Population of the official entrance age to primary education, both in South Asia
South Asia: Population of the official entrance age to primary education, both was 34.12 million number in 2019. ▲ Rising
Population of the official entrance age to primary education, both in South Asia, 1970–2019
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in number.
Analysis
In 2019, population of the official entrance age to primary education, both in South Asia stood at 34.12 million number.
That represents a change of down 1.2% on the previous year and down 3.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population of the official entrance age to primary education, both in South Asia peaked at 35.39 million number in 2013 and was at its lowest, 19.79 million number, in 1970.
South Asia ranks 10th of 45 groups on this measure, in the top quarter.
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 South Asia, year by year
| Year | number | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 19.79 million number | — |
| 1971 | 20.15 million number | +1.8% |
| 1972 | 20.60 million number | +2.2% |
| 1973 | 21.01 million number | +2.0% |
| 1974 | 21.39 million number | +1.8% |
| 1975 | 21.72 million number | +1.6% |
| 1976 | 22.06 million number | +1.6% |
| 1977 | 22.55 million number | +2.2% |
| 1978 | 23.06 million number | +2.2% |
| 1979 | 23.56 million number | +2.2% |
| 1980 | 24.04 million number | +2.0% |
| 1981 | 24.49 million number | +1.9% |
| 1982 | 24.99 million number | +2.0% |
| 1983 | 25.56 million number | +2.3% |
| 1984 | 26.12 million number | +2.2% |
| 1985 | 26.64 million number | +2.0% |
| 1986 | 27.15 million number | +1.9% |
| 1987 | 27.83 million number | +2.5% |
| 1988 | 28.55 million number | +2.6% |
| 1989 | 29.25 million number | +2.5% |
| 1990 | 29.89 million number | +2.2% |
| 1991 | 30.44 million number | +1.8% |
| 1992 | 31.02 million number | +1.9% |
| 1993 | 31.50 million number | +1.5% |
| 1994 | 31.88 million number | +1.2% |
| 1995 | 32.18 million number | +0.9% |
| 1996 | 32.43 million number | +0.8% |
| 1997 | 32.75 million number | +1.0% |
| 1998 | 33.01 million number | +0.8% |
| 1999 | 33.23 million number | +0.7% |
| 2000 | 33.41 million number | +0.5% |
| 2001 | 33.58 million number | +0.5% |
| 2002 | 33.86 million number | +0.8% |
| 2003 | 34.15 million number | +0.9% |
| 2004 | 34.41 million number | +0.8% |
| 2005 | 34.62 million number | +0.6% |
| 2006 | 34.78 million number | +0.5% |
| 2007 | 34.98 million number | +0.6% |
| 2008 | 35.13 million number | +0.4% |
| 2009 | 35.24 million number | +0.3% |
| 2010 | 35.30 million number | +0.2% |
| 2011 | 35.32 million number | +0.0% |
| 2012 | 35.36 million number | +0.1% |
| 2013 | 35.39 million number | +0.1% |
| 2014 | 35.37 million number | -0.0% |
| 2015 | 35.29 million number | -0.2% |
| 2016 | 35.12 million number | -0.5% |
| 2017 | 34.90 million number | -0.6% |
| 2018 | 34.54 million number | -1.0% |
| 2019 | 34.12 million number | -1.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 21.59 million number | 19.79 million number | 23.56 million number | 10 |
| 1980s | 26.46 million number | 24.04 million number | 29.25 million number | 10 |
| 1990s | 31.83 million number | 29.89 million number | 33.23 million number | 10 |
| 2000s | 34.42 million number | 33.41 million number | 35.24 million number | 10 |
| 2010s | 35.07 million number | 34.12 million number | 35.39 million number | 10 |
Countries ranked near South Asia
- 7 Ethiopia 2.99 million number compare
- 8 Brazil 2.96 million number compare
- 9 Bangladesh 2.91 million number compare
- 10 Democratic Republic of Congo 2.75 million number compare
- 11 Egypt 2.48 million number compare
- 12 Philippines 2.29 million number compare
- 13 Mexico 2.24 million number compare
More education data for South Asia
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 4.5 % change on previous year (2024)
- Primary education, teachers, gaps filled 5.84 million (2024)
- Secondary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 0-14 24.6% (2025)
- Population ages 15-64 68.1% (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.0959 units per person (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 160.82 million (2024)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 152.88 million (2024)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is population of the official entrance age to primary education, both in South Asia?
- Population of the official entrance age to primary education, both in South Asia was 34.12 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 South Asia?
- The highest recorded value was 35.39 million number in 2013.
- What is the lowest population of the official entrance age to primary education, both recorded in South Asia?
- The lowest recorded value was 19.79 million number in 1970.
- How does South Asia rank for population of the official entrance age to primary education, both?
- South Asia ranks 10th out of 45 groups with data for 2019.
- Is population of the official entrance age to primary education, both rising or falling in South Asia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 3.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this South Asia 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.