Primary education, pupils in Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone: Primary education, pupils was 2.07 million in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Primary education, pupils in Sierra Leone, 1971–2024
Source: Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
Analysis
The most recent figure for primary education, pupils in Sierra Leone is 2.07 million, measured in 2024. That is the highest value across all 34 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 2.5% on the previous year and up 59.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, primary education, pupils in Sierra Leone peaked at 2.07 million in 2024 and was at its lowest, 166,107, in 1971.
Sierra Leone ranks 69th of 206 countries on this measure, 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 Sierra Leone, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1971 | 166,107 | — |
| 1972 | 176,658 | +6.4% |
| 1973 | 169,324 | -4.2% |
| 1974 | 181,911 | +7.4% |
| 1975 | 191,692 | +5.4% |
| 1976 | 205,910 | +7.4% |
| 1977 | 218,376 | +6.1% |
| 1978 | 227,815 | +4.3% |
| 1980 | 304,962 | +33.9% |
| 1981 | 315,145 | +3.3% |
| 1982 | 346,703 | +10.0% |
| 1983 | 350,160 | +1.0% |
| 1984 | 381,674 | +9.0% |
| 1985 | 416,024 | +9.0% |
| 1986 | 421,689 | +1.4% |
| 1988 | 422,210 | +0.1% |
| 1989 | 395,389 | -6.4% |
| 1990 | 391,152 | -1.1% |
| 1991 | 367,426 | -6.1% |
| 2000 | 442,915 | +20.5% |
| 2001 | 554,308 | +25.1% |
| 2011 | 1.19 million | +115.5% |
| 2012 | 1.25 million | +4.8% |
| 2013 | 1.30 million | +3.8% |
| 2015 | 1.36 million | +4.6% |
| 2016 | 1.41 million | +3.8% |
| 2017 | 1.49 million | +5.3% |
| 2018 | 1.37 million | -7.9% |
| 2019 | 1.77 million | +29.2% |
| 2020 | 1.76 million | -0.6% |
| 2021 | 1.96 million | +11.6% |
| 2022 | 2.05 million | +4.3% |
| 2023 | 2.02 million | -1.5% |
| 2024 | 2.07 million | +2.5% |
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Primary education, pupils in Sierra Leone changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | +115.5% | 554,308 | 1.19 million |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 192,224 | 166,107 | 227,815 | 8 |
| 1980s | 372,662 | 304,962 | 422,210 | 9 |
| 1990s | 379,289 | 367,426 | 391,152 | 2 |
| 2000s | 498,612 | 442,915 | 554,308 | 2 |
| 2010s | 1.39 million | 1.19 million | 1.77 million | 8 |
| 2020s | 1.97 million | 1.76 million | 2.07 million | 5 |
Countries ranked near Sierra Leone
More education data for Sierra Leone
- Gender gap education levels, gaps filled 97.5 (2012)
- Primary enrollment selected countries, gaps filled 97.37 (2023)
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 38,043 (2024)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 73,295 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 85,708 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 92,723 (2024)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 1.16 million (2023)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 2.07 million (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 2.52 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is primary education, pupils in Sierra Leone?
- Primary education, pupils in Sierra Leone was 2.07 million in 2024, according to Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
- What is the highest primary education, pupils recorded in Sierra Leone?
- The highest recorded value was 2.07 million in 2024.
- What is the lowest primary education, pupils recorded in Sierra Leone?
- The lowest recorded value was 166,107 in 1971.
- How does Sierra Leone rank for primary education, pupils?
- Sierra Leone ranks 69th out of 206 countries with data for 2024.
- Is primary education, pupils rising or falling in Sierra Leone?
- Over the last ten years it is up 59.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Sierra Leone 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.