Sri Lanka Primary Completion Rate
Primary completion rate (% of relevant age group) SE.PRM.CMPT.ZS
Sri Lanka's primary completion rate was 95.58% in 2025, ranked 83rd globally. This represents a 1.1% increase from 2024. Data from World Bank, covering 1970–2025.
Overview
Sri Lanka's primary completion rate stood at 95.58% in 2025, a rise of +1.03pp from 2023. Based on recent trends, this figure is projected to reach 95.58% by 2025. Sri Lanka ranked 83rd globally.
Sri Lanka's Primary Completion Rate has demonstrated significant improvement over the past four decades. The country's performance has been marked by a notable increase from the all-time trough of 43.19% in 1976 to the all-time peak of 107.40% in 2002. Since then, the rate has steadily declined to the current level of 95.58%, ranking Sri Lanka 83rd globally. This decline is comparable to that experienced by Malta, which also ranked 83rd in 2025 with a rate of 95.58%. The downward trend in Sri Lanka's Primary Completion Rate is a cause for concern, particularly since it has fallen below the peak achieved in 2002. A possible explanation for this decline could be the challenges faced by the education sector in recent years, such as budget constraints and a shortage of qualified teachers. To reverse this trend, the Sri Lankan government would need to prioritize investments in education and implement effective policies to improve the quality of education, thereby restoring the country's Primary Completion Rate to its former peak.
Data & projection
| Year | Primary Completion Rate | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026* trend | 95.75% | - | - |
| 2025* trend | 95.58% | - | - |
| 2025 | 95.58% | +1.03pp | #83 |
| 2023 | 94.54% | −0.61pp | #75 |
| 2022 | 95.15% | −1.59pp | #82 |
| 2021 | 96.74% | +3.22pp | #68 |
| 2020 | 93.52% | −0.98pp | #85 |
| 2019 | 94.50% | −3.05pp | #79 |
| 2017 | 97.56% | +1.22pp | #61 |
| 2016 | 96.33% | +1.77pp | #75 |
| 2015 | 94.57% | +0.19pp | #82 |
| 2014 | 94.38% | −1.10pp | #87 |
| 2013 | 95.47% | +0.17pp | #74 |
| 2012 | 95.31% | −3.12pp | #80 |
| 2011 | 98.43% | +2.34pp | #50 |
| 2010 | 96.09% | +5.98pp | #69 |
| 2009 | 90.10% | +1.71pp | #87 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Sri Lanka matched the Export Boom Cycle pattern in 2024. Historically, 71% of countries showing this pattern (546 out of 768) saw primary completion rate improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
Sri Lanka's primary completion rate was 95.58% in 2025. Ranked 83rd globally. This represents a 1.1% increase from the previous year.
Sri Lanka's primary completion rate peaked at 107.40% in 2002.
The lowest primary completion rate in Sri Lanka was 43.19% in 1976.
Sri Lanka ranks 83rd globally in primary completion rate as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is SE.PRM.CMPT.ZS. Data sourced from World Bank.
Sri Lanka's primary completion rate is projected to reach 95.58% by 2025 based on trend extrapolation.
The primary completion rate of Sri Lanka in 2025 was 95.58%. This ranks 83rd in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_sri-lanka_primary-completion-rate,
title = {Sri Lanka Primary Completion Rate},
url = {https://historysaid.com/sri-lanka/primary-completion-rate/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}