Secondary education, pupils in Nepal
Nepal: Secondary education, pupils was 3.67 million in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Secondary education, pupils in Nepal, 1972–2024
Source: Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
Analysis
The most recent figure for secondary education, pupils in Nepal is 3.67 million, measured in 2024.
The figure is down 0.7% on the previous year and up 16.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, secondary education, pupils in Nepal peaked at 3.70 million in 2023 and was at its lowest, 222,867, in 1972.
Nepal ranks 32nd of 206 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Secondary education, pupils in Nepal, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1972 | 222,867 | — |
| 1973 | 250,868 | +12.6% |
| 1974 | 258,365 | +3.0% |
| 1975 | 281,816 | +9.1% |
| 1976 | 262,748 | -6.8% |
| 1977 | 308,797 | +17.5% |
| 1978 | 370,231 | +19.9% |
| 1979 | 449,038 | +21.3% |
| 1980 | 512,434 | +14.1% |
| 1981 | 313,895 | -38.7% |
| 1982 | 370,082 | +17.9% |
| 1983 | 418,085 | +13.0% |
| 1984 | 455,401 | +8.9% |
| 1985 | 496,921 | +9.1% |
| 1986 | 540,049 | +8.7% |
| 1987 | 579,517 | +7.3% |
| 1988 | 612,943 | +5.8% |
| 1989 | 664,016 | +8.3% |
| 1990 | 708,663 | +6.7% |
| 1991 | 773,808 | +9.2% |
| 1992 | 855,137 | +10.5% |
| 1993 | 910,114 | +6.4% |
| 1994 | 944,509 | +3.8% |
| 1995 | 1.02 million | +7.6% |
| 1996 | 1.12 million | +10.3% |
| 1999 | 1.27 million | +12.9% |
| 2000 | 1.35 million | +6.5% |
| 2001 | 1.50 million | +11.4% |
| 2002 | 1.69 million | +12.6% |
| 2003 | 1.82 million | +7.8% |
| 2005 | 2.05 million | +12.7% |
| 2006 | 1.98 million | -3.4% |
| 2007 | 2.00 million | +0.8% |
| 2008 | 2.31 million | +15.3% |
| 2009 | 2.38 million | +3.3% |
| 2010 | 2.69 million | +13.1% |
| 2011 | 2.85 million | +5.8% |
| 2012 | 3.04 million | +6.5% |
| 2013 | 3.11 million | +2.5% |
| 2014 | 3.16 million | +1.7% |
| 2015 | 3.18 million | +0.4% |
| 2016 | 3.28 million | +3.2% |
| 2017 | 3.43 million | +4.8% |
| 2019 | 3.46 million | +0.9% |
| 2020 | 3.63 million | +4.9% |
| 2021 | 3.54 million | -2.5% |
| 2022 | 3.51 million | -0.8% |
| 2023 | 3.70 million | +5.2% |
| 2024 | 3.67 million | -0.7% |
Nepal compared with similar countries
- Nepal's 3.67 million is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 929,099, 3.9× the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Nepal's 3.67 million is above the median for South Asia, which is 3.10 million, 1.2× the median. (6 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Secondary education, pupils in Nepal 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.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 | -38.7% | 512,434 | 313,895 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 300,591 | 222,867 | 449,038 | 8 |
| 1980s | 496,334 | 313,895 | 664,016 | 10 |
| 1990s | 949,434 | 708,663 | 1.27 million | 8 |
| 2000s | 1.90 million | 1.35 million | 2.38 million | 9 |
| 2010s | 3.13 million | 2.69 million | 3.46 million | 9 |
| 2020s | 3.61 million | 3.51 million | 3.70 million | 5 |
Countries ranked near Nepal
More education data for Nepal
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 124,257 (2025)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 263,796 (2025)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 752,326 (2025)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 609,324 (2025)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 3.67 million (2024)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 3.57 million (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 1.31 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.1204 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is secondary education, pupils in Nepal?
- Secondary education, pupils in Nepal was 3.67 million in 2024, according to Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
- What is the highest secondary education, pupils recorded in Nepal?
- The highest recorded value was 3.70 million in 2023.
- What is the lowest secondary education, pupils recorded in Nepal?
- The lowest recorded value was 222,867 in 1972.
- How does Nepal rank for secondary education, pupils?
- Nepal ranks 32nd out of 206 countries with data for 2024.
- Is secondary education, pupils rising or falling in Nepal?
- Over the last ten years it is up 16.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Nepal data come from?
- The figures come from Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), published as part of Secondary education, pupils. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Secondary education pupils is the total number of pupils enrolled at secondary level in public and private schools.