School age population, primary education, both sexes (number) in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka: School age population, primary education, both sexes (number) 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 (number) 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% |
Sri Lanka compared with similar countries
- Sri Lanka's 1.68 million is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 510,283, 3.3× the median. (58 countries reporting)
- Sri Lanka's 1.68 million is below the median for South Asia, which is 2.22 million, 75% of the median. (6 countries reporting)
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
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 155,543 (2023)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 0 (2023)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 224,799 (2023)
- 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)
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