School age population, primary education, both sexes in Congo, Democratic Republic of the
Congo, Democratic Republic of the: School age population, primary education, both sexes was 19.24 million in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
19.24 million
Change on year
up 3.4%
World rank
7th
of 222 countries
All-time high
19.24 million
in 2025
All-time low
3.09 million
in 1970
Years of data
56
1970–2025
School age population, primary education, both sexes in Congo, Democratic Republic of the, 1970–2025
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
The most recent figure for school age population, primary education, both sexes in Congo, Democratic Republic of the is 19.24 million, measured in 2025. That is the highest value across all 56 years on record.
The figure is up 3.4% on the previous year and up 42.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, school age population, primary education, both sexes in Congo, Democratic Republic of the peaked at 19.24 million in 2025 and was at its lowest, 3.09 million, in 1970.
Congo, Democratic Republic of the ranks 7th of 222 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
School age population, primary education, both sexes in Congo, Democratic Republic of the, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 3.09 million | — |
| 1971 | 3.19 million | +3.4% |
| 1972 | 3.31 million | +3.5% |
| 1973 | 3.42 million | +3.5% |
| 1974 | 3.54 million | +3.5% |
| 1975 | 3.67 million | +3.5% |
| 1976 | 3.79 million | +3.4% |
| 1977 | 3.92 million | +3.3% |
| 1978 | 4.04 million | +3.2% |
| 1979 | 4.17 million | +3.1% |
| 1980 | 4.29 million | +3.0% |
| 1981 | 4.41 million | +2.8% |
| 1982 | 4.53 million | +2.7% |
| 1983 | 4.65 million | +2.7% |
| 1984 | 4.78 million | +2.6% |
| 1985 | 4.90 million | +2.7% |
| 1986 | 5.05 million | +3.0% |
| 1987 | 5.21 million | +3.2% |
| 1988 | 5.39 million | +3.4% |
| 1989 | 5.58 million | +3.5% |
| 1990 | 5.78 million | +3.7% |
| 1991 | 6.01 million | +3.9% |
| 1992 | 6.24 million | +3.9% |
| 1993 | 6.48 million | +3.9% |
| 1994 | 6.74 million | +3.9% |
| 1995 | 7.02 million | +4.2% |
| 1996 | 7.27 million | +3.5% |
| 1997 | 7.50 million | +3.2% |
| 1998 | 7.74 million | +3.2% |
| 1999 | 8.00 million | +3.4% |
| 2000 | 8.28 million | +3.4% |
| 2001 | 8.57 million | +3.5% |
| 2002 | 8.94 million | +4.3% |
| 2003 | 9.30 million | +4.1% |
| 2004 | 9.62 million | +3.4% |
| 2005 | 9.92 million | +3.1% |
| 2006 | 10.24 million | +3.2% |
| 2007 | 10.58 million | +3.3% |
| 2008 | 10.85 million | +2.6% |
| 2009 | 11.15 million | +2.7% |
| 2010 | 11.48 million | +3.0% |
| 2011 | 11.85 million | +3.2% |
| 2012 | 12.22 million | +3.1% |
| 2013 | 12.61 million | +3.2% |
| 2014 | 13.03 million | +3.3% |
| 2015 | 13.49 million | +3.5% |
| 2016 | 13.98 million | +3.7% |
| 2017 | 14.51 million | +3.8% |
| 2018 | 15.08 million | +3.9% |
| 2019 | 15.64 million | +3.7% |
| 2020 | 16.21 million | +3.7% |
| 2021 | 16.80 million | +3.6% |
| 2022 | 17.38 million | +3.5% |
| 2023 | 17.98 million | +3.4% |
| 2024 | 18.61 million | +3.5% |
| 2025 | 19.24 million | +3.4% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 3.62 million | 3.09 million | 4.17 million | 10 |
| 1980s | 4.88 million | 4.29 million | 5.58 million | 10 |
| 1990s | 6.88 million | 5.78 million | 8.00 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 9.75 million | 8.28 million | 11.15 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 13.39 million | 11.48 million | 15.64 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 17.70 million | 16.21 million | 19.24 million | 6 |
Countries ranked near Congo, Democratic Republic of the
More education data for Congo, Democratic Republic of the
- Primary education, teachers, gaps filled 561,172 (2023)
- Duration of pre primary education, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Official entrance age to pre primary education 3 (2025)
- Duration of pre primary education 3 (2025)
- Population ages 0-14 45.9% (2025)
- Lower secondary school starting age 12 years (2025)
- Primary school starting age 6 years (2025)
- Population ages 15-64 51.0% (2025)
- Primary secondary enrollment completion rates, gaps filled 117.6 (2023)
- School enrollment, primary 117.6% (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is school age population, primary education, both sexes in Congo, Democratic Republic of the?
- School age population, primary education, both sexes in Congo, Democratic Republic of the was 19.24 million in 2025, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest school age population, primary education, both sexes recorded in Congo, Democratic Republic of the?
- The highest recorded value was 19.24 million in 2025.
- What is the lowest school age population, primary education, both sexes recorded in Congo, Democratic Republic of the?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.09 million in 1970.
- How does Congo, Democratic Republic of the rank for school age population, primary education, both sexes?
- Congo, Democratic Republic of the ranks 7th out of 222 countries with data for 2025.
- Is school age population, primary education, both sexes rising or falling in Congo, Democratic Republic of the?
- Over the last ten years it is up 42.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Congo, Democratic Republic of the data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of School age population, primary education, both sexes (number). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release