Bangladesh: Secondary education, pupils

Key figures

Over five years it is down 4.1% from 15.71 million in 2019 (0.83% a year on average, compounded). Since 1973 it is up 565.09% from 2.27 million in 1973 (3.79% a year on average, compounded). The World Bank has no value for 12 of the years in between; the chart leaves those gaps open rather than joining across them.

What the numbers say

In 2024, Bangladesh's secondary education, pupils fell 3.8% on 2023 (from 15.66 million to 15.07 million).

Across the 30 yearly changes before that (1984 to 2023), the average change was +2.2% and a typical year strayed about 3.8% from that (the standard deviation). This year's change was 1.6 standard deviations below that average, so it was larger than a typical year, though not out of the range seen before.

On record, the biggest yearly rise was 13.2% in 1980 and the biggest yearly fall was 9.5% in 1981. The numbers show how large and when, not why; for the cause, look at what happened in that country in those years.

From 2015 to 2024 there is no clear straight-line trend: a straight line explains 10% of the movement over 10 observed years, so the value is moving around more than it is heading anywhere.

Worked out from the yearly values above. How the checks work: standard deviation, z-scores and straight-line trends.

How it compares

In 2024, Bangladesh had the 4th highest value of the 100 economies reporting that year. Higher is not always better: for some indicators the lowest value is the one to aim for. See the full ranking.

Closest to Bangladesh in the 2024 ranking

• China — 1st of 100: 97.98 million
• Brazil — 2nd of 100: 21.5 million
• Pakistan — 3rd of 100: 19.7 million
• Mexico — 5th of 100: 13.99 million
• Philippines — 6th of 100: 11.87 million
• Egypt, Arab Rep. — 7th of 100: 11.56 million

What this measures

Secondary education pupils is the total number of pupils enrolled at secondary level in public and private schools.

Regional and income-group figures are computed by the World Bank as a sum.

All 40 values

Secondary education, pupils in nearby economies

• Bhutan — 67,821 (2024)
• India — 133.16 million (2025)
• Maldives — 33,002 (2023)
• Nepal — 3.67 million (2024)
• Sri Lanka — 2.54 million (2023)

More education data for Bangladesh

• Primary school starting age (years) — 6 (2025)
• Primary education, duration (years) — 5 (2025)
• Lower secondary school starting age (years) — 11 (2025)
• Secondary education, duration (years) — 7 (2025)
• School enrollment, tertiary (% gross) — 23.73% (2024)
• School enrollment, tertiary (gross), gender parity index (GPI) — 0.77 (2024)
• School enrollment, tertiary, female (% gross) — 20.79% (2024)
• School enrollment, tertiary, male (% gross) — 26.95% (2024)
• School enrollment, secondary (% gross) — 64.3% (2024)
• School enrollment, secondary, female (% gross)

Reading data like this

• Where to find free public data, and how to check it before you trust it — 2 min read
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• Real change or random noise? A plain guide to reading your numbers — 2 min read

Questions people ask

What is Bangladesh's secondary education, pupils?

15.07 million in 2024, according to the World Bank (World Development Indicators).

How has it changed since 1973?

It is up 565.09% from 2.27 million in 1973 (3.79% a year on average, compounded). The highest value was 16.07 million in 2022 and the lowest 2.18 million in 1976.

How does Bangladesh rank?

4th highest of 100 economies with data for 2024.

Is the latest change in secondary education, pupils unusual for Bangladesh?

In 2024, Bangladesh's secondary education, pupils fell 3.8% on 2023 (from 15.66 million to 15.07 million). Across the 30 yearly changes before that (1984 to 2023), the average change was +2.2% and a typical year strayed about 3.8% from that (the standard deviation). This year's change was 1.6 standard deviations below that average, so it was larger than a typical year, though not out of the range seen before.

Source

World Bank, World Development Indicators, indicator SE.SEC.ENRL, licensed CC BY 4.0. Original source: Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), uri: https://databrowser.uis.unesco.org/resources, note: The data are obtained through the UIS API. Figures are fetched from the World Bank API and refreshed monthly; see the series on data.worldbank.org. The full definition and method are in the World Bank's metadata glossary. Comparisons use the same World Bank release.

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