School enrollment, primary in Ethiopia
Ethiopia: School enrollment, primary was 84.4% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
School enrollment, primary in Ethiopia, 1971–2024
Source: Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Measured in % gross.
Analysis
Ethiopia recorded 84.4% for school enrollment, primary in 2024.
The figure is up 0.8% on the previous year and down 9.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, school enrollment, primary in Ethiopia peaked at 112.7% in 2020 and was at its lowest, 15.2%, in 1971.
That places Ethiopia 186th out of 205 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
School enrollment, primary in Ethiopia, year by year
| Year | % gross | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1971 | 15.2% | — |
| 1972 | 16.0% | +5.1% |
| 1973 | 16.4% | +2.8% |
| 1974 | 17.9% | +8.9% |
| 1975 | 19.3% | +7.9% |
| 1976 | 21.1% | +9.4% |
| 1977 | 22.2% | +5.2% |
| 1978 | 21.3% | -4.3% |
| 1979 | 25.0% | +17.7% |
| 1980 | 32.7% | +30.5% |
| 1981 | 38.5% | +17.7% |
| 1982 | 41.0% | +6.6% |
| 1983 | 42.1% | +2.6% |
| 1984 | 40.6% | -3.4% |
| 1985 | 38.0% | -6.5% |
| 1986 | 37.4% | -1.6% |
| 1987 | 40.4% | +8.0% |
| 1988 | 41.0% | +1.6% |
| 1989 | 39.3% | -4.3% |
| 1990 | 35.7% | -9.2% |
| 1991 | 32.2% | -9.6% |
| 1992 | 26.1% | -19.2% |
| 1993 | 22.7% | -12.9% |
| 1994 | 26.9% | +18.5% |
| 1995 | 30.7% | +14.0% |
| 1996 | 36.3% | +18.5% |
| 1997 | 41.0% | +12.9% |
| 1998 | 49.7% | +21.1% |
| 1999 | 48.2% | -3.0% |
| 2000 | 52.2% | +8.4% |
| 2001 | 57.1% | +9.4% |
| 2002 | 59.6% | +4.3% |
| 2003 | 60.7% | +1.8% |
| 2004 | 63.6% | +4.7% |
| 2005 | 74.5% | +17.2% |
| 2006 | 79.2% | +6.3% |
| 2007 | 85.5% | +7.9% |
| 2008 | 91.5% | +7.0% |
| 2009 | 90.3% | -1.2% |
| 2010 | 88.5% | -2.0% |
| 2011 | 90.6% | +2.4% |
| 2012 | 89.9% | -0.8% |
| 2014 | 93.1% | +3.5% |
| 2015 | 94.1% | +1.0% |
| 2017 | 101.2% | +7.6% |
| 2020 | 112.7% | +11.3% |
| 2021 | 101.3% | -10.1% |
| 2022 | 84.6% | -16.5% |
| 2023 | 83.7% | -1.1% |
| 2024 | 84.4% | +0.8% |
Ethiopia compared with similar countries
- Ethiopia's 84.4% is below the median for low income countries, which is 96.8%, 87% of the median. (23 countries reporting)
- Ethiopia's 84.4% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 100.4%, 84% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 19.4% | 15.2% | 25.0% | 9 |
| 1980s | 39.1% | 32.7% | 42.1% | 10 |
| 1990s | 35.0% | 22.7% | 49.7% | 10 |
| 2000s | 71.4% | 52.2% | 91.5% | 10 |
| 2010s | 92.9% | 88.5% | 101.2% | 6 |
| 2020s | 93.4% | 83.7% | 112.7% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Ethiopia
More education data for Ethiopia
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 272,545 (2024)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 900,151 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 2.32 million (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 2.16 million (2024)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 5.03 million (2015)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 15.93 million (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 2.45 % change on previous year (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.1206 units per person (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is school enrollment, primary in Ethiopia?
- School enrollment, primary in Ethiopia was 84.4% in 2024, according to Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
- What is the highest school enrollment, primary recorded in Ethiopia?
- The highest recorded value was 112.7% in 2020.
- What is the lowest school enrollment, primary recorded in Ethiopia?
- The lowest recorded value was 15.2% in 1971.
- How does Ethiopia rank for school enrollment, primary?
- Ethiopia ranks 186th out of 205 countries with data for 2024.
- Is school enrollment, primary rising or falling in Ethiopia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 9.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Ethiopia data come from?
- The figures come from Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), published as part of School enrollment, primary (% 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. Primary education provides children with basic reading, writing, and mathematics skills along with an elementary understanding of such subjects as history, geography, natural science, social science, art, and music.