Cambodia: Secondary education, pupils

Key figures

Over five years it is up 25.2% from 935,701 in 2019 (4.6% a year on average, compounded). Since 1971 it is up 1,247% from 86,999 in 1971 (5.03% a year on average, compounded). The World Bank has no value for 33 of the years in between; the chart leaves those gaps open rather than joining across them.

What the numbers say

In 2024, Cambodia's secondary education, pupils rose 3.4% on 2023 (from 1.13 million to 1.17 million).

Across the 15 yearly changes before that (1972 to 2023), the average change was +9% and a typical year strayed about 6% from that (the standard deviation). This year's change was 0.9 standard deviations below that average, so it was an ordinary year: it sits within the range of normal year-to-year movement.

On record, the biggest yearly rise was 19.8% in 2002. The numbers show how large and when, not why; for the cause, look at what happened in that country in those years.

From 2017 to 2024 the straight-line trend is upward, about 44,938 a year. A straight line explains 99% of the movement over 8 observed years.

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

How it compares

In 2024, Cambodia had the 32nd 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 Cambodia in the 2024 ranking

• Bolivia — 28th of 100: 1.3 million
• Tajikistan — 29th of 100: 1.29 million
• Burkina Faso — 30th of 100: 1.19 million
• Guatemala — 32nd of 100: 1.13 million
• Azerbaijan — 33rd of 100: 1.06 million
• Jordan — 34th of 100: 1.03 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 21 values

Secondary education, pupils in nearby economies

• Australia — 2.65 million (2024)
• Brunei Darussalam — 40,924 (2023)
• China — 97.98 million (2024)
• Fiji — 113,613 (2024)
• Hong Kong SAR, China — 340,877 (2024)
• Indonesia — 27.84 million (2025)
• Japan — 6.61 million (2023)
• Kiribati — 16,846 (2024)
• Korea, Rep. — 2.66 million (2024)
• Lao PDR — 532,092 (2025)
• Macao SAR, China — 31,617 (2024)

More education data for Cambodia

• Primary school starting age (years) — 6 (2025)
• Primary education, duration (years) — 6 (2025)
• Lower secondary school starting age (years) — 12 (2025)
• Secondary education, duration (years) — 6 (2025)
• Primary education, pupils — 2.27 million (2024)
• School enrollment, primary (% gross) — 108.97% (2024)
• Primary education, teachers — 46,016 (2024)
• School enrollment, tertiary (% gross) — 21.44% (2024)
• Secondary education, general pupils — 955,656 (2018)
• School enrollment, preprimary (% gross) — 33.57% (2021)

Reading data like this

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• Real change or random noise? A plain guide to reading your numbers — 2 min read

Questions people ask

What is Cambodia's secondary education, pupils?

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

How has it changed since 1971?

It is up 1,247% from 86,999 in 1971 (5.03% a year on average, compounded). The highest value was 1.17 million in 2024 and the lowest 86,999 in 1971.

How does Cambodia rank?

32nd highest of 100 economies with data for 2024.

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

In 2024, Cambodia's secondary education, pupils rose 3.4% on 2023 (from 1.13 million to 1.17 million). Across the 15 yearly changes before that (1972 to 2023), the average change was +9% and a typical year strayed about 6% from that (the standard deviation). This year's change was 0.9 standard deviations below that average, so it was an ordinary year: it sits within the range of normal year-to-year movement.

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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