Population of the official entrance age to primary education, both in Least developed countries
Least developed countries: Population of the official entrance age to primary education, both was 26.85 million number in 2019. ▲ Rising
Population of the official entrance age to primary education, both in Least developed countries, 1970–2019
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in number.
Analysis
The most recent figure for population of the official entrance age to primary education, both in Least developed countries is 26.85 million number, measured in 2019. That is the highest value across all 50 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 1.4% on the previous year and up 18.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population of the official entrance age to primary education, both in Least developed countries peaked at 26.85 million number in 2019 and was at its lowest, 9.59 million number, in 1970.
That places Least developed countries 21st out of 45 groups with data for 2019, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 50 years of available data.
Population of the official entrance age to primary education, both in Least developed countries, year by year
| Year | number | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 9.59 million number | — |
| 1971 | 9.81 million number | +2.2% |
| 1972 | 10.06 million number | +2.6% |
| 1973 | 10.30 million number | +2.3% |
| 1974 | 10.51 million number | +2.1% |
| 1975 | 10.70 million number | +1.7% |
| 1976 | 10.92 million number | +2.0% |
| 1977 | 11.18 million number | +2.5% |
| 1978 | 11.45 million number | +2.4% |
| 1979 | 11.71 million number | +2.3% |
| 1980 | 11.95 million number | +2.1% |
| 1981 | 12.22 million number | +2.3% |
| 1982 | 12.45 million number | +1.9% |
| 1983 | 12.76 million number | +2.5% |
| 1984 | 13.07 million number | +2.4% |
| 1985 | 13.36 million number | +2.2% |
| 1986 | 13.66 million number | +2.3% |
| 1987 | 14.04 million number | +2.8% |
| 1988 | 14.43 million number | +2.8% |
| 1989 | 14.81 million number | +2.7% |
| 1990 | 15.18 million number | +2.4% |
| 1991 | 15.54 million number | +2.4% |
| 1992 | 15.95 million number | +2.6% |
| 1993 | 16.32 million number | +2.4% |
| 1994 | 16.66 million number | +2.1% |
| 1995 | 16.95 million number | +1.8% |
| 1996 | 17.25 million number | +1.7% |
| 1997 | 17.60 million number | +2.0% |
| 1998 | 17.98 million number | +2.2% |
| 1999 | 18.31 million number | +1.8% |
| 2000 | 18.66 million number | +1.9% |
| 2001 | 19.04 million number | +2.0% |
| 2002 | 19.49 million number | +2.4% |
| 2003 | 19.96 million number | +2.4% |
| 2004 | 20.41 million number | +2.3% |
| 2005 | 20.83 million number | +2.0% |
| 2006 | 21.26 million number | +2.1% |
| 2007 | 21.74 million number | +2.3% |
| 2008 | 22.21 million number | +2.2% |
| 2009 | 22.67 million number | +2.1% |
| 2010 | 23.10 million number | +1.9% |
| 2011 | 23.51 million number | +1.8% |
| 2012 | 23.94 million number | +1.9% |
| 2013 | 24.38 million number | +1.8% |
| 2014 | 24.81 million number | +1.7% |
| 2015 | 25.22 million number | +1.7% |
| 2016 | 25.62 million number | +1.6% |
| 2017 | 26.05 million number | +1.7% |
| 2018 | 26.47 million number | +1.6% |
| 2019 | 26.85 million number | +1.4% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 10.62 million number | 9.59 million number | 11.71 million number | 10 |
| 1980s | 13.28 million number | 11.95 million number | 14.81 million number | 10 |
| 1990s | 16.77 million number | 15.18 million number | 18.31 million number | 10 |
| 2000s | 20.63 million number | 18.66 million number | 22.67 million number | 10 |
| 2010s | 24.99 million number | 23.10 million number | 26.85 million number | 10 |
Countries ranked near Least developed countries
- 18 Kenya 1.40 million number compare
- 19 Iran, Islamic Republic of 1.39 million number compare
- 20 Türkiye 1.37 million number compare
- 21 South Africa 1.17 million number compare
- 22 Sudan 1.16 million number compare
- 23 Afghanistan 1.08 million number compare
- 24 Iraq 1.05 million number compare
More education data for Least developed countries
- Primary education, teachers, gaps filled 4.43 million (2024)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 75.92 million (2024)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 171.01 million (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 1.04 % change on previous year (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Secondary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 0-14 38.4% (2025)
- Population ages 15-64 57.7% (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.1441 units per person (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is population of the official entrance age to primary education, both in Least developed countries?
- Population of the official entrance age to primary education, both in Least developed countries was 26.85 million number in 2019, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest population of the official entrance age to primary education, both recorded in Least developed countries?
- The highest recorded value was 26.85 million number in 2019.
- What is the lowest population of the official entrance age to primary education, both recorded in Least developed countries?
- The lowest recorded value was 9.59 million number in 1970.
- How does Least developed countries rank for population of the official entrance age to primary education, both?
- Least developed countries ranks 21st out of 45 groups with data for 2019.
- Is population of the official entrance age to primary education, both rising or falling in Least developed countries?
- Over the last ten years it is up 18.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Least developed countries 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
Population of the age-group theoretically corresponding to the official entrance age to primary education. The official entrance age is the age at which students would enter a given programme or level of education assuming they start at the official entrance age for the lowest level of education, study full-time throughout and progressed through the system without repeating or skipping a grade. The theoretical entrance age to a given programme or level is typically, but not always, the most common entrance age.