Maldives: Primary education, pupils

Key figures

What the numbers say

In 2024, Maldives' primary education, pupils fell 3.5% on 2023 (from 45,617 to 44,013).

Across the 29 yearly changes before that (1993 to 2023), the average change was +0.9% and a typical year strayed about 9.8% from that (the standard deviation). This year's change was 0.4 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 46.4% in 1998 and the biggest yearly fall was 8.6% in 2005. 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 3% of the movement over 9 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, Maldives had the 95th highest value of the 119 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 Maldives in the 2024 ranking

• Cyprus — 92nd of 119: 60,596
• Vanuatu — 93rd of 119: 56,048
• Belize — 94th of 119: 44,757
• Luxembourg — 96th of 119: 43,020
• Macao SAR, China — 97th of 119: 38,349
• Brunei Darussalam — 98th of 119: 37,751

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 35 values

Primary education, pupils in nearby economies

• Bangladesh — 16.69 million (2024)
• Bhutan — 91,759 (2024)
• India — 126.12 million (2025)
• Nepal — 3.57 million (2025)
• Sri Lanka — 1.58 million (2023)

More education data for Maldives

• 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)
• School enrollment, primary (% gross) — 99.71% (2024)
• School enrollment, preprimary (% gross) — 76.06% (2020)
• School enrollment, primary, female (% gross) — 104.82% (2024)
• School enrollment, primary, male (% gross) — 95.29% (2024)
• Secondary education, general pupils — 20,969 (2017)
• Secondary education, pupils

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 Maldives's primary education, pupils?

44,013 in 2024, according to the World Bank (World Development Indicators).

How has it changed since 1980?

It is up 43.73% from 30,621 in 1980 (0.83% a year on average, compounded). The highest value was 74,050 in 1999 and the lowest 30,621 in 1980.

How does Maldives rank?

95th highest of 119 economies with data for 2024.

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

In 2024, Maldives' primary education, pupils fell 3.5% on 2023 (from 45,617 to 44,013). Across the 29 yearly changes before that (1993 to 2023), the average change was +0.9% and a typical year strayed about 9.8% from that (the standard deviation). This year's change was 0.4 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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