Primary education, pupils, gaps filled in South Asia
South Asia: Primary education, pupils, gaps filled was 160.82 million in 2024. ▲ Rising
Primary education, pupils, gaps filled in South Asia, 1970–2024
Source: Statizoid (derived).
Analysis
In 2024, primary education, pupils, gaps filled in South Asia stood at 160.82 million.
That represents a change of up 4.5% on the previous year and down 0.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, primary education, pupils, gaps filled in South Asia peaked at 169.53 million in 2016 and was at its lowest, 64.29 million, in 1971.
South Asia ranks 20th of 45 groups on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 55 years of available data.
Primary education, pupils, gaps filled in South Asia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 120.99 million | — |
| 1971 | 64.29 million | -46.9% |
| 1972 | 67.23 million | +4.6% |
| 1973 | 72.19 million | +7.4% |
| 1974 | 72.85 million | +0.9% |
| 1975 | 75.23 million | +3.3% |
| 1976 | 76.46 million | +1.6% |
| 1977 | 79.64 million | +4.2% |
| 1978 | 78.45 million | -1.5% |
| 1979 | 79.90 million | +1.9% |
| 1980 | 82.63 million | +3.4% |
| 1981 | 85.75 million | +3.8% |
| 1982 | 88.19 million | +2.9% |
| 1983 | 92.17 million | +4.5% |
| 1984 | 95.52 million | +3.6% |
| 1985 | 96.99 million | +1.5% |
| 1986 | 100.81 million | +3.9% |
| 1987 | 100.42 million | -0.4% |
| 1988 | 105.82 million | +5.4% |
| 1989 | 111.76 million | +5.6% |
| 1990 | 114.25 million | +2.2% |
| 1991 | 116.64 million | +2.1% |
| 1992 | 119.65 million | +2.6% |
| 1993 | 123.89 million | +3.5% |
| 1994 | 127.14 million | +2.6% |
| 1995 | 128.41 million | +1.0% |
| 1996 | 129.52 million | +0.9% |
| 1997 | 130.49 million | +0.7% |
| 1998 | 129.84 million | -0.5% |
| 1999 | 131.72 million | +1.4% |
| 2000 | 134.66 million | +2.2% |
| 2001 | 134.82 million | +0.1% |
| 2002 | 136.56 million | +1.3% |
| 2003 | 147.20 million | +7.8% |
| 2004 | 150.29 million | +2.1% |
| 2005 | 153.49 million | +2.1% |
| 2006 | 157.15 million | +2.4% |
| 2007 | 160.35 million | +2.0% |
| 2008 | 161.52 million | +0.7% |
| 2009 | 161.46 million | -0.0% |
| 2010 | 162.18 million | +0.4% |
| 2011 | 163.02 million | +0.5% |
| 2012 | 164.93 million | +1.2% |
| 2013 | 165.87 million | +0.6% |
| 2014 | 162.18 million | -2.2% |
| 2015 | 162.60 million | +0.3% |
| 2016 | 169.53 million | +4.3% |
| 2017 | 166.50 million | -1.8% |
| 2018 | 145.65 million | -12.5% |
| 2019 | 143.33 million | -1.6% |
| 2020 | 144.67 million | +0.9% |
| 2021 | 144.93 million | +0.2% |
| 2022 | 154.19 million | +6.4% |
| 2023 | 153.90 million | -0.2% |
| 2024 | 160.82 million | +4.5% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 78.72 million | 64.29 million | 120.99 million | 10 |
| 1980s | 96.01 million | 82.63 million | 111.76 million | 10 |
| 1990s | 125.16 million | 114.25 million | 131.72 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 149.75 million | 134.66 million | 161.52 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 160.58 million | 143.33 million | 169.53 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 151.70 million | 144.67 million | 160.82 million | 5 |
Countries ranked near South Asia
- 17 Uganda 8.84 million compare
- 18 Kenya 8.04 million compare
- 19 Mozambique 7.66 million compare
- 20 Russia 7.55 million compare
- 21 South Africa 7.52 million compare
- 22 Afghanistan 7.51 million compare
- 23 Japan 6.25 million compare
More education data for South Asia
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 4.5 % change on previous year (2024)
- Population ages 0-14 24.6% (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.0959 units per person (2024)
- Secondary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 15-64 68.1% (2025)
- Primary education, teachers, gaps filled 5.84 million (2024)
- School enrollment, primary 119.0% (2024)
- Primary education, teachers 5.84 million (2024)
- Primary education, teachers, per capita 0.0035 units per person (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is primary education, pupils, gaps filled in South Asia?
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled in South Asia was 160.82 million in 2024, according to Statizoid (derived).
- What is the highest primary education, pupils, gaps filled recorded in South Asia?
- The highest recorded value was 169.53 million in 2016.
- What is the lowest primary education, pupils, gaps filled recorded in South Asia?
- The lowest recorded value was 64.29 million in 1971.
- How does South Asia rank for primary education, pupils, gaps filled?
- South Asia ranks 20th out of 45 groups with data for 2024.
- Is primary education, pupils, gaps filled rising or falling in South Asia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 0.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this South Asia data come from?
- The figures come from Statizoid (derived), published as part of Primary education, pupils, gaps filled. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 55 observations, free to reuse under Derived by Statizoid from the sources named on the page.
How this figure is calculated
Primary education, pupils with 569 missing years estimated by linear interpolation between the nearest real observations. Only gaps of 4 years or fewer are filled, and never beyond the first or last actual measurement — these are filled holes, not forecasts.
Computed from
- Primary education, pupils Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
Statizoid computes this series; the underlying measurements belong to the publishers named above. The arithmetic is applied to every country and year where both inputs report, and nothing is estimated unless the page says so.
About this data
Primary education, pupils with 569 missing years estimated by linear interpolation between the nearest real observations. Only gaps of 4 years or fewer are filled, and never beyond the first or last actual measurement — these are filled holes, not forecasts.