Population of compulsory school age, both sexes in MDG: World

MDG: World: Population of compulsory school age, both sexes was 1.24 billion in 2024. ▲ Rising

Latest (2024)
1.24 billion
Change on year
up 0.1%
Rank
3rd
of 221 groups
All-time high
1.24 billion
in 2024
All-time low
756.56 million
in 1998
Years of data
28
1997–2024

Population of compulsory school age, both sexes in MDG: World, 1997–2024

0250.0M500.0M750.0M1.0B1.2B1997201020241997: 756.6M1998: 756.6M1999: 763.6M2000: 769.5M2001: 774.6M2002: 813.3M2003: 816.9M2004: 839.5M2005: 849.9M2006: 844.7M2007: 844.9M2008: 852.4M2009: 1.0B2010: 1.1B2011: 1.1B2012: 1.1B2013: 1.1B2014: 1.1B2015: 1.1B2016: 1.2B2017: 1.2B2018: 1.2B2019: 1.2B2020: 1.2B2021: 1.2B2022: 1.2B2023: 1.2B2024: 1.2B

Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.

Analysis

The most recent figure for population of compulsory school age, both sexes in MDG: World is 1.24 billion, measured in 2024. That is the highest value across all 28 years on record.

The figure is up 0.1% on the previous year and up 10.0% over ten years.

Over the whole period, population of compulsory school age, both sexes in MDG: World peaked at 1.24 billion in 2024 and was at its lowest, 756.56 million, in 1998.

That places MDG: World 3rd out of 221 groups with data for 2024, putting it in the top 10%.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 28 years of available data.

Population of compulsory school age, both sexes in MDG: World, year by year

Annual values for Population of compulsory school age, both sexes (number) in MDG: World, 1997 to 2024.
Year Value Change
1997 756.61 million
1998 756.56 million -0.0%
1999 763.62 million +0.9%
2000 769.53 million +0.8%
2001 774.59 million +0.7%
2002 813.26 million +5.0%
2003 816.94 million +0.5%
2004 839.49 million +2.8%
2005 849.95 million +1.2%
2006 844.68 million -0.6%
2007 844.94 million +0.0%
2008 852.36 million +0.9%
2009 1.05 billion +23.0%
2010 1.06 billion +0.7%
2011 1.06 billion +0.7%
2012 1.08 billion +1.8%
2013 1.12 billion +3.1%
2014 1.12 billion +0.7%
2015 1.15 billion +2.2%
2016 1.16 billion +1.1%
2017 1.16 billion +0.2%
2018 1.18 billion +1.3%
2019 1.19 billion +1.0%
2020 1.20 billion +1.1%
2021 1.22 billion +1.2%
2022 1.23 billion +0.8%
2023 1.24 billion +0.7%
2024 1.24 billion +0.1%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 758.93 million 756.56 million 763.62 million 3
2000s 845.41 million 769.53 million 1.05 billion 10
2010s 1.13 billion 1.06 billion 1.19 billion 10
2020s 1.22 billion 1.20 billion 1.24 billion 5

Countries ranked near MDG: World

  1. 1 India 185.47 million compare
  2. 2 China 159.15 million compare
  3. 3 Pakistan 71.68 million compare
  4. 4 Nigeria 55.43 million compare
  5. 5 United States of America 50.88 million compare
  6. 6 Indonesia 43.11 million compare

See the full ranking of 418 places →

More education data for MDG: World

All data for MDG: World →

Frequently asked questions

What is population of compulsory school age, both sexes in MDG: World?
Population of compulsory school age, both sexes in MDG: World was 1.24 billion in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
What is the highest population of compulsory school age, both sexes recorded in MDG: World?
The highest recorded value was 1.24 billion in 2024.
What is the lowest population of compulsory school age, both sexes recorded in MDG: World?
The lowest recorded value was 756.56 million in 1998.
How does MDG: World rank for population of compulsory school age, both sexes?
MDG: World ranks 3rd out of 221 groups with data for 2024.
Is population of compulsory school age, both sexes rising or falling in MDG: World?
Over the last ten years it is up 10.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this MDG: World 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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Population of compulsory school age, both sexes in MDG: World. Statizoid, drawing on UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Retrieved 31 August 2026, from https://education.statizoid.com/stat/population-of-compulsory-school-age-both-sexes-number-2/mdg-world/

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About this data

Indicator
Population of compulsory school age, both sexes (number)
Source
UNESCO Institute for Statistics
Licence
CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics)
Coverage
418 places, 11,049 data points, 1974–2025
Last refreshed

February 2026 Data Release