Share of children in primary school age who are in school in Serbia
Serbia: Share of children in primary school age who are in school was 96.7% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
96.7%
Change on year
up 0.7%
World rank
95th
of 209 countries
All-time high
99.2%
in 2006
All-time low
0.5%
in 1820
Years of data
52
1820–2024
Share of children in primary school age who are in school in Serbia, 1820–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics (2026); Lee and Lee (2016) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2024, share of children in primary school age who are in school in Serbia stood at 96.7%.
The figure is up 0.7% on the previous year and down 2.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of children in primary school age who are in school in Serbia peaked at 99.2% in 2006 and was at its lowest, 0.5%, in 1820.
That places Serbia 95th out of 209 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Share of children in primary school age who are in school in Serbia, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1820 | 0.5% | — |
| 1825 | 0.6% | +22.4% |
| 1830 | 0.7% | +21.7% |
| 1835 | 0.9% | +21.9% |
| 1840 | 1.1% | +21.3% |
| 1845 | 1.3% | +21.3% |
| 1850 | 1.6% | +22.1% |
| 1855 | 1.9% | +21.2% |
| 1860 | 2.4% | +21.1% |
| 1865 | 2.9% | +21.3% |
| 1870 | 3.5% | +21.1% |
| 1875 | 6.2% | +79.4% |
| 1880 | 8.9% | +44.3% |
| 1885 | 11.7% | +30.7% |
| 1890 | 14.4% | +23.5% |
| 1895 | 16.8% | +16.4% |
| 1900 | 19.2% | +14.2% |
| 1905 | 21.2% | +10.9% |
| 1910 | 23.4% | +9.9% |
| 1915 | 30.0% | +28.7% |
| 1920 | 36.7% | +22.3% |
| 1925 | 42.3% | +15.0% |
| 1930 | 47.8% | +13.0% |
| 1935 | 46.6% | -2.3% |
| 1940 | 45.5% | -2.4% |
| 1945 | 55.9% | +22.8% |
| 1950 | 66.3% | +18.6% |
| 1955 | 75.3% | +13.7% |
| 1960 | 87.0% | +15.5% |
| 1965 | 84.0% | -3.4% |
| 1970 | 78.0% | -7.1% |
| 1975 | 79.0% | +1.3% |
| 1980 | 80.0% | +1.3% |
| 2005 | 98.7% | +23.4% |
| 2006 | 99.2% | +0.5% |
| 2007 | 98.7% | -0.5% |
| 2008 | 98.6% | -0.2% |
| 2009 | 96.5% | -2.0% |
| 2010 | 94.9% | -1.7% |
| 2011 | 97.4% | +2.6% |
| 2012 | 96.4% | -1.1% |
| 2013 | 96.5% | +0.1% |
| 2014 | 98.8% | +2.4% |
| 2015 | 99.1% | +0.3% |
| 2016 | 99.2% | +0.1% |
| 2017 | 99.0% | -0.2% |
| 2018 | 98.6% | -0.4% |
| 2019 | 98.2% | -0.4% |
| 2020 | 97.1% | -1.1% |
| 2021 | 96.3% | -0.9% |
| 2022 | 96.0% | -0.2% |
| 2024 | 96.7% | +0.7% |
Serbia compared with similar countries
- Serbia's 96.7% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 96.0%, 1.0× the median. (56 countries reporting)
- Serbia's 96.7% is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 98.6%, 98% of the median. (51 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1820s | 0.5% | 0.5% | 0.6% | 2 |
| 1830s | 0.8% | 0.7% | 0.9% | 2 |
| 1840s | 1.2% | 1.1% | 1.3% | 2 |
| 1850s | 1.8% | 1.6% | 1.9% | 2 |
| 1860s | 2.6% | 2.4% | 2.9% | 2 |
| 1870s | 4.8% | 3.5% | 6.2% | 2 |
| 1880s | 10.3% | 8.9% | 11.7% | 2 |
| 1890s | 15.6% | 14.4% | 16.8% | 2 |
| 1900s | 20.2% | 19.2% | 21.2% | 2 |
| 1910s | 26.7% | 23.4% | 30.0% | 2 |
| 1920s | 39.5% | 36.7% | 42.3% | 2 |
| 1930s | 47.2% | 46.6% | 47.8% | 2 |
| 1940s | 50.7% | 45.5% | 55.9% | 2 |
| 1950s | 70.8% | 66.3% | 75.3% | 2 |
| 1960s | 85.5% | 84.0% | 87.0% | 2 |
| 1970s | 78.5% | 78.0% | 79.0% | 2 |
| 1980s | 80.0% | 80.0% | 80.0% | 1 |
| 2000s | 98.3% | 96.5% | 99.2% | 5 |
| 2010s | 97.8% | 94.9% | 99.2% | 10 |
| 2020s | 96.5% | 96.0% | 97.1% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Serbia
- 92 Sao Tome and Principe 97.1% compare
- 93 Kyrgyzstan 97.0% compare
- 94 Saint Kitts and Nevis 96.9% compare
- 96 Estonia 96.6% compare
- 97 Madagascar 96.6% compare
- 98 Bermuda 96.6% compare
More education data for Serbia
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 67,944 (2024)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 530 (2022)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 89,461 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 84,207 (2024)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 478,731 (2024)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 251,941 (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate -0.2155 % change on previous year (2022)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.0383 units per person (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of children in primary school age who are in school in Serbia?
- Share of children in primary school age who are in school in Serbia was 96.7% in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics (2026); Lee and Lee (2016) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of children in primary school age who are in school recorded in Serbia?
- The highest recorded value was 99.2% in 2006.
- What is the lowest share of children in primary school age who are in school recorded in Serbia?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.5% in 1820.
- How does Serbia rank for share of children in primary school age who are in school?
- Serbia ranks 95th out of 209 countries with data for 2024.
- Is share of children in primary school age who are in school rising or falling in Serbia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 2.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Serbia data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics (2026); Lee and Lee (2016) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of children in primary school age who are in school. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of children of primary school age (typically 6–11 years) who are enrolled in primary education.