Primary education, pupils in Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka: Primary education, pupils was 49.2% in 2018. ▬ Flat

Latest (2018)
49.2%
Change on year
up 0.0%
World rank
35th
of 203 countries
All-time high
50.8%
in 2004
All-time low
47.1%
in 1970
Years of data
42
1970–2018

Primary education, pupils in Sri Lanka, 1970–2018

02040601970199420181970: 47.1 % female1971: 49.3 % female1975: 47.2 % female1976: 47.3 % female1977: 47.3 % female1978: 47.3 % female1980: 48 % female1981: 48.1 % female1982: 48.2 % female1983: 48.2 % female1984: 48.2 % female1985: 48.3 % female1986: 48.3 % female1987: 48.2 % female1988: 48.2 % female1989: 48.3 % female1990: 48.2 % female1991: 48.2 % female1992: 48.2 % female1993: 48.3 % female1994: 48.2 % female1995: 48.2 % female1996: 48.3 % female1998: 48.5 % female2001: 48.8 % female2002: 48.9 % female2003: 49 % female2004: 50.8 % female2005: 49.1 % female2006: 49 % female2007: 49 % female2008: 49.1 % female2009: 49.1 % female2010: 49.1 % female2011: 48.8 % female2012: 49.2 % female2013: 49.2 % female2014: 49.2 % female2015: 49.2 % female2016: 49.1 % female2017: 49.2 % female2018: 49.2 % female

Source: Stat Bulk Data Download Service, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Measured in % female.

Analysis

Sri Lanka recorded 49.2% for primary education, pupils in 2018.

The figure is up 0.3% over ten years.

Over the whole period, primary education, pupils in Sri Lanka peaked at 50.8% in 2004 and was at its lowest, 47.1%, in 1970.

That places Sri Lanka 35th out of 203 countries with data for 2018, putting it in the top quarter.

Primary education, pupils in Sri Lanka, year by year

Annual values for Primary education, pupils (% female) in Sri Lanka, 1970 to 2018.
Year % female Change
1970 47.1%
1971 49.3% +4.7%
1975 47.2% -4.2%
1976 47.3% +0.2%
1977 47.3% +0.0%
1978 47.3% -0.1%
1980 48.0% +1.5%
1981 48.1% +0.3%
1982 48.2% +0.2%
1983 48.2% -0.1%
1984 48.2% +0.1%
1985 48.3% +0.0%
1986 48.3% +0.0%
1987 48.2% -0.2%
1988 48.2% +0.1%
1989 48.3% +0.1%
1990 48.2% -0.1%
1991 48.2% -0.1%
1992 48.2% +0.0%
1993 48.3% +0.2%
1994 48.2% -0.1%
1995 48.2% -0.0%
1996 48.3% +0.2%
1998 48.5% +0.3%
2001 48.8% +0.6%
2002 48.9% +0.2%
2003 49.0% +0.3%
2004 50.8% +3.5%
2005 49.1% -3.4%
2006 49.0% -0.1%
2007 49.0% -0.0%
2008 49.1% +0.1%
2009 49.1% +0.1%
2010 49.1% -0.0%
2011 48.8% -0.6%
2012 49.2% +0.9%
2013 49.2% -0.1%
2014 49.2% -0.0%
2015 49.2% -0.0%
2016 49.1% -0.1%
2017 49.2% +0.2%
2018 49.2% +0.0%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1970s 47.6% 47.1% 49.3% 6
1980s 48.2% 48.0% 48.3% 10
1990s 48.3% 48.2% 48.5% 8
2000s 49.2% 48.8% 50.8% 9
2010s 49.1% 48.8% 49.2% 9

Countries ranked near Sri Lanka

  1. 32 Ghana 49.3% compare
  2. 33 Saint Kitts and Nevis 49.3% compare
  3. 34 Bhutan 49.3% compare
  4. 36 Namibia 49.2% compare
  5. 37 Antigua and Barbuda 49.2% compare
  6. 38 Guyana 49.2% compare

See the full ranking of 246 places →

More education data for Sri Lanka

All data for Sri Lanka →

Frequently asked questions

What is primary education, pupils in Sri Lanka?
Primary education, pupils in Sri Lanka was 49.2% in 2018, according to Stat Bulk Data Download Service, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
What is the highest primary education, pupils recorded in Sri Lanka?
The highest recorded value was 50.8% in 2004.
What is the lowest primary education, pupils recorded in Sri Lanka?
The lowest recorded value was 47.1% in 1970.
How does Sri Lanka rank for primary education, pupils?
Sri Lanka ranks 35th out of 203 countries with data for 2018.
Is primary education, pupils rising or falling in Sri Lanka?
Over the last ten years it is up 0.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
Where does this Sri Lanka data come from?
The figures come from Stat Bulk Data Download Service, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), published as part of Primary education, pupils (% female). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

Download this data

CSV · JSON — 42 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data).

Share, cite or embed this page

Cite this page

Primary education, pupils in Sri Lanka. Statizoid, drawing on Stat Bulk Data Download Service, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Retrieved 23 August 2026, from https://education.statizoid.com/stat/primary-education-pupils-percent-female/sri-lanka/

Embed or link this data

Paste this into a page to link back to these figures. The data itself is free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data); please keep the attribution.

<a href="https://education.statizoid.com/stat/primary-education-pupils-percent-female/sri-lanka/">Primary education, pupils in Sri Lanka</a> — Statizoid

About this data

Indicator
Primary education, pupils (% female)
Unit
% female
Source
Stat Bulk Data Download Service, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
246 places, 9,280 data points, 1970–2019
Last refreshed

Female pupils as a percentage of total pupils at primary level include enrollments in public and private schools.