Population of the official entrance age to primary education, both in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka: Population of the official entrance age to primary education, both was 329,780 in 2025. ▬ Flat
Latest (2025)
329,780
Change on year
down 0.9%
World rank
71st
of 222 countries
All-time high
398,217
in 1986
All-time low
316,098
in 1995
Years of data
56
1970–2025
Population of the official entrance age to primary education, both in Sri Lanka, 1970–2025
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
The most recent figure for population of the official entrance age to primary education, both in Sri Lanka is 329,780, measured in 2025.
The figure is down 0.9% on the previous year and down 9.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population of the official entrance age to primary education, both in Sri Lanka peaked at 398,217 in 1986 and was at its lowest, 316,098, in 1995.
Sri Lanka ranks 71st of 222 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
Population of the official entrance age to primary education, both in Sri Lanka, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 330,014 | — |
| 1971 | 336,423 | +1.9% |
| 1972 | 338,842 | +0.7% |
| 1973 | 341,746 | +0.9% |
| 1974 | 350,326 | +2.5% |
| 1975 | 352,438 | +0.6% |
| 1976 | 352,455 | +0.0% |
| 1977 | 353,650 | +0.3% |
| 1978 | 350,716 | -0.8% |
| 1979 | 352,017 | +0.4% |
| 1980 | 349,575 | -0.7% |
| 1981 | 347,961 | -0.5% |
| 1982 | 354,992 | +2.0% |
| 1983 | 363,565 | +2.4% |
| 1984 | 370,529 | +1.9% |
| 1985 | 386,599 | +4.3% |
| 1986 | 398,217 | +3.0% |
| 1987 | 397,000 | -0.3% |
| 1988 | 397,755 | +0.2% |
| 1989 | 371,719 | -6.5% |
| 1990 | 353,694 | -4.8% |
| 1991 | 343,356 | -2.9% |
| 1992 | 333,359 | -2.9% |
| 1993 | 323,562 | -2.9% |
| 1994 | 319,382 | -1.3% |
| 1995 | 316,098 | -1.0% |
| 1996 | 328,119 | +3.8% |
| 1997 | 332,972 | +1.5% |
| 1998 | 337,225 | +1.3% |
| 1999 | 340,295 | +0.9% |
| 2000 | 341,935 | +0.5% |
| 2001 | 342,368 | +0.1% |
| 2002 | 342,395 | +0.0% |
| 2003 | 341,501 | -0.3% |
| 2004 | 341,949 | +0.1% |
| 2005 | 340,624 | -0.4% |
| 2006 | 345,978 | +1.6% |
| 2007 | 353,460 | +2.2% |
| 2008 | 356,529 | +0.9% |
| 2009 | 359,470 | +0.8% |
| 2010 | 362,485 | +0.8% |
| 2011 | 365,163 | +0.7% |
| 2012 | 366,970 | +0.5% |
| 2013 | 366,611 | -0.1% |
| 2014 | 365,149 | -0.4% |
| 2015 | 362,846 | -0.6% |
| 2016 | 359,666 | -0.9% |
| 2017 | 355,646 | -1.1% |
| 2018 | 357,122 | +0.4% |
| 2019 | 358,162 | +0.3% |
| 2020 | 350,869 | -2.0% |
| 2021 | 343,367 | -2.1% |
| 2022 | 338,347 | -1.5% |
| 2023 | 334,954 | -1.0% |
| 2024 | 332,673 | -0.7% |
| 2025 | 329,780 | -0.9% |
Sri Lanka compared with similar countries
- Sri Lanka's 329,780 is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 97,289, 3.4× the median. (58 countries reporting)
- Sri Lanka's 329,780 is below the median for South Asia, which is 436,818, 75% of the median. (6 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 345,863 | 330,014 | 353,650 | 10 |
| 1980s | 373,791 | 347,961 | 398,217 | 10 |
| 1990s | 332,806 | 316,098 | 353,694 | 10 |
| 2000s | 346,621 | 340,624 | 359,470 | 10 |
| 2010s | 361,982 | 355,646 | 366,970 | 10 |
| 2020s | 338,332 | 329,780 | 350,869 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Sri Lanka
More education data for Sri Lanka
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 155,543 (2023)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 0 (2023)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 224,799 (2023)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 214,300 (2023)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 2.54 million (2023)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 1.58 million (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate -2.89 % change on previous year (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.0715 units per person (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is population of the official entrance age to primary education, both in Sri Lanka?
- Population of the official entrance age to primary education, both in Sri Lanka was 329,780 in 2025, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest population of the official entrance age to primary education, both recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The highest recorded value was 398,217 in 1986.
- What is the lowest population of the official entrance age to primary education, both recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The lowest recorded value was 316,098 in 1995.
- How does Sri Lanka rank for population of the official entrance age to primary education, both?
- Sri Lanka ranks 71st out of 222 countries with data for 2025.
- Is population of the official entrance age to primary education, both rising or falling in Sri Lanka?
- Over the last ten years it is down 9.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Sri Lanka data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Population of the official entrance age to primary education, both sexes (number). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release