School age population, one year before the official primary entry in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka: School age population, one year before the official primary entry was 166,868 in 2025. ▬ Flat
Latest (2025)
166,868
Change on year
down 1.0%
World rank
70th
of 222 countries
All-time high
203,031
in 1985
All-time low
161,364
in 1994
Years of data
56
1970–2025
School age population, one year before the official primary entry in Sri Lanka, 1970–2025
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
The most recent figure for school age population, one year before the official primary entry in Sri Lanka is 166,868, measured in 2025.
The figure is down 1.0% on the previous year and down 8.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, school age population, one year before the official primary entry in Sri Lanka peaked at 203,031 in 1985 and was at its lowest, 161,364, in 1994.
Sri Lanka ranks 70th of 222 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
School age population, one year before the official primary entry in Sri Lanka, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 171,226 | — |
| 1971 | 172,427 | +0.7% |
| 1972 | 173,918 | +0.9% |
| 1973 | 178,272 | +2.5% |
| 1974 | 179,349 | +0.6% |
| 1975 | 179,361 | +0.0% |
| 1976 | 179,956 | +0.3% |
| 1977 | 178,473 | -0.8% |
| 1978 | 179,104 | +0.4% |
| 1979 | 177,811 | -0.7% |
| 1980 | 176,964 | -0.5% |
| 1981 | 180,614 | +2.1% |
| 1982 | 185,274 | +2.6% |
| 1983 | 189,068 | +2.0% |
| 1984 | 197,449 | +4.4% |
| 1985 | 203,031 | +2.8% |
| 1986 | 202,371 | -0.3% |
| 1987 | 203,010 | +0.3% |
| 1988 | 189,729 | -6.5% |
| 1989 | 180,522 | -4.9% |
| 1990 | 175,742 | -2.6% |
| 1991 | 170,092 | -3.2% |
| 1992 | 164,887 | -3.1% |
| 1993 | 162,941 | -1.2% |
| 1994 | 161,364 | -1.0% |
| 1995 | 165,259 | +2.4% |
| 1996 | 168,136 | +1.7% |
| 1997 | 169,351 | +0.7% |
| 1998 | 172,295 | +1.7% |
| 1999 | 173,298 | +0.6% |
| 2000 | 173,487 | +0.1% |
| 2001 | 174,053 | +0.3% |
| 2002 | 173,876 | -0.1% |
| 2003 | 174,322 | +0.3% |
| 2004 | 173,887 | -0.2% |
| 2005 | 176,872 | +1.7% |
| 2006 | 180,767 | +2.2% |
| 2007 | 181,885 | +0.6% |
| 2008 | 182,788 | +0.5% |
| 2009 | 183,872 | +0.6% |
| 2010 | 184,841 | +0.5% |
| 2011 | 185,418 | +0.3% |
| 2012 | 185,523 | +0.1% |
| 2013 | 184,858 | -0.4% |
| 2014 | 183,793 | -0.6% |
| 2015 | 182,312 | -0.8% |
| 2016 | 180,401 | -1.0% |
| 2017 | 182,271 | +1.0% |
| 2018 | 182,844 | +0.3% |
| 2019 | 179,130 | -2.0% |
| 2020 | 175,314 | -2.1% |
| 2021 | 172,756 | -1.5% |
| 2022 | 171,048 | -1.0% |
| 2023 | 169,895 | -0.7% |
| 2024 | 168,551 | -0.8% |
| 2025 | 166,868 | -1.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 176,990 | 171,226 | 179,956 | 10 |
| 1980s | 190,803 | 176,964 | 203,031 | 10 |
| 1990s | 168,336 | 161,364 | 175,742 | 10 |
| 2000s | 177,581 | 173,487 | 183,872 | 10 |
| 2010s | 183,139 | 179,130 | 185,523 | 10 |
| 2020s | 170,739 | 166,868 | 175,314 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Sri Lanka
More education data for Sri Lanka
- 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)
- Secondary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 1.58 million (2023)
- Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number), annual growth -2.89 % change on previous year (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is school age population, one year before the official primary entry in Sri Lanka?
- School age population, one year before the official primary entry in Sri Lanka was 166,868 in 2025, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest school age population, one year before the official primary entry recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The highest recorded value was 203,031 in 1985.
- What is the lowest school age population, one year before the official primary entry recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The lowest recorded value was 161,364 in 1994.
- How does Sri Lanka rank for school age population, one year before the official primary entry?
- Sri Lanka ranks 70th out of 222 countries with data for 2025.
- Is school age population, one year before the official primary entry rising or falling in Sri Lanka?
- Over the last ten years it is down 8.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Sri Lanka data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of School age population, one year before the official primary entry age, male (number). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release