Primary education, pupils in World
World: Primary education, pupils was 780.85 million in 2024. ▲ Rising
Latest (2024)
780.85 million
Change on year
up 1.4%
Rank
1st
of 45 groups
All-time high
780.85 million
in 2024
All-time low
414.88 million
in 1971
Years of data
55
1970–2024
Primary education, pupils in World, 1970–2024
Source: Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
Analysis
In 2024, primary education, pupils in World stood at 780.85 million. That is the highest value across all 55 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 1.4% on the previous year and up 9.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, primary education, pupils in World peaked at 780.85 million in 2024 and was at its lowest, 414.88 million, in 1971.
World ranks 1st of 45 groups on this measure, in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 55 years of available data.
Primary education, pupils in World, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 463.41 million | — |
| 1971 | 414.88 million | -10.5% |
| 1972 | 428.38 million | +3.3% |
| 1973 | 450.99 million | +5.3% |
| 1974 | 465.59 million | +3.2% |
| 1975 | 481.05 million | +3.3% |
| 1976 | 493.01 million | +2.5% |
| 1977 | 502.34 million | +1.9% |
| 1978 | 504.84 million | +0.5% |
| 1979 | 511.95 million | +1.4% |
| 1980 | 528.82 million | +3.3% |
| 1981 | 535.81 million | +1.3% |
| 1982 | 544.45 million | +1.6% |
| 1983 | 547.92 million | +0.6% |
| 1984 | 552.14 million | +0.8% |
| 1985 | 555.47 million | +0.6% |
| 1986 | 556.23 million | +0.1% |
| 1987 | 560.99 million | +0.9% |
| 1988 | 572.31 million | +2.0% |
| 1989 | 576.35 million | +0.7% |
| 1990 | 578.62 million | +0.4% |
| 1991 | 584.10 million | +0.9% |
| 1992 | 592.40 million | +1.4% |
| 1993 | 600.86 million | +1.4% |
| 1994 | 611.89 million | +1.8% |
| 1995 | 616.75 million | +0.8% |
| 1996 | 625.05 million | +1.3% |
| 1997 | 642.36 million | +2.8% |
| 1998 | 644.91 million | +0.4% |
| 1999 | 654.38 million | +1.5% |
| 2000 | 655.54 million | +0.2% |
| 2001 | 654.54 million | -0.2% |
| 2002 | 651.86 million | -0.4% |
| 2003 | 655.18 million | +0.5% |
| 2004 | 676.89 million | +3.3% |
| 2005 | 678.95 million | +0.3% |
| 2006 | 679.52 million | +0.1% |
| 2007 | 689.68 million | +1.5% |
| 2008 | 693.76 million | +0.6% |
| 2009 | 694.98 million | +0.2% |
| 2010 | 697.57 million | +0.4% |
| 2011 | 702.45 million | +0.7% |
| 2012 | 710.48 million | +1.1% |
| 2013 | 716.26 million | +0.8% |
| 2014 | 715.03 million | -0.2% |
| 2015 | 719.56 million | +0.6% |
| 2016 | 737.06 million | +2.4% |
| 2017 | 743.46 million | +0.9% |
| 2018 | 732.80 million | -1.4% |
| 2019 | 741.60 million | +1.2% |
| 2020 | 750.55 million | +1.2% |
| 2021 | 754.48 million | +0.5% |
| 2022 | 764.78 million | +1.4% |
| 2023 | 769.85 million | +0.7% |
| 2024 | 780.85 million | +1.4% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 471.65 million | 414.88 million | 511.95 million | 10 |
| 1980s | 553.05 million | 528.82 million | 576.35 million | 10 |
| 1990s | 615.13 million | 578.62 million | 654.38 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 673.09 million | 651.86 million | 694.98 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 721.63 million | 697.57 million | 743.46 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 764.10 million | 750.55 million | 780.85 million | 5 |
Countries ranked near World
More education data for World
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 651.68 million (2024)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 780.85 million (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 1.43 % change on previous year (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.0959 units per person (2024)
- Secondary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, teachers, gaps filled 34.10 million (2024)
- Population ages 15-64 65.2% (2025)
- Population ages 0-14 24.4% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is primary education, pupils in World?
- Primary education, pupils in World was 780.85 million in 2024, according to Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
- What is the highest primary education, pupils recorded in World?
- The highest recorded value was 780.85 million in 2024.
- What is the lowest primary education, pupils recorded in World?
- The lowest recorded value was 414.88 million in 1971.
- How does World rank for primary education, pupils?
- World ranks 1st out of 45 groups with data for 2024.
- Is primary education, pupils rising or falling in World?
- Over the last ten years it is up 9.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this World 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
CSV · JSON — 55 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data).
About this data
Primary education pupils is the total number of pupils enrolled at primary level in public and private schools.