Primary education, pupils in Nepal
Nepal: Primary education, pupils was 3.57 million in 2025. ▲ Rising
Latest (2025)
3.57 million
Change on year
up 1.3%
World rank
44th
of 206 countries
All-time high
4.95 million
in 2011
All-time low
389,825
in 1970
Years of data
53
1970–2025
Primary education, pupils in Nepal, 1970–2025
Source: Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
Analysis
Nepal recorded 3.57 million for primary education, pupils in 2025.
The figure is up 1.3% on the previous year and down 17.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, primary education, pupils in Nepal peaked at 4.95 million in 2011 and was at its lowest, 389,825, in 1970.
That places Nepal 44th out of 206 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 53 years of available data.
Primary education, pupils in Nepal, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 389,825 | — |
| 1972 | 393,269 | +0.9% |
| 1973 | 418,155 | +6.3% |
| 1974 | 470,365 | +12.5% |
| 1975 | 542,524 | +15.3% |
| 1976 | 643,835 | +18.7% |
| 1977 | 769,049 | +19.4% |
| 1978 | 875,494 | +13.8% |
| 1979 | 1.01 million | +15.7% |
| 1980 | 1.07 million | +5.5% |
| 1981 | 1.39 million | +30.0% |
| 1982 | 1.47 million | +6.2% |
| 1983 | 1.63 million | +10.3% |
| 1984 | 1.75 million | +7.5% |
| 1985 | 1.81 million | +3.7% |
| 1986 | 1.86 million | +2.5% |
| 1987 | 1.95 million | +5.1% |
| 1988 | 2.11 million | +8.0% |
| 1989 | 2.53 million | +19.8% |
| 1990 | 2.79 million | +10.4% |
| 1991 | 2.88 million | +3.4% |
| 1992 | 3.03 million | +5.2% |
| 1993 | 3.09 million | +1.9% |
| 1994 | 3.19 million | +3.2% |
| 1995 | 3.26 million | +2.2% |
| 1996 | 3.45 million | +5.7% |
| 1997 | 3.46 million | +0.4% |
| 1999 | 3.59 million | +3.7% |
| 2000 | 3.78 million | +5.4% |
| 2001 | 3.62 million | -4.2% |
| 2002 | 3.85 million | +6.4% |
| 2003 | 3.93 million | +1.9% |
| 2004 | 4.03 million | +2.5% |
| 2005 | 4.03 million | +0.1% |
| 2006 | 4.50 million | +11.7% |
| 2007 | 4.52 million | +0.3% |
| 2008 | 4.42 million | -2.1% |
| 2009 | 4.78 million | +8.2% |
| 2010 | 4.90 million | +2.5% |
| 2011 | 4.95 million | +1.0% |
| 2012 | 4.78 million | -3.4% |
| 2013 | 4.58 million | -4.3% |
| 2014 | 4.40 million | -3.8% |
| 2015 | 4.34 million | -1.5% |
| 2016 | 4.14 million | -4.6% |
| 2017 | 3.97 million | -4.0% |
| 2019 | 3.97 million | +0.0% |
| 2020 | 3.52 million | -11.3% |
| 2021 | 3.46 million | -1.9% |
| 2022 | 3.49 million | +0.9% |
| 2023 | 3.61 million | +3.6% |
| 2024 | 3.52 million | -2.5% |
| 2025 | 3.57 million | +1.3% |
Nepal compared with similar countries
- Nepal's 3.57 million is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 1.66 million, 2.2× the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Nepal's 3.57 million is above the median for South Asia, which is 2.57 million, 1.4× the median. (6 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 612,783 | 389,825 | 1.01 million | 9 |
| 1980s | 1.76 million | 1.07 million | 2.53 million | 10 |
| 1990s | 3.19 million | 2.79 million | 3.59 million | 9 |
| 2000s | 4.15 million | 3.62 million | 4.78 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 4.45 million | 3.97 million | 4.95 million | 9 |
| 2020s | 3.53 million | 3.46 million | 3.61 million | 6 |
Countries ranked near Nepal
More education data for Nepal
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 124,257 (2025)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 263,796 (2025)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 752,326 (2025)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 609,324 (2025)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 3.67 million (2024)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 3.57 million (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 1.31 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.1204 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is primary education, pupils in Nepal?
- Primary education, pupils in Nepal was 3.57 million in 2025, according to Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
- What is the highest primary education, pupils recorded in Nepal?
- The highest recorded value was 4.95 million in 2011.
- What is the lowest primary education, pupils recorded in Nepal?
- The lowest recorded value was 389,825 in 1970.
- How does Nepal rank for primary education, pupils?
- Nepal ranks 44th out of 206 countries with data for 2025.
- Is primary education, pupils rising or falling in Nepal?
- Over the last ten years it is down 17.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Nepal 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.