Population of compulsory school age, both sexes in WB: South Asia
WB: South Asia: Population of compulsory school age, both sexes was 211.66 million in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
211.66 million
Change on year
down 0.7%
Rank
57th
of 221 groups
All-time high
223.03 million
in 2015
All-time low
19.47 million
in 2002
Years of data
28
1997–2024
Population of compulsory school age, both sexes in WB: South Asia, 1997–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
In 2024, population of compulsory school age, both sexes in WB: South Asia stood at 211.66 million.
The figure is down 0.7% on the previous year and down 3.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population of compulsory school age, both sexes in WB: South Asia peaked at 223.03 million in 2015 and was at its lowest, 19.47 million, in 2002.
WB: South Asia ranks 57th of 221 groups on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Population of compulsory school age, both sexes in WB: South Asia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1997 | 19.67 million | — |
| 1998 | 19.67 million | +0.0% |
| 1999 | 19.61 million | -0.3% |
| 2000 | 19.55 million | -0.3% |
| 2001 | 19.49 million | -0.3% |
| 2002 | 19.47 million | -0.1% |
| 2003 | 19.50 million | +0.2% |
| 2004 | 19.69 million | +1.0% |
| 2005 | 19.96 million | +1.4% |
| 2006 | 20.23 million | +1.4% |
| 2007 | 20.56 million | +1.6% |
| 2008 | 20.85 million | +1.4% |
| 2009 | 215.76 million | +934.6% |
| 2010 | 216.52 million | +0.4% |
| 2011 | 219.84 million | +1.5% |
| 2012 | 219.68 million | -0.1% |
| 2013 | 219.19 million | -0.2% |
| 2014 | 218.47 million | -0.3% |
| 2015 | 223.03 million | +2.1% |
| 2016 | 222.42 million | -0.3% |
| 2017 | 220.85 million | -0.7% |
| 2018 | 219.52 million | -0.6% |
| 2019 | 218.37 million | -0.5% |
| 2020 | 217.27 million | -0.5% |
| 2021 | 216.27 million | -0.5% |
| 2022 | 214.87 million | -0.7% |
| 2023 | 213.25 million | -0.8% |
| 2024 | 211.66 million | -0.7% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 19.65 million | 19.61 million | 19.67 million | 3 |
| 2000s | 39.51 million | 19.47 million | 215.76 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 219.79 million | 216.52 million | 223.03 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 214.66 million | 211.66 million | 217.27 million | 5 |
Countries ranked near WB: South Asia
- 54 Canada 4.45 million compare
- 55 Somalia 4.39 million
- 56 Syrian Arab Republic 4.26 million compare
- 57 Madagascar 4.07 million compare
- 58 Korea, Democratic People's Republic of 3.96 million compare
- 59 Zambia 3.94 million compare
- 60 Republic of Korea 3.87 million compare
More education data for WB: South Asia
- Enrolment in secondary education, both sexes (number), annual growth -2.02 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 22.22 million (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), gaps filled 78.44 million (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 21.32 million (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, female (number), annual growth rate -1.3 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, female (number), gaps filled 74.44 million (2024)
- Teachers in primary education, both sexes (number), annual growth rate 3.24 % change on previous year (2024)
- Teachers in primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 5.84 million (2024)
- Enrolment in primary education, male (number), annual growth rate 4.46 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in primary education, male (number), gaps filled 83.44 million (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is population of compulsory school age, both sexes in WB: South Asia?
- Population of compulsory school age, both sexes in WB: South Asia was 211.66 million in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest population of compulsory school age, both sexes recorded in WB: South Asia?
- The highest recorded value was 223.03 million in 2015.
- What is the lowest population of compulsory school age, both sexes recorded in WB: South Asia?
- The lowest recorded value was 19.47 million in 2002.
- How does WB: South Asia rank for population of compulsory school age, both sexes?
- WB: South Asia ranks 57th out of 221 groups with data for 2024.
- Is population of compulsory school age, both sexes rising or falling in WB: South Asia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 3.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this WB: 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.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 28 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
About this data
February 2026 Data Release