School age population, primary education, both sexes in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka: School age population, primary education, both sexes was 1.68 million in 2025. ▬ Flat
Latest (2025)
1.68 million
Change on year
down 1.3%
World rank
71st
of 222 countries
All-time high
1.95 million
in 1989
All-time low
1.60 million
in 1970
Years of data
56
1970–2025
School age population, primary education, both sexes in Sri Lanka, 1970–2025
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
The most recent figure for school age population, primary education, both sexes in Sri Lanka is 1.68 million, measured in 2025.
That represents a change of down 1.3% on the previous year and down 8.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, school age population, primary education, both sexes in Sri Lanka peaked at 1.95 million in 1989 and was at its lowest, 1.60 million, in 1970.
That places Sri Lanka 71st out of 222 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
School age population, primary education, both sexes in Sri Lanka, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 1.60 million | — |
| 1971 | 1.62 million | +1.5% |
| 1972 | 1.64 million | +1.3% |
| 1973 | 1.67 million | +1.3% |
| 1974 | 1.69 million | +1.5% |
| 1975 | 1.71 million | +1.3% |
| 1976 | 1.73 million | +0.9% |
| 1977 | 1.75 million | +0.9% |
| 1978 | 1.75 million | +0.5% |
| 1979 | 1.76 million | +0.1% |
| 1980 | 1.75 million | -0.2% |
| 1981 | 1.75 million | -0.3% |
| 1982 | 1.75 million | +0.1% |
| 1983 | 1.76 million | +0.6% |
| 1984 | 1.78 million | +0.9% |
| 1985 | 1.81 million | +2.0% |
| 1986 | 1.86 million | +2.9% |
| 1987 | 1.91 million | +2.4% |
| 1988 | 1.94 million | +1.9% |
| 1989 | 1.95 million | +0.1% |
| 1990 | 1.91 million | -1.7% |
| 1991 | 1.86 million | -3.0% |
| 1992 | 1.79 million | -3.3% |
| 1993 | 1.72 million | -4.0% |
| 1994 | 1.67 million | -2.9% |
| 1995 | 1.64 million | -2.2% |
| 1996 | 1.65 million | +0.7% |
| 1997 | 1.66 million | +1.0% |
| 1998 | 1.68 million | +1.0% |
| 1999 | 1.70 million | +1.1% |
| 2000 | 1.71 million | +0.7% |
| 2001 | 1.72 million | +0.4% |
| 2002 | 1.72 million | +0.1% |
| 2003 | 1.72 million | -0.2% |
| 2004 | 1.71 million | -0.1% |
| 2005 | 1.71 million | -0.2% |
| 2006 | 1.71 million | +0.1% |
| 2007 | 1.72 million | +0.5% |
| 2008 | 1.73 million | +0.7% |
| 2009 | 1.75 million | +0.9% |
| 2010 | 1.77 million | +1.1% |
| 2011 | 1.79 million | +1.1% |
| 2012 | 1.80 million | +1.1% |
| 2013 | 1.82 million | +0.8% |
| 2014 | 1.82 million | +0.4% |
| 2015 | 1.82 million | +0.0% |
| 2016 | 1.82 million | -0.3% |
| 2017 | 1.81 million | -0.6% |
| 2018 | 1.80 million | -0.5% |
| 2019 | 1.79 million | -0.4% |
| 2020 | 1.78 million | -0.7% |
| 2021 | 1.76 million | -0.9% |
| 2022 | 1.75 million | -1.0% |
| 2023 | 1.72 million | -1.3% |
| 2024 | 1.70 million | -1.5% |
| 2025 | 1.68 million | -1.3% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 1.69 million | 1.60 million | 1.76 million | 10 |
| 1980s | 1.83 million | 1.75 million | 1.95 million | 10 |
| 1990s | 1.73 million | 1.64 million | 1.91 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 1.72 million | 1.71 million | 1.75 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.80 million | 1.77 million | 1.82 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.73 million | 1.68 million | 1.78 million | 6 |
Countries ranked near Sri Lanka
- 68 Rwanda 2.04 million compare
- 69 Ecuador 1.86 million compare
- 70 South Sudan 1.78 million compare
- 72 North Korea 1.67 million compare
- 73 Kazakhstan 1.62 million compare
- 74 Poland 1.52 million compare
More education data for Sri Lanka
- Theoretical duration of pre-primary education (years), annual growth 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Start of the academic school year (pre-primary to post-secondary non) 0.0494 % change on previous year (2025)
- Theoretical duration of lower secondary education (years), annual 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Theoretical duration of upper secondary education (years), annual 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Theoretical duration of secondary education (years), annual growth 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Start of the academic school year (tertiary education), gaps filled 2,024 tertiary education (2024)
- Start of the academic school year (tertiary education), annual growth 0.0494 % change on previous year (2024)
- Primary education, teachers, gaps filled 73,333 (2023)
- Duration of pre primary education, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Duration of pre primary education 2 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is school age population, primary education, both sexes in Sri Lanka?
- School age population, primary education, both sexes in Sri Lanka was 1.68 million in 2025, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest school age population, primary education, both sexes recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The highest recorded value was 1.95 million in 1989.
- What is the lowest school age population, primary education, both sexes recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.60 million in 1970.
- How does Sri Lanka rank for school age population, primary education, both sexes?
- Sri Lanka ranks 71st out of 222 countries with data for 2025.
- Is school age population, primary education, both sexes rising or falling in Sri Lanka?
- Over the last ten years it is down 8.1%. 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, primary education, both sexes (number). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release