Primary education, teachers in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka: Primary education, teachers was 73,333 in 2023. ▲ Rising
Primary education, teachers in Sri Lanka, 1976–2023
Source: Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
Analysis
The most recent figure for primary education, teachers in Sri Lanka is 73,333, measured in 2023.
That represents a change of up 2.3% on the previous year and down 1.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, primary education, teachers in Sri Lanka peaked at 78,641 in 2019 and was at its lowest, 48,096, in 1976.
Sri Lanka ranks 70th of 204 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 31 years of available data.
Primary education, teachers in Sri Lanka, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1976 | 48,096 | — |
| 1977 | 50,665 | +5.3% |
| 1978 | 60,835 | +20.1% |
| 1992 | 69,965 | +15.0% |
| 1993 | 70,008 | +0.1% |
| 1994 | 70,108 | +0.1% |
| 1995 | 70,537 | +0.6% |
| 1996 | 66,339 | -6.0% |
| 2001 | 67,265 | +1.4% |
| 2002 | 69,570 | +3.4% |
| 2003 | 71,201 | +2.3% |
| 2004 | 70,236 | -1.4% |
| 2005 | 73,471 | +4.6% |
| 2006 | 68,657 | -6.6% |
| 2007 | 68,114 | -0.8% |
| 2008 | 69,436 | +1.9% |
| 2009 | 69,948 | +0.7% |
| 2010 | 71,957 | +2.9% |
| 2011 | 72,114 | +0.2% |
| 2012 | 71,721 | -0.5% |
| 2013 | 74,415 | +3.8% |
| 2014 | 75,143 | +1.0% |
| 2015 | 76,803 | +2.2% |
| 2016 | 76,426 | -0.5% |
| 2017 | 76,173 | -0.3% |
| 2018 | 78,389 | +2.9% |
| 2019 | 78,641 | +0.3% |
| 2020 | 77,927 | -0.9% |
| 2021 | 71,903 | -7.7% |
| 2022 | 71,668 | -0.3% |
| 2023 | 73,333 | +2.3% |
Sri Lanka compared with similar countries
- Sri Lanka's 73,333 is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 24,978, 2.9× the median. (57 countries reporting)
- Sri Lanka's 73,333 is below the median for South Asia, which is 115,394, 64% of the median. (6 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 53,199 | 48,096 | 60,835 | 3 |
| 1990s | 69,391 | 66,339 | 70,537 | 5 |
| 2000s | 69,766 | 67,265 | 73,471 | 9 |
| 2010s | 75,178 | 71,721 | 78,641 | 10 |
| 2020s | 73,708 | 71,668 | 77,927 | 4 |
Countries ranked near Sri Lanka
More education data for Sri Lanka
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 155,543 (2023)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 0 (2023)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 224,799 (2023)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 214,300 (2023)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 2.54 million (2023)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 1.58 million (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate -2.89 % change on previous year (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.0715 units per person (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is primary education, teachers in Sri Lanka?
- Primary education, teachers in Sri Lanka was 73,333 in 2023, according to Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
- What is the highest primary education, teachers recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The highest recorded value was 78,641 in 2019.
- What is the lowest primary education, teachers recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The lowest recorded value was 48,096 in 1976.
- How does Sri Lanka rank for primary education, teachers?
- Sri Lanka ranks 70th out of 204 countries with data for 2023.
- Is primary education, teachers rising or falling in Sri Lanka?
- Over the last ten years it is down 1.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Sri Lanka data come from?
- The figures come from Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), published as part of Primary education, teachers. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Primary education, teachers refers to the total number of teachers at primary level, including full-time and part-time teachers.