School age population, primary education, both sexes (number) in Democratic Republic of Congo
Democratic Republic of Congo: School age population, primary education, both sexes (number) 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 Democratic Republic of Congo, 1970–2025
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
The most recent figure for school age population, primary education, both sexes in Democratic Republic of Congo 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 Democratic Republic of Congo peaked at 19.24 million in 2025 and was at its lowest, 3.09 million, in 1970.
Democratic Republic of Congo 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 (number) in Democratic Republic of Congo, 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% |
Democratic Republic of Congo compared with similar countries
- Democratic Republic of Congo's 19.24 million is above the median for low income countries, which is 3.44 million, 5.6× the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Democratic Republic of Congo's 19.24 million is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 2.37 million, 8.1× the median. (48 countries reporting)
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 Democratic Republic of Congo
More education data for Democratic Republic of Congo
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 621,578 (2023)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 1.99 million (2023)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 410,532 (2023)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 427,300 (2023)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 7.93 million (2023)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 21.15 million (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 7.35 % change on previous year (2021)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0.0003 units per US$ of GDP (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.1999 units per person (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is school age population, primary education, both sexes in Democratic Republic of Congo?
- School age population, primary education, both sexes in Democratic Republic of Congo 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 Democratic Republic of Congo?
- The highest recorded value was 19.24 million in 2025.
- What is the lowest school age population, primary education, both sexes recorded in Democratic Republic of Congo?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.09 million in 1970.
- How does Democratic Republic of Congo rank for school age population, primary education, both sexes?
- Democratic Republic of Congo ranks 7th out of 222 countries with data for 2025.
- Is school age population, primary education, both sexes rising or falling in Democratic Republic of Congo?
- Over the last ten years it is up 42.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Democratic Republic of Congo 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