Primary education, pupils in Ethiopia
Ethiopia: Primary education, pupils was 15.93 million in 2024. ◆ Volatile
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.
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
- Duration of pre-primary education 3 years (2025)
- Official entrance age to pre-primary education 4 years (2025)
- Population ages 15-64 57.9% (2025)
- Population ages 0-14 38.8% (2025)
- Lower secondary school starting age 13 years (2025)
- Primary school starting age 7 years (2025)
- School enrollment, primary 84.4% (2024)
- Primary education, teachers 338,716 (2024)
- Fertility rate vs. average years of schooling 3.91 live births per woman (2024)
- School enrollment, primary, female 81.4% (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.
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About this data
Primary education pupils is the total number of pupils enrolled at primary level in public and private schools.