Population of compulsory school age, both sexes in UNICEF: South Asia
UNICEF: South Asia: Population of compulsory school age, both sexes was 292.66 million in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
292.66 million
Change on year
down 0.2%
Rank
34th
of 221 groups
All-time high
294.54 million
in 2016
All-time low
69.04 million
in 1997
Years of data
28
1997–2024
Population of compulsory school age, both sexes in UNICEF: South Asia, 1997–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
In 2024, population of compulsory school age, both sexes in UNICEF: South Asia stood at 292.66 million.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.2% on the previous year and up 1.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population of compulsory school age, both sexes in UNICEF: South Asia peaked at 294.54 million in 2016 and was at its lowest, 69.04 million, in 1997.
That places UNICEF: South Asia 34th out of 221 groups with data for 2024, putting it in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Population of compulsory school age, both sexes in UNICEF: South Asia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1997 | 69.04 million | — |
| 1998 | 69.04 million | +0.0% |
| 1999 | 70.47 million | +2.1% |
| 2000 | 71.84 million | +1.9% |
| 2001 | 73.00 million | +1.6% |
| 2002 | 74.27 million | +1.7% |
| 2003 | 75.69 million | +1.9% |
| 2004 | 77.15 million | +1.9% |
| 2005 | 78.60 million | +1.9% |
| 2006 | 80.06 million | +1.9% |
| 2007 | 81.47 million | +1.8% |
| 2008 | 84.63 million | +3.9% |
| 2009 | 280.59 million | +231.6% |
| 2010 | 282.22 million | +0.6% |
| 2011 | 286.36 million | +1.5% |
| 2012 | 287.23 million | +0.3% |
| 2013 | 287.74 million | +0.2% |
| 2014 | 288.14 million | +0.1% |
| 2015 | 293.96 million | +2.0% |
| 2016 | 294.54 million | +0.2% |
| 2017 | 294.12 million | -0.1% |
| 2018 | 293.96 million | -0.1% |
| 2019 | 294.00 million | +0.0% |
| 2020 | 294.08 million | +0.0% |
| 2021 | 294.29 million | +0.1% |
| 2022 | 293.93 million | -0.1% |
| 2023 | 293.28 million | -0.2% |
| 2024 | 292.66 million | -0.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 69.52 million | 69.04 million | 70.47 million | 3 |
| 2000s | 97.73 million | 71.84 million | 280.59 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 290.23 million | 282.22 million | 294.54 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 293.65 million | 292.66 million | 294.29 million | 5 |
Countries ranked near UNICEF: South Asia
- 31 Japan 9.17 million compare
- 32 United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 8.99 million compare
- 33 Ghana 8.96 million compare
- 34 Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of 8.04 million compare
- 35 Peru 7.73 million compare
- 36 Côte d'Ivoire 7.31 million compare
- 37 Uzbekistan 7.27 million compare
More education data for UNICEF: South Asia
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes (number), annual 7.86 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, both sexes (number), annual growth -0.6662 % change on previous year (2024)
- Teachers in primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 6.43 million (2024)
- Teachers in primary education, both sexes (number), annual growth rate 2.87 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, female (number), gaps filled 84.88 million (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, female (number), annual growth rate 0.1267 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), gaps filled 91.07 million (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), annual growth rate -1.39 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 53.53 million (2024)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, male (number), gaps 26.43 million (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is population of compulsory school age, both sexes in UNICEF: South Asia?
- Population of compulsory school age, both sexes in UNICEF: South Asia was 292.66 million in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest population of compulsory school age, both sexes recorded in UNICEF: South Asia?
- The highest recorded value was 294.54 million in 2016.
- What is the lowest population of compulsory school age, both sexes recorded in UNICEF: South Asia?
- The lowest recorded value was 69.04 million in 1997.
- How does UNICEF: South Asia rank for population of compulsory school age, both sexes?
- UNICEF: South Asia ranks 34th out of 221 groups with data for 2024.
- Is population of compulsory school age, both sexes rising or falling in UNICEF: South Asia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 1.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this UNICEF: South Asia 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