Primary education, pupils in Ethiopia
Ethiopia: Primary education, pupils was 15.93 million in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
15.93 million
Change on year
up 2.5%
World rank
9th
of 206 countries
All-time high
20.42 million
in 2020
All-time low
655,427
in 1971
Years of data
50
1971–2024
Primary education, pupils in Ethiopia, 1971–2024
Source: Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
Analysis
The most recent figure for primary education, pupils in Ethiopia is 15.93 million, measured in 2024.
That represents a change of up 2.5% on the previous year and up 1.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, primary education, pupils in Ethiopia peaked at 20.42 million in 2020 and was at its lowest, 655,427, in 1971.
That places Ethiopia 9th out of 206 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Primary education, pupils in Ethiopia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1971 | 655,427 | — |
| 1972 | 716,729 | +9.4% |
| 1973 | 762,686 | +6.4% |
| 1974 | 859,831 | +12.7% |
| 1975 | 959,822 | +11.6% |
| 1976 | 1.08 million | +13.0% |
| 1977 | 1.18 million | +8.5% |
| 1978 | 1.14 million | -2.8% |
| 1979 | 1.38 million | +20.5% |
| 1980 | 1.81 million | +31.5% |
| 1981 | 2.13 million | +17.6% |
| 1982 | 2.37 million | +11.4% |
| 1983 | 2.51 million | +5.8% |
| 1984 | 2.50 million | -0.6% |
| 1985 | 2.41 million | -3.6% |
| 1986 | 2.45 million | +1.7% |
| 1987 | 2.74 million | +11.8% |
| 1988 | 2.88 million | +5.4% |
| 1989 | 2.86 million | -1.0% |
| 1990 | 2.66 million | -6.8% |
| 1991 | 2.47 million | -7.4% |
| 1992 | 2.06 million | -16.3% |
| 1993 | 1.86 million | -10.1% |
| 1994 | 2.28 million | +23.0% |
| 1995 | 2.72 million | +19.2% |
| 1996 | 3.38 million | +24.2% |
| 1997 | 4.01 million | +18.6% |
| 1998 | 5.09 million | +27.1% |
| 1999 | 5.17 million | +1.5% |
| 2000 | 5.85 million | +13.2% |
| 2001 | 6.65 million | +13.7% |
| 2002 | 7.21 million | +8.5% |
| 2003 | 7.62 million | +5.7% |
| 2004 | 8.27 million | +8.5% |
| 2005 | 10.02 million | +21.2% |
| 2006 | 10.97 million | +9.5% |
| 2007 | 12.17 million | +11.0% |
| 2008 | 13.38 million | +9.9% |
| 2009 | 13.57 million | +1.4% |
| 2010 | 13.64 million | +0.5% |
| 2011 | 13.49 million | -1.1% |
| 2012 | 14.53 million | +7.7% |
| 2014 | 15.73 million | +8.3% |
| 2015 | 16.20 million | +3.0% |
| 2017 | 17.93 million | +10.7% |
| 2020 | 20.42 million | +13.9% |
| 2021 | 18.45 million | -9.7% |
| 2022 | 15.52 million | -15.9% |
| 2023 | 15.55 million | +0.2% |
| 2024 | 15.93 million | +2.5% |
Ethiopia compared with similar countries
- Ethiopia's 15.93 million is above the median for low income countries, which is 3.01 million, 5.3× the median. (23 countries reporting)
- Ethiopia's 15.93 million is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 2.40 million, 6.6× the median. (47 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 970,706 | 655,427 | 1.38 million | 9 |
| 1980s | 2.47 million | 1.81 million | 2.88 million | 10 |
| 1990s | 3.17 million | 1.86 million | 5.17 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 9.57 million | 5.85 million | 13.57 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 15.25 million | 13.49 million | 17.93 million | 6 |
| 2020s | 17.17 million | 15.52 million | 20.42 million | 5 |
Countries ranked near Ethiopia
- 6 United States 23.83 million compare
- 7 Democratic Republic of Congo 21.15 million compare
- 8 Bangladesh 16.69 million compare
- 10 Egypt 15.40 million compare
- 11 Brazil 15.11 million compare
- 12 Mexico 13.19 million compare
More education data for Ethiopia
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 272,545 (2024)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 900,151 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 2.32 million (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 2.16 million (2024)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 5.03 million (2015)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 15.93 million (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 2.45 % change on previous year (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.1206 units per person (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is primary education, pupils in Ethiopia?
- Primary education, pupils in Ethiopia was 15.93 million in 2024, according to Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
- What is the highest primary education, pupils recorded in Ethiopia?
- The highest recorded value was 20.42 million in 2020.
- What is the lowest primary education, pupils recorded in Ethiopia?
- The lowest recorded value was 655,427 in 1971.
- How does Ethiopia rank for primary education, pupils?
- Ethiopia ranks 9th out of 206 countries with data for 2024.
- Is primary education, pupils rising or falling in Ethiopia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 1.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Ethiopia data come from?
- The figures come from Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), published as part of Primary education, pupils. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 50 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data).
About this data
Primary education pupils is the total number of pupils enrolled at primary level in public and private schools.