Share of the population with lower secondary education in Nepal
Nepal: Share of the population with lower secondary education was 33.9% in 2021. ◆ Volatile
Share of the population with lower secondary education in Nepal, 1971–2021
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2021, share of the population with lower secondary education in Nepal stood at 33.9%. That is the highest value across all 8 years on record.
The figure is up 4.0% on the previous year and up 27.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of the population with lower secondary education in Nepal peaked at 33.9% in 2021 and was at its lowest, 2.1%, in 1971.
Nepal ranks 117th of 135 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
Share of the population with lower secondary education in Nepal, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1971 | 2.1% | — |
| 1981 | 4.8% | +129.7% |
| 2001 | 22.9% | +375.1% |
| 2008 | 29.6% | +29.1% |
| 2011 | 26.6% | -10.0% |
| 2016 | 27.8% | +4.5% |
| 2019 | 32.6% | +17.2% |
| 2021 | 33.9% | +4.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 2.1% | 2.1% | 2.1% | 1 |
| 1980s | 4.8% | 4.8% | 4.8% | 1 |
| 2000s | 26.2% | 22.9% | 29.6% | 2 |
| 2010s | 29.0% | 26.6% | 32.6% | 3 |
| 2020s | 33.9% | 33.9% | 33.9% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Nepal
More education data for Nepal
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), gaps filled 1.87 million (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), annual growth rate -0.0951 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 1.36 million (2025)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes (number), annual 12.06 % change on previous year (2025)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) 633,053 (2024)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) 9.25 % change on previous year (2024)
- Teachers in primary education, female (number), gaps filled 86,127 (2025)
- Teachers in primary education, male (number), gaps filled 71,329 (2025)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female (number) 358,140 (2024)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female (number) 12.15 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of the population with lower secondary education in Nepal?
- Share of the population with lower secondary education in Nepal was 33.9% in 2021, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of the population with lower secondary education recorded in Nepal?
- The highest recorded value was 33.9% in 2021.
- What is the lowest share of the population with lower secondary education recorded in Nepal?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.1% in 1971.
- How does Nepal rank for share of the population with lower secondary education?
- Nepal ranks 117th out of 135 countries with data for 2021.
- Is share of the population with lower secondary education rising or falling in Nepal?
- Over the last ten years it is up 27.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Nepal data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of the population with lower secondary education. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of adults aged 25 and older who have completed lower secondary education or higher.