Sri Lanka Secondary Enrollment
School enrollment, secondary (% gross) SE.SEC.ENRR
Sri Lanka's secondary enrollment was 84.91% in 2025, ranked 118th globally. This represents a 3.5% decrease from 2024. Data from World Bank, covering 1970–2025.
Overview
Sri Lanka's secondary enrollment stood at 84.91% in 2025, a decline of +3.05pp from 2023. Based on recent trends, this figure is projected to reach 84.91% by 2025. Sri Lanka ranked 118th globally.
Sri Lanka's secondary school enrollment rate stood at 84.91% in 2025, ranking the country 118th globally, according to World Bank data. This figure reflects a significant increase from the earliest recorded value of 49.25% in 1970, with the system reaching its peak performance in 2018 at 95.91%. The lowest point was observed in 1976, when enrollment dipped to 49.10%, indicating early systemic challenges later overcome through sustained educational investment. Over a 35-year coverage period, Sri Lanka has demonstrated substantial progress, though recent rates remain below their all-time high. The current enrollment level is closely aligned with peer countries such as Bhutan (85.21%) and Jamaica (84.55%), suggesting regional convergence in access to secondary education. Despite this progress, the decline from the 2018 peak indicates potential setbacks linked to economic instability or disruptions in education delivery. Reversing this downward trend will require targeted policy interventions to improve retention, address equity gaps, and strengthen infrastructure, particularly in underserved areas. Without such measures, recovery to near-universal enrollment levels may remain out of reach.
Data & projection
| Year | Secondary Enrollment | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026* trend | 83.60% | - | - |
| 2025* trend | 84.91% | - | - |
| 2025 | 84.91% | −3.05pp | #118 |
| 2023 | 87.95% | −0.24pp | #93 |
| 2022 | 88.19% | −1.64pp | #98 |
| 2021 | 89.83% | −6.08pp | #94 |
| 2018 | 95.91% | +1.87pp | #71 |
| 2017 | 94.04% | +0.14pp | #73 |
| 2016 | 93.90% | −0.55pp | #75 |
| 2015 | 94.45% | +0.96pp | #76 |
| 2014 | 93.49% | −1.65pp | #75 |
| 2013 | 95.14% | +0.47pp | #64 |
| 2012 | 94.67% | +0.57pp | #62 |
| 2011 | 94.11% | +1.76pp | #66 |
| 2010 | 92.35% | +5.20pp | #64 |
| 1995 | 87.15% | +0.16pp | #8 |
| 1994 | 86.98% | +1.84pp | #13 |
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 secondary enrollment improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
Sri Lanka's secondary enrollment was 84.91% in 2025. Ranked 118th globally. This represents a 3.5% decrease from the previous year.
Sri Lanka's secondary enrollment peaked at 95.91% in 2018.
The lowest secondary enrollment in Sri Lanka was 49.10% in 1976.
Sri Lanka ranks 118th globally in secondary enrollment as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is SE.SEC.ENRR. Data sourced from World Bank.
Sri Lanka's secondary enrollment is projected to reach 84.91% by 2025 based on trend extrapolation.
The secondary enrollment of Sri Lanka in 2025 was 84.91%. This ranks 118th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_sri-lanka_secondary-enrollment,
title = {Sri Lanka Secondary Enrollment},
url = {https://historysaid.com/sri-lanka/secondary-enrollment/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}