Primary education, pupils in Gambia
Gambia: Primary education, pupils was 442,901 in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Primary education, pupils in Gambia, 1971–2025
Source: Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
Analysis
Gambia recorded 442,901 for primary education, pupils in 2025. That is the highest value across all 55 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 2.4% on the previous year and up 50.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, primary education, pupils in Gambia peaked at 442,901 in 2025 and was at its lowest, 17,140, in 1971.
That places Gambia 115th out of 206 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Primary education, pupils in Gambia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1971 | 17,140 | — |
| 1972 | 17,463 | +1.9% |
| 1973 | 19,421 | +11.2% |
| 1974 | 20,724 | +6.7% |
| 1975 | 22,424 | +8.2% |
| 1976 | 24,617 | +9.8% |
| 1977 | 25,513 | +3.6% |
| 1978 | 27,560 | +8.0% |
| 1979 | 32,220 | +16.9% |
| 1980 | 37,468 | +16.3% |
| 1981 | 47,101 | +25.7% |
| 1982 | 53,000 | +12.5% |
| 1983 | 58,356 | +10.1% |
| 1984 | 64,531 | +10.6% |
| 1985 | 69,512 | +7.7% |
| 1986 | 72,917 | +4.9% |
| 1987 | 74,455 | +2.1% |
| 1988 | 75,093 | +0.9% |
| 1989 | 73,673 | -1.9% |
| 1990 | 77,767 | +5.6% |
| 1991 | 86,307 | +11.0% |
| 1992 | 90,645 | +5.0% |
| 1993 | 97,262 | +7.3% |
| 1994 | 105,471 | +8.4% |
| 1995 | 113,241 | +7.4% |
| 1996 | 124,513 | +10.0% |
| 1997 | 133,409 | +7.1% |
| 1998 | 141,567 | +6.1% |
| 1999 | 170,371 | +20.3% |
| 2000 | 174,626 | +2.5% |
| 2001 | 181,835 | +4.1% |
| 2002 | 182,562 | +0.4% |
| 2003 | 196,426 | +7.6% |
| 2004 | 204,731 | +4.2% |
| 2005 | 205,347 | +0.3% |
| 2006 | 207,474 | +1.0% |
| 2007 | 218,638 | +5.4% |
| 2008 | 220,931 | +1.0% |
| 2009 | 224,058 | +1.4% |
| 2010 | 228,105 | +1.8% |
| 2011 | 228,495 | +0.2% |
| 2012 | 244,033 | +6.8% |
| 2013 | 256,912 | +5.3% |
| 2014 | 274,939 | +7.0% |
| 2015 | 293,503 | +6.8% |
| 2016 | 308,729 | +5.2% |
| 2017 | 329,828 | +6.8% |
| 2018 | 350,323 | +6.2% |
| 2019 | 374,962 | +7.0% |
| 2020 | 393,057 | +4.8% |
| 2021 | 401,333 | +2.1% |
| 2022 | 414,477 | +3.3% |
| 2023 | 428,053 | +3.3% |
| 2024 | 432,514 | +1.0% |
| 2025 | 442,901 | +2.4% |
Gambia compared with similar countries
- Gambia's 442,901 is below the median for low income countries, which is 3.01 million, 15% of the median. (23 countries reporting)
- Gambia's 442,901 is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 2.40 million, 18% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 23,009 | 17,140 | 32,220 | 9 |
| 1980s | 62,611 | 37,468 | 75,093 | 10 |
| 1990s | 114,055 | 77,767 | 170,371 | 10 |
| 2000s | 201,663 | 174,626 | 224,058 | 10 |
| 2010s | 288,983 | 228,105 | 374,962 | 10 |
| 2020s | 418,722 | 393,057 | 442,901 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Gambia
More education data for Gambia
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 12,452 (2021)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 16,389 (2025)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 71,238 (2025)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 77,061 (2025)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 369,783 (2021)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 442,901 (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 2.4 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0.0002 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.1569 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is primary education, pupils in Gambia?
- Primary education, pupils in Gambia was 442,901 in 2025, according to Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
- What is the highest primary education, pupils recorded in Gambia?
- The highest recorded value was 442,901 in 2025.
- What is the lowest primary education, pupils recorded in Gambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 17,140 in 1971.
- How does Gambia rank for primary education, pupils?
- Gambia ranks 115th out of 206 countries with data for 2025.
- Is primary education, pupils rising or falling in Gambia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 50.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Gambia 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
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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.