School age population, last grade of primary education, both sexes in MDG: World
MDG: World: School age population, last grade of primary education, both sexes was 136.68 million in 2024. ▲ Rising
Latest (2024)
136.68 million
Change on year
up 1.2%
Rank
3rd
of 221 groups
All-time high
136.68 million
in 2024
All-time low
89.46 million
in 1971
Years of data
55
1970–2024
School age population, last grade of primary education, both sexes in MDG: World, 1970–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
In 2024, school age population, last grade of primary education, both sexes in MDG: World stood at 136.68 million. That is the highest value across all 55 years on record.
The figure is up 1.2% on the previous year and up 11.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, school age population, last grade of primary education, both sexes in MDG: World peaked at 136.68 million in 2024 and was at its lowest, 89.46 million, in 1971.
That places MDG: World 3rd out of 221 groups with data for 2024, putting it in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 55 years of available data.
School age population, last grade of primary education, both sexes in MDG: World, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 92.12 million | — |
| 1971 | 89.46 million | -2.9% |
| 1972 | 89.73 million | +0.3% |
| 1973 | 89.82 million | +0.1% |
| 1974 | 99.54 million | +10.8% |
| 1975 | 105.90 million | +6.4% |
| 1976 | 103.81 million | -2.0% |
| 1977 | 104.64 million | +0.8% |
| 1978 | 104.68 million | +0.0% |
| 1979 | 104.06 million | -0.6% |
| 1980 | 108.55 million | +4.3% |
| 1981 | 108.81 million | +0.2% |
| 1982 | 110.17 million | +1.2% |
| 1983 | 109.55 million | -0.6% |
| 1984 | 109.51 million | -0.0% |
| 1985 | 109.54 million | +0.0% |
| 1986 | 108.62 million | -0.8% |
| 1987 | 107.33 million | -1.2% |
| 1988 | 107.39 million | +0.1% |
| 1989 | 106.90 million | -0.5% |
| 1990 | 108.06 million | +1.1% |
| 1991 | 110.05 million | +1.8% |
| 1992 | 111.70 million | +1.5% |
| 1993 | 113.65 million | +1.8% |
| 1994 | 116.49 million | +2.5% |
| 1995 | 115.05 million | -1.2% |
| 1996 | 117.07 million | +1.8% |
| 1997 | 118.79 million | +1.5% |
| 1998 | 121.36 million | +2.2% |
| 1999 | 123.44 million | +1.7% |
| 2000 | 123.15 million | -0.2% |
| 2001 | 124.86 million | +1.4% |
| 2002 | 126.44 million | +1.3% |
| 2003 | 121.49 million | -3.9% |
| 2004 | 120.42 million | -0.9% |
| 2005 | 120.06 million | -0.3% |
| 2006 | 119.88 million | -0.1% |
| 2007 | 119.81 million | -0.1% |
| 2008 | 119.57 million | -0.2% |
| 2009 | 119.59 million | +0.0% |
| 2010 | 120.02 million | +0.4% |
| 2011 | 121.27 million | +1.0% |
| 2012 | 122.72 million | +1.2% |
| 2013 | 122.30 million | -0.3% |
| 2014 | 122.70 million | +0.3% |
| 2015 | 123.44 million | +0.6% |
| 2016 | 124.41 million | +0.8% |
| 2017 | 125.72 million | +1.0% |
| 2018 | 127.94 million | +1.8% |
| 2019 | 129.85 million | +1.5% |
| 2020 | 131.78 million | +1.5% |
| 2021 | 132.70 million | +0.7% |
| 2022 | 133.75 million | +0.8% |
| 2023 | 135.06 million | +1.0% |
| 2024 | 136.68 million | +1.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 98.38 million | 89.46 million | 105.90 million | 10 |
| 1980s | 108.64 million | 106.90 million | 110.17 million | 10 |
| 1990s | 115.57 million | 108.06 million | 123.44 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 121.53 million | 119.57 million | 126.44 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 124.04 million | 120.02 million | 129.85 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 134.00 million | 131.78 million | 136.68 million | 5 |
Countries ranked near MDG: World
More education data for MDG: World
- Enrolment in secondary education, both sexes (number), annual growth 0.5777 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), gaps filled 337.02 million (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, female (number), annual growth rate 0.7457 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, female (number), gaps filled 314.66 million (2024)
- Teachers in primary education, both sexes (number), annual growth rate 1.22 % change on previous year (2024)
- Teachers in primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 34.10 million (2024)
- Enrolment in primary education, male (number), annual growth rate 1.21 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in primary education, female (number), gaps filled 376.42 million (2024)
- Enrolment in primary education, male (number), gaps filled 404.43 million (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), annual growth rate 0.4213 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is school age population, last grade of primary education, both sexes in MDG: World?
- School age population, last grade of primary education, both sexes in MDG: World was 136.68 million in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest school age population, last grade of primary education, both sexes recorded in MDG: World?
- The highest recorded value was 136.68 million in 2024.
- What is the lowest school age population, last grade of primary education, both sexes recorded in MDG: World?
- The lowest recorded value was 89.46 million in 1971.
- How does MDG: World rank for school age population, last grade of primary education, both sexes?
- MDG: World ranks 3rd out of 221 groups with data for 2024.
- Is school age population, last grade of primary education, both sexes rising or falling in MDG: World?
- Over the last ten years it is up 11.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this MDG: World data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of School age population, last grade of primary education, both sexes (number). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release