School age population, primary education, both sexes in Least developed countries
Least developed countries: School age population, primary education, both sexes was 152.38 million number in 2019. ▲ Rising
Latest (2019)
152.38 million number
Change on year
up 1.6%
Rank
20th
of 43 groups
All-time high
152.38 million number
in 2019
All-time low
50.23 million number
in 1970
Years of data
50
1970–2019
School age population, primary education, both sexes in Least developed countries, 1970–2019
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in number.
Analysis
The most recent figure for school age population, primary education, both sexes in Least developed countries is 152.38 million number, measured in 2019. That is the highest value across all 50 years on record.
That represents a change of up 1.6% on the previous year and up 21.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, school age population, primary education, both sexes in Least developed countries peaked at 152.38 million number in 2019 and was at its lowest, 50.23 million number, in 1970.
That places Least developed countries 20th out of 43 groups with data for 2019, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 50 years of available data.
School age population, primary education, both sexes in Least developed countries, year by year
| Year | number | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 50.23 million number | — |
| 1971 | 51.41 million number | +2.3% |
| 1972 | 52.72 million number | +2.6% |
| 1973 | 53.94 million number | +2.3% |
| 1974 | 55.22 million number | +2.4% |
| 1975 | 56.10 million number | +1.6% |
| 1976 | 57.29 million number | +2.1% |
| 1977 | 58.31 million number | +1.8% |
| 1978 | 59.65 million number | +2.3% |
| 1979 | 60.99 million number | +2.2% |
| 1980 | 62.24 million number | +2.0% |
| 1981 | 63.57 million number | +2.1% |
| 1982 | 64.77 million number | +1.9% |
| 1983 | 66.37 million number | +2.5% |
| 1984 | 68.06 million number | +2.5% |
| 1985 | 69.70 million number | +2.4% |
| 1986 | 71.34 million number | +2.3% |
| 1987 | 73.53 million number | +3.1% |
| 1988 | 75.55 million number | +2.8% |
| 1989 | 77.65 million number | +2.8% |
| 1990 | 79.74 million number | +2.7% |
| 1991 | 81.88 million number | +2.7% |
| 1992 | 84.14 million number | +2.8% |
| 1993 | 86.47 million number | +2.8% |
| 1994 | 88.66 million number | +2.5% |
| 1995 | 90.64 million number | +2.2% |
| 1996 | 92.48 million number | +2.0% |
| 1997 | 94.78 million number | +2.5% |
| 1998 | 97.22 million number | +2.6% |
| 1999 | 99.16 million number | +2.0% |
| 2000 | 101.23 million number | +2.1% |
| 2001 | 103.38 million number | +2.1% |
| 2002 | 105.73 million number | +2.3% |
| 2003 | 108.32 million number | +2.4% |
| 2004 | 110.92 million number | +2.4% |
| 2005 | 113.42 million number | +2.3% |
| 2006 | 115.93 million number | +2.2% |
| 2007 | 119.70 million number | +3.3% |
| 2008 | 122.46 million number | +2.3% |
| 2009 | 125.27 million number | +2.3% |
| 2010 | 128.06 million number | +2.2% |
| 2011 | 130.78 million number | +2.1% |
| 2012 | 133.52 million number | +2.1% |
| 2013 | 136.32 million number | +2.1% |
| 2014 | 139.07 million number | +2.0% |
| 2015 | 141.78 million number | +2.0% |
| 2016 | 144.47 million number | +1.9% |
| 2017 | 147.19 million number | +1.9% |
| 2018 | 149.95 million number | +1.9% |
| 2019 | 152.38 million number | +1.6% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 55.59 million number | 50.23 million number | 60.99 million number | 10 |
| 1980s | 69.28 million number | 62.24 million number | 77.65 million number | 10 |
| 1990s | 89.52 million number | 79.74 million number | 99.16 million number | 10 |
| 2000s | 112.64 million number | 101.23 million number | 125.27 million number | 10 |
| 2010s | 140.35 million number | 128.06 million number | 152.38 million number | 10 |
Countries ranked near Least developed countries
- 17 South Africa 7.92 million number compare
- 18 Iran, Islamic Republic of 7.90 million number compare
- 19 Viet Nam 7.44 million number compare
- 20 Russian Federation 7.06 million number compare
- 21 Sudan 6.68 million number compare
- 22 Afghanistan 6.39 million number compare
- 23 Mozambique 6.10 million number compare
More education data for Least developed countries
- Population ages 15-64 57.7% (2025)
- Population ages 0-14 38.4% (2025)
- Primary education, teachers, gaps filled 4.43 million (2024)
- School enrollment, primary 100.7% (2024)
- Primary education, teachers 4.43 million (2024)
- Primary education, teachers, per capita 0.0037 units per person (2024)
- Primary education, teachers, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- School enrollment, primary, female 99.3% (2024)
- School enrollment, primary, male 102.0% (2024)
- Labor force, total, per capita 0.3712 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is school age population, primary education, both sexes in Least developed countries?
- School age population, primary education, both sexes in Least developed countries was 152.38 million number in 2019, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest school age population, primary education, both sexes recorded in Least developed countries?
- The highest recorded value was 152.38 million number in 2019.
- What is the lowest school age population, primary education, both sexes recorded in Least developed countries?
- The lowest recorded value was 50.23 million number in 1970.
- How does Least developed countries rank for school age population, primary education, both sexes?
- Least developed countries ranks 20th out of 43 groups with data for 2019.
- Is school age population, primary education, both sexes rising or falling in Least developed countries?
- Over the last ten years it is up 21.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Least developed countries 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
Population of the age-group theoretically corresponding to primary education as indicated by theoretical entrance age and duration.