Population of the official entrance age to secondary general in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka: Population of the official entrance age to secondary general was 178,421 in 2025. ▲ Rising
Latest (2025)
178,421
Change on year
down 2.1%
World rank
69th
of 220 countries
All-time high
201,295
in 1993
All-time low
153,065
in 1970
Years of data
56
1970–2025
Population of the official entrance age to secondary general in Sri Lanka, 1970–2025
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
The most recent figure for population of the official entrance age to secondary general in Sri Lanka is 178,421, measured in 2025.
The figure is down 2.1% on the previous year and down 2.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population of the official entrance age to secondary general in Sri Lanka peaked at 201,295 in 1993 and was at its lowest, 153,065, in 1970.
Sri Lanka ranks 69th of 220 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 56 years of available data.
Population of the official entrance age to secondary general in Sri Lanka, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 153,065 | — |
| 1971 | 157,799 | +3.1% |
| 1972 | 160,085 | +1.4% |
| 1973 | 161,181 | +0.7% |
| 1974 | 163,485 | +1.4% |
| 1975 | 166,234 | +1.7% |
| 1976 | 169,399 | +1.9% |
| 1977 | 170,562 | +0.7% |
| 1978 | 172,021 | +0.9% |
| 1979 | 176,320 | +2.5% |
| 1980 | 177,378 | +0.6% |
| 1981 | 177,381 | +0.0% |
| 1982 | 177,922 | +0.3% |
| 1983 | 176,269 | -0.9% |
| 1984 | 176,630 | +0.2% |
| 1985 | 175,048 | -0.9% |
| 1986 | 174,120 | -0.5% |
| 1987 | 177,710 | +2.1% |
| 1988 | 182,293 | +2.6% |
| 1989 | 186,280 | +2.2% |
| 1990 | 195,048 | +4.7% |
| 1991 | 200,906 | +3.0% |
| 1992 | 200,475 | -0.2% |
| 1993 | 201,295 | +0.4% |
| 1994 | 188,287 | -6.5% |
| 1995 | 179,285 | -4.8% |
| 1996 | 177,771 | -0.8% |
| 1997 | 176,542 | -0.7% |
| 1998 | 172,673 | -2.2% |
| 1999 | 173,588 | +0.5% |
| 2000 | 175,730 | +1.2% |
| 2001 | 176,325 | +0.3% |
| 2002 | 175,609 | -0.4% |
| 2003 | 174,347 | -0.7% |
| 2004 | 174,014 | -0.2% |
| 2005 | 173,935 | -0.0% |
| 2006 | 173,896 | -0.0% |
| 2007 | 173,517 | -0.2% |
| 2008 | 172,535 | -0.6% |
| 2009 | 172,409 | -0.1% |
| 2010 | 171,878 | -0.3% |
| 2011 | 173,043 | +0.7% |
| 2012 | 174,813 | +1.0% |
| 2013 | 177,868 | +1.7% |
| 2014 | 180,681 | +1.6% |
| 2015 | 182,804 | +1.2% |
| 2016 | 184,195 | +0.8% |
| 2017 | 184,850 | +0.4% |
| 2018 | 184,781 | -0.0% |
| 2019 | 184,172 | -0.3% |
| 2020 | 183,155 | -0.6% |
| 2021 | 181,706 | -0.8% |
| 2022 | 179,812 | -1.0% |
| 2023 | 181,658 | +1.0% |
| 2024 | 182,219 | +0.3% |
| 2025 | 178,421 | -2.1% |
Sri Lanka compared with similar countries
- Sri Lanka's 178,421 is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 59,702, 3.0× the median. (58 countries reporting)
- Sri Lanka's 178,421 is below the median for South Asia, which is 236,050, 76% of the median. (6 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 165,015 | 153,065 | 176,320 | 10 |
| 1980s | 178,103 | 174,120 | 186,280 | 10 |
| 1990s | 186,587 | 172,673 | 201,295 | 10 |
| 2000s | 174,232 | 172,409 | 176,325 | 10 |
| 2010s | 179,908 | 171,878 | 184,850 | 10 |
| 2020s | 181,162 | 178,421 | 183,155 | 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 secondary general in Sri Lanka?
- Population of the official entrance age to secondary general in Sri Lanka was 178,421 in 2025, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest population of the official entrance age to secondary general recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The highest recorded value was 201,295 in 1993.
- What is the lowest population of the official entrance age to secondary general recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The lowest recorded value was 153,065 in 1970.
- How does Sri Lanka rank for population of the official entrance age to secondary general?
- Sri Lanka ranks 69th out of 220 countries with data for 2025.
- Is population of the official entrance age to secondary general rising or falling in Sri Lanka?
- Over the last ten years it is down 2.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- 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 secondary general education, male (number). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release