Primary education, pupils in Latin America & Caribbean (excluding high income)
Latin America & Caribbean (excluding high income): Primary education, pupils was 55.17 million in 2024. ▲ Rising
Primary education, pupils in Latin America & Caribbean (excluding high income), 1970–2024
Source: Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
Analysis
The most recent figure for primary education, pupils in Latin America & Caribbean (excluding high income) is 55.17 million, measured in 2024.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.2% on the previous year and down 6.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, primary education, pupils in Latin America & Caribbean (excluding high income) peaked at 63.91 million in 1999 and was at its lowest, 39.62 million, in 1971.
That places Latin America & Caribbean (excluding high income) 34th out of 43 groups with data for 2024, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 55 years of available data.
Primary education, pupils in Latin America & Caribbean (excluding high income), year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 45.30 million | — |
| 1971 | 39.62 million | -12.5% |
| 1972 | 40.68 million | +2.7% |
| 1973 | 42.10 million | +3.5% |
| 1974 | 43.15 million | +2.5% |
| 1975 | 43.75 million | +1.4% |
| 1976 | 44.37 million | +1.4% |
| 1977 | 46.06 million | +3.8% |
| 1978 | 47.50 million | +3.1% |
| 1979 | 49.89 million | +5.0% |
| 1980 | 50.97 million | +2.2% |
| 1981 | 51.81 million | +1.6% |
| 1982 | 53.62 million | +3.5% |
| 1983 | 53.40 million | -0.4% |
| 1984 | 55.11 million | +3.2% |
| 1985 | 55.83 million | +1.3% |
| 1986 | 54.29 million | -2.8% |
| 1987 | 56.17 million | +3.5% |
| 1988 | 57.87 million | +3.0% |
| 1989 | 57.10 million | -1.3% |
| 1990 | 59.08 million | +3.5% |
| 1991 | 57.79 million | -2.2% |
| 1992 | 58.77 million | +1.7% |
| 1993 | 59.50 million | +1.2% |
| 1994 | 60.34 million | +1.4% |
| 1995 | 57.13 million | -5.3% |
| 1996 | 57.93 million | +1.4% |
| 1997 | 62.97 million | +8.7% |
| 1998 | 58.47 million | -7.2% |
| 1999 | 63.91 million | +9.3% |
| 2000 | 63.56 million | -0.5% |
| 2001 | 63.23 million | -0.5% |
| 2002 | 63.26 million | +0.0% |
| 2003 | 62.79 million | -0.7% |
| 2004 | 62.84 million | +0.1% |
| 2005 | 62.42 million | -0.7% |
| 2006 | 59.85 million | -4.1% |
| 2007 | 61.88 million | +3.4% |
| 2008 | 61.52 million | -0.6% |
| 2009 | 61.41 million | -0.2% |
| 2010 | 60.80 million | -1.0% |
| 2011 | 60.21 million | -1.0% |
| 2012 | 59.44 million | -1.3% |
| 2013 | 59.71 million | +0.4% |
| 2014 | 58.98 million | -1.2% |
| 2015 | 58.21 million | -1.3% |
| 2016 | 57.78 million | -0.7% |
| 2017 | 57.38 million | -0.7% |
| 2018 | 57.10 million | -0.5% |
| 2019 | 56.91 million | -0.3% |
| 2020 | 56.36 million | -1.0% |
| 2021 | 55.88 million | -0.9% |
| 2022 | 55.71 million | -0.3% |
| 2023 | 55.29 million | -0.8% |
| 2024 | 55.17 million | -0.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 44.24 million | 39.62 million | 49.89 million | 10 |
| 1980s | 54.62 million | 50.97 million | 57.87 million | 10 |
| 1990s | 59.59 million | 57.13 million | 63.91 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 62.28 million | 59.85 million | 63.56 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 58.65 million | 56.91 million | 60.80 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 55.68 million | 55.17 million | 56.36 million | 5 |
Countries ranked near Latin America & Caribbean (excluding high income)
More education data for Latin America & Caribbean (excluding high income)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 55.17 million (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate -0.215 % change on previous year (2024)
- Primary education, teachers, gaps filled 2.79 million (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.0886 units per person (2024)
- Population ages 15-64 67.7% (2025)
- Secondary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 0-14 22.4% (2025)
- School enrollment, primary 104.3% (2024)
- Primary education, teachers 2.79 million (2024)
All data for Latin America & Caribbean (excluding high income) →
Frequently asked questions
- What is primary education, pupils in Latin America & Caribbean (excluding high income)?
- Primary education, pupils in Latin America & Caribbean (excluding high income) was 55.17 million in 2024, according to Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
- What is the highest primary education, pupils recorded in Latin America & Caribbean (excluding high income)?
- The highest recorded value was 63.91 million in 1999.
- What is the lowest primary education, pupils recorded in Latin America & Caribbean (excluding high income)?
- The lowest recorded value was 39.62 million in 1971.
- How does Latin America & Caribbean (excluding high income) rank for primary education, pupils?
- Latin America & Caribbean (excluding high income) ranks 34th out of 43 groups with data for 2024.
- Is primary education, pupils rising or falling in Latin America & Caribbean (excluding high income)?
- Over the last ten years it is down 6.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Latin America & Caribbean (excluding high income) 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.