Population of compulsory school age, both sexes in Bangladesh
Bangladesh: Population of compulsory school age, both sexes was 15.64 million in 2025. ▼ Falling
Population of compulsory school age, both sexes in Bangladesh, 1998–2025
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
In 2025, population of compulsory school age, both sexes in Bangladesh stood at 15.64 million. That is the lowest value across all 28 years on record.
That represents a change of down 0.2% on the previous year and down 8.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population of compulsory school age, both sexes in Bangladesh peaked at 17.92 million in 2010 and was at its lowest, 15.64 million, in 2025.
That places Bangladesh 17th out of 197 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 28 years of available data.
Population of compulsory school age, both sexes in Bangladesh, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1998 | 16.53 million | — |
| 1999 | 16.46 million | -0.5% |
| 2000 | 16.38 million | -0.5% |
| 2001 | 16.31 million | -0.4% |
| 2002 | 16.30 million | -0.1% |
| 2003 | 16.35 million | +0.3% |
| 2004 | 16.55 million | +1.2% |
| 2005 | 16.83 million | +1.7% |
| 2006 | 17.10 million | +1.6% |
| 2007 | 17.42 million | +1.8% |
| 2008 | 17.71 million | +1.7% |
| 2009 | 17.86 million | +0.9% |
| 2010 | 17.92 million | +0.3% |
| 2011 | 17.90 million | -0.1% |
| 2012 | 17.77 million | -0.7% |
| 2013 | 17.57 million | -1.2% |
| 2014 | 17.32 million | -1.4% |
| 2015 | 17.04 million | -1.6% |
| 2016 | 16.71 million | -1.9% |
| 2017 | 16.36 million | -2.1% |
| 2018 | 16.18 million | -1.1% |
| 2019 | 16.05 million | -0.7% |
| 2020 | 15.99 million | -0.4% |
| 2021 | 15.95 million | -0.2% |
| 2022 | 15.92 million | -0.2% |
| 2023 | 15.76 million | -1.0% |
| 2024 | 15.67 million | -0.6% |
| 2025 | 15.64 million | -0.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 16.49 million | 16.46 million | 16.53 million | 2 |
| 2000s | 16.88 million | 16.30 million | 17.86 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 17.08 million | 16.05 million | 17.92 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 15.82 million | 15.64 million | 15.99 million | 6 |
Countries ranked near Bangladesh
More education data for Bangladesh
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 571,690 (2024)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 387,056 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 1.73 million (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 1.77 million (2024)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 15.07 million (2024)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 16.69 million (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 2.67 % change on previous year (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.0961 units per person (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is population of compulsory school age, both sexes in Bangladesh?
- Population of compulsory school age, both sexes in Bangladesh was 15.64 million in 2025, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest population of compulsory school age, both sexes recorded in Bangladesh?
- The highest recorded value was 17.92 million in 2010.
- What is the lowest population of compulsory school age, both sexes recorded in Bangladesh?
- The lowest recorded value was 15.64 million in 2025.
- How does Bangladesh rank for population of compulsory school age, both sexes?
- Bangladesh ranks 17th out of 197 countries with data for 2025.
- Is population of compulsory school age, both sexes rising or falling in Bangladesh?
- Over the last ten years it is down 8.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Bangladesh data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Population of compulsory school age, both sexes (number). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release