What is the lowest percentage of enrolment in primary education in public institutions recorded in Gambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 45.7% in 1999.
- How does Gambia rank for percentage of enrolment in primary education in public institutions?
- Gambia ranks 4th out of 200 countries with data for 2021.
- Is percentage of enrolment in primary education in public institutions rising or falling in Gambia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 3.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Gambia data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Percentage of enrolment in primary education in public institutions, female (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release