School enrollment, preprimary in South Asia
South Asia: School enrollment, preprimary was 62.0% in 2020. ◆ Volatile
School enrollment, preprimary in South Asia, 1970–2020
Source: Stat Bulk Data Download Service, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Measured in % gross.
Analysis
In 2020, school enrollment, preprimary in South Asia stood at 62.0%.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 1.5% on the previous year and up 48.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, school enrollment, preprimary in South Asia peaked at 63.0% in 2019 and was at its lowest, 7.1%, in 1970.
South Asia ranks 20th of 43 groups on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
School enrollment, preprimary in South Asia, year by year
| Year | % gross | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 7.1% | — |
| 1971 | 7.2% | +1.1% |
| 1972 | 7.4% | +2.4% |
| 1973 | 7.5% | +2.0% |
| 1974 | 7.9% | +5.2% |
| 1975 | 8.3% | +4.6% |
| 1976 | 8.7% | +5.1% |
| 1977 | 9.2% | +5.6% |
| 1978 | 9.5% | +3.2% |
| 1979 | 9.9% | +4.6% |
| 1980 | 10.4% | +4.7% |
| 1981 | 10.9% | +5.1% |
| 1982 | 11.0% | +0.9% |
| 1983 | 11.7% | +6.6% |
| 1984 | 12.0% | +2.3% |
| 1985 | 12.4% | +3.6% |
| 1986 | 13.1% | +5.8% |
| 1987 | 13.5% | +2.5% |
| 1988 | 14.0% | +3.8% |
| 1989 | 13.7% | -2.1% |
| 1990 | 13.2% | -3.1% |
| 1991 | 13.3% | +0.6% |
| 1992 | 13.0% | -2.4% |
| 1993 | 12.9% | -0.9% |
| 1994 | 13.5% | +4.7% |
| 1995 | 13.6% | +0.5% |
| 1996 | 13.4% | -1.2% |
| 1997 | 9.7% | -27.3% |
| 1998 | 12.7% | +30.2% |
| 1999 | 14.7% | +16.0% |
| 2000 | 16.9% | +14.7% |
| 2001 | 18.5% | +9.7% |
| 2002 | 19.3% | +4.4% |
| 2003 | 20.9% | +8.1% |
| 2004 | 23.5% | +12.6% |
| 2005 | 26.5% | +12.8% |
| 2006 | 30.4% | +14.8% |
| 2007 | 33.5% | +10.0% |
| 2008 | 36.5% | +9.0% |
| 2009 | 38.5% | +5.5% |
| 2010 | 41.7% | +8.3% |
| 2011 | 45.2% | +8.5% |
| 2012 | 47.2% | +4.5% |
| 2013 | 50.0% | +5.9% |
| 2014 | 51.7% | +3.4% |
| 2015 | 54.2% | +4.7% |
| 2016 | 56.7% | +4.7% |
| 2017 | 60.3% | +6.3% |
| 2018 | 61.1% | +1.3% |
| 2019 | 63.0% | +3.2% |
| 2020 | 62.0% | -1.5% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 8.3% | 7.1% | 9.9% | 10 |
| 1980s | 12.3% | 10.4% | 14.0% | 10 |
| 1990s | 13.0% | 9.7% | 14.7% | 10 |
| 2000s | 26.5% | 16.9% | 38.5% | 10 |
| 2010s | 53.1% | 41.7% | 63.0% | 10 |
| 2020s | 62.0% | 62.0% | 62.0% | 1 |
Countries ranked near South Asia
More education data for South Asia
- Primary education, teachers, gaps filled 5.84 million (2024)
- Population ages 15-64 68.1% (2025)
- Population ages 0-14 24.6% (2025)
- School enrollment, primary 119.0% (2024)
- Primary education, teachers 5.84 million (2024)
- Primary education, teachers, per capita 0.0035 units per person (2024)
- Primary education, teachers, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- School enrollment, primary, female 119.2% (2024)
- School enrollment, primary, male 118.8% (2024)
- Labor force, female 29.1% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is school enrollment, preprimary in South Asia?
- School enrollment, preprimary in South Asia was 62.0% in 2020, according to Stat Bulk Data Download Service, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
- What is the highest school enrollment, preprimary recorded in South Asia?
- The highest recorded value was 63.0% in 2019.
- What is the lowest school enrollment, preprimary recorded in South Asia?
- The lowest recorded value was 7.1% in 1970.
- How does South Asia rank for school enrollment, preprimary?
- South Asia ranks 20th out of 43 groups with data for 2020.
- Is school enrollment, preprimary rising or falling in South Asia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 48.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Asia data come from?
- The figures come from Stat Bulk Data Download Service, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), published as part of School enrollment, preprimary (% gross). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Gross enrollment ratio is the ratio of total enrollment, regardless of age, to the population of the age group that officially corresponds to the level of education shown. Preprimary education refers to programs at the initial stage of organized instruction, designed primarily to introduce very young children to a school-type environment and to provide a bridge between home and school.