Primary education, pupils in Sweden
Sweden: Primary education, pupils was 859,847 in 2024. ▲ Rising
Latest (2024)
859,847
Change on year
down 0.9%
World rank
90th
of 206 countries
All-time high
893,495
in 2018
All-time low
573,416
in 2009
Years of data
54
1971–2024
Primary education, pupils in Sweden, 1971–2024
Source: Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
Analysis
The most recent figure for primary education, pupils in Sweden is 859,847, measured in 2024.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.9% on the previous year and up 13.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, primary education, pupils in Sweden peaked at 893,495 in 2018 and was at its lowest, 573,416, in 2009.
Sweden ranks 90th of 206 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 54 years of available data.
Primary education, pupils in Sweden, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1971 | 615,331 | — |
| 1972 | 636,219 | +3.4% |
| 1973 | 653,055 | +2.6% |
| 1974 | 671,651 | +2.8% |
| 1975 | 688,806 | +2.6% |
| 1976 | 698,677 | +1.4% |
| 1977 | 698,017 | -0.1% |
| 1978 | 689,839 | -1.2% |
| 1979 | 686,811 | -0.4% |
| 1980 | 677,349 | -1.4% |
| 1981 | 666,679 | -1.6% |
| 1982 | 662,581 | -0.6% |
| 1983 | 658,127 | -0.7% |
| 1984 | 647,557 | -1.6% |
| 1985 | 630,505 | -2.6% |
| 1986 | 612,704 | -2.8% |
| 1987 | 600,122 | -2.1% |
| 1988 | 588,600 | -1.9% |
| 1989 | 580,200 | -1.4% |
| 1990 | 578,540 | -0.3% |
| 1991 | 578,359 | -0.0% |
| 1992 | 584,203 | +1.0% |
| 1993 | 614,551 | +5.2% |
| 1994 | 626,254 | +1.9% |
| 1995 | 643,768 | +2.8% |
| 1996 | 666,139 | +3.5% |
| 1997 | 690,630 | +3.7% |
| 1998 | 746,164 | +8.0% |
| 1999 | 763,028 | +2.3% |
| 2000 | 775,706 | +1.7% |
| 2001 | 786,027 | +1.3% |
| 2002 | 785,774 | -0.0% |
| 2003 | 774,888 | -1.4% |
| 2004 | 690,758 | -10.9% |
| 2005 | 658,461 | -4.7% |
| 2006 | 626,847 | -4.8% |
| 2007 | 601,120 | -4.1% |
| 2008 | 584,726 | -2.7% |
| 2009 | 573,416 | -1.9% |
| 2010 | 576,110 | +0.5% |
| 2011 | 578,486 | +0.4% |
| 2012 | 602,295 | +4.1% |
| 2013 | 733,412 | +21.8% |
| 2014 | 757,164 | +3.2% |
| 2015 | 791,893 | +4.6% |
| 2016 | 826,685 | +4.4% |
| 2017 | 861,086 | +4.2% |
| 2018 | 893,495 | +3.8% |
| 2019 | 888,850 | -0.5% |
| 2020 | 892,231 | +0.4% |
| 2021 | 880,822 | -1.3% |
| 2022 | 877,742 | -0.3% |
| 2023 | 867,281 | -1.2% |
| 2024 | 859,847 | -0.9% |
Sweden compared with similar countries
- Sweden's 859,847 is above the median for high income countries, which is 236,668, 3.6× the median. (78 countries reporting)
- Sweden's 859,847 is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 432,238, 2.0× the median. (53 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 670,934 | 615,331 | 698,677 | 9 |
| 1980s | 632,442 | 580,200 | 677,349 | 10 |
| 1990s | 649,164 | 578,359 | 763,028 | 10 |
| 2000s | 685,772 | 573,416 | 786,027 | 10 |
| 2010s | 750,948 | 576,110 | 893,495 | 10 |
| 2020s | 875,585 | 859,847 | 892,231 | 5 |
Countries ranked near Sweden
More education data for Sweden
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 77,813 (2024)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 1,302 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 235,975 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 222,360 (2024)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 987,895 (2024)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 859,847 (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate -0.8572 % change on previous year (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.0814 units per person (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is primary education, pupils in Sweden?
- Primary education, pupils in Sweden was 859,847 in 2024, according to Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
- What is the highest primary education, pupils recorded in Sweden?
- The highest recorded value was 893,495 in 2018.
- What is the lowest primary education, pupils recorded in Sweden?
- The lowest recorded value was 573,416 in 2009.
- How does Sweden rank for primary education, pupils?
- Sweden ranks 90th out of 206 countries with data for 2024.
- Is primary education, pupils rising or falling in Sweden?
- Over the last ten years it is up 13.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Sweden 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.