Lao PDR: Primary education, pupils

Key figures

What the numbers say

In 2025, Lao PDR's primary education, pupils fell 0.1% on 2024 (from 740,084 to 739,554).

Across the 30 yearly changes before that (1995 to 2024), the average change was +0.3% and a typical year strayed about 2.3% from that (the standard deviation). This year's change was 0.2 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 30.7% in 1977 and the biggest yearly fall was 2.8% in 2018. The numbers show how large and when, not why; for the cause, look at what happened in that country in those years.

From 2016 to 2025 the straight-line trend is downward, about 9,685 a year. A straight line explains 87% of the movement over 10 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 2025, Lao PDR had the 10th highest value of the 14 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 Lao PDR in the 2025 ranking

• Uzbekistan — 7th of 14: 3.41 million
• Burundi — 8th of 14: 2.52 million
• Kazakhstan — 9th of 14: 1.58 million
• Kyrgyz Republic — 11th of 14: 630,435
• Gambia, The — 12th of 14: 442,901
• Dominica — 13th of 14: 5,427

What this measures

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

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

All 51 values

Primary education, pupils in nearby economies

• Australia — 2.27 million (2024)
• Brunei Darussalam — 37,751 (2024)
• Cambodia — 2.27 million (2024)
• China — 108.57 million (2024)
• Fiji — 113,938 (2024)
• Hong Kong SAR, China — 329,780 (2024)
• Indonesia — 28.68 million (2025)
• Japan — 6.25 million (2023)
• Kiribati — 17,457 (2024)
• Korea, Rep. — 2.51 million (2024)
• Macao SAR, China — 38,349 (2024)

More education data for Lao PDR

• 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, primary (% gross) — 93.14% (2025)
• Primary education, teachers — 21,845 (2025)
• School enrollment, primary, female (% gross) — 92.64% (2025)
• School enrollment, primary, male (% gross) — 93.63% (2025)
• Primary education, teachers (% female) — 54.89% (2025)
• Secondary education, pupils — 532,092 (2025)

Reading data like this

• Where to find free public data, and how to check it before you trust it — 2 min read
• Data analysis examples: 6 worked from one dataset — 3 min read
• Real change or random noise? A plain guide to reading your numbers — 2 min read

Questions people ask

What is Lao PDR's primary education, pupils?

739,554 in 2025, according to the World Bank (World Development Indicators).

How has it changed since 1971?

It is up 202.1% from 244,803 in 1971 (2.07% a year on average, compounded). The highest value was 916,341 in 2010 and the lowest 244,803 in 1971.

How does Lao PDR rank?

10th highest of 14 economies with data for 2025.

Is the latest change in primary education, pupils unusual for Lao PDR?

In 2025, Lao PDR's primary education, pupils fell 0.1% on 2024 (from 740,084 to 739,554). Across the 30 yearly changes before that (1995 to 2024), the average change was +0.3% and a typical year strayed about 2.3% from that (the standard deviation). This year's change was 0.2 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.PRM.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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