Sierra Leone: Primary education, pupils

Key figures

Over five years it is up 16.81% from 1.77 million in 2019 (3.16% a year on average, compounded). Since 1971 it is up 1,145% from 166,107 in 1971 (4.87% a year on average, compounded). The World Bank has no value for 20 of the years in between; the chart leaves those gaps open rather than joining across them.

What the numbers say

In 2024, Sierra Leone's primary education, pupils rose 2.5% on 2023 (from 2.02 million to 2.07 million).

Across the 27 yearly changes before that (1972 to 2023), the average change was +4.9% and a typical year strayed about 8.2% from that (the standard deviation). This year's change was 0.3 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 29.2% in 2019 and the biggest yearly fall was 7.9% 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 2015 to 2024 the straight-line trend is upward, about 92,014 a year. A straight line explains 89% 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 2024, Sierra Leone had the 35th 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 Sierra Leone in the 2024 ranking

• Australia — 32nd of 119: 2.27 million
• Cambodia — 33rd of 119: 2.27 million
• Syrian Arab Republic — 34th of 119: 2.17 million
• Ecuador — 36th of 119: 1.72 million
• Togo — 37th of 119: 1.66 million
• Poland — 38th of 119: 1.6 million

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 34 values

Primary education, pupils in nearby economies

• Angola — 5.38 million (2023)
• Benin — 2.4 million (2022)
• Botswana — 381,674 (2022)
• Burkina Faso — 3.07 million (2024)
• Burundi — 2.52 million (2025)
• Cabo Verde — 61,167 (2022)
• Cameroon — 5.29 million (2024)
• Central African Republic — 813,767 (2016)
• Chad — 3.05 million (2024)
• Comoros — 102,152 (2024)
• Congo, Dem. Rep. — 21.15 million (2023)
• Congo, Rep.

More education data for Sierra Leone

• 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) — 7 (2025)
• School enrollment, primary (% gross) — 162.12% (2024)
• School enrollment, primary, female (% gross) — 166.35% (2024)
• School enrollment, primary, male (% gross) — 157.95% (2024)
• Primary education, teachers — 46,575 (2024)
• School enrollment, primary (gross), gender parity index (GPI) — 1.04 (2021)
• 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 Sierra Leone's primary education, pupils?

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

How has it changed since 1971?

It is up 1,145% from 166,107 in 1971 (4.87% a year on average, compounded). The highest value was 2.07 million in 2024 and the lowest 166,107 in 1971.

How does Sierra Leone rank?

35th highest of 119 economies with data for 2024.

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

In 2024, Sierra Leone's primary education, pupils rose 2.5% on 2023 (from 2.02 million to 2.07 million). Across the 27 yearly changes before that (1972 to 2023), the average change was +4.9% and a typical year strayed about 8.2% from that (the standard deviation). This year's change was 0.3 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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