School enrollment, primary in Somalia

Somalia: School enrollment, primary was 20.9% in 2023. ▲ Rising

Latest (2023)
20.9%
World rank
205th
of 205 countries
All-time high
32.0%
in 1979
All-time low
6.9%
in 1971
Years of data
17
1971–2023

School enrollment, primary in Somalia, 1971–2023

1020301971199720231971: 6.9 % gross1972: 8 % gross1973: 10.4 % gross1974: 12.6 % gross1976: 28.1 % gross1977: 31.8 % gross1978: 30.9 % gross1979: 32 % gross1980: 28.8 % gross1981: 21.7 % gross1982: 20.4 % gross1983: 18.6 % gross1984: 18.1 % gross1985: 15.6 % gross1986: 13.8 % gross2007: 22.8 % gross2023: 20.9 % gross

Source: Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Measured in % gross.

Analysis

Somalia recorded 20.9% for school enrollment, primary in 2023.

Over the whole period, school enrollment, primary in Somalia peaked at 32.0% in 1979 and was at its lowest, 6.9%, in 1971.

Somalia ranks 205th of 205 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 17 years of available data.

School enrollment, primary in Somalia, year by year

Annual values for School enrollment, primary (% gross) in Somalia, 1971 to 2023.
Year % gross Change
1971 6.9%
1972 8.0% +16.9%
1973 10.4% +29.6%
1974 12.6% +21.2%
1976 28.1% +122.6%
1977 31.8% +13.0%
1978 30.9% -2.9%
1979 32.0% +3.5%
1980 28.8% -9.9%
1981 21.7% -24.5%
1982 20.4% -6.1%
1983 18.6% -9.0%
1984 18.1% -2.5%
1985 15.6% -13.6%
1986 13.8% -11.9%
2007 22.8% +65.3%
2023 20.9% -8.2%

Somalia compared with similar countries

  • Somalia's 20.9% is below the median for low income countries, which is 96.8%, 22% of the median. (23 countries reporting)
  • Somalia's 20.9% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 100.4%, 21% of the median. (47 countries reporting)

Biggest year-on-year movements

Years where School enrollment, primary in Somalia changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.

YearChange FromTo
1976 +122.6% 12.6% 28.1%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1970s 20.1% 6.9% 32.0% 8
1980s 19.6% 13.8% 28.8% 7
2000s 22.8% 22.8% 22.8% 1
2020s 20.9% 20.9% 20.9% 1

Countries ranked near Somalia

  1. 202 Liberia 66.6% compare
  2. 203 Niger 64.7% compare
  3. 204 Equatorial Guinea 47.5% compare

See the full ranking of 250 places →

More education data for Somalia

All data for Somalia →

Frequently asked questions

What is school enrollment, primary in Somalia?
School enrollment, primary in Somalia was 20.9% in 2023, according to Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
What is the highest school enrollment, primary recorded in Somalia?
The highest recorded value was 32.0% in 1979.
What is the lowest school enrollment, primary recorded in Somalia?
The lowest recorded value was 6.9% in 1971.
How does Somalia rank for school enrollment, primary?
Somalia ranks 205th out of 205 countries with data for 2023.
Where does this Somalia 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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School enrollment, primary in Somalia. Statizoid, drawing on Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Retrieved 22 September 2026, from https://education.statizoid.com/stat/school-enrollment-primary-percent-gross/somalia-fed-rep/

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About this data

Indicator
School enrollment, primary (% gross)
Unit
% gross
Source
Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
250 places, 9,530 data points, 1970–2025
Last refreshed

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.