Singapore: Primary education, pupils

Key figures

Over five years it is up 2.25% from 233,553 in 2018 (0.45% a year on average, compounded). Since 1970 it is down 34.3% from 363,518 in 1970 (0.79% a year on average, compounded). The World Bank has no value for 16 of the years in between; the chart leaves those gaps open rather than joining across them.

What the numbers say

In 2023, Singapore's primary education, pupils rose 1.4% on 2022 (from 235,516 to 238,816).

Across the 30 yearly changes before that (1975 to 2022), the average change was −0.8% and a typical year strayed about 2% from that (the standard deviation). This year's change was 1.1 standard deviations above 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 4.2% in 1995 and the biggest yearly fall was 4% in 1994. 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 2023 there is no clear straight-line trend: a straight line explains 7% of the movement over 8 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 2023, Singapore had the 31st highest value of the 44 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 Singapore in the 2023 ranking

• West Bank and Gaza — 28th of 44: 514,700
• Somalia, Fed. Rep. — 29th of 44: 464,607
• Uruguay — 30th of 44: 287,527
• Timor-Leste — 32nd of 44: 227,656
• Eswatini — 33rd of 44: 222,351
• Croatia — 34th of 44: 147,483

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 38 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)
• Lao PDR — 739,554 (2025)
• Macao SAR, China

More education data for Singapore

• 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) — 4 (2025)
• Government expenditure on education, total (% of GDP) — 2.19% (2024)
• Preprimary education, duration (years) — 6 (2025)
• Primary education, teachers — 16,639 (2023)
• Secondary education, pupils — 163,746 (2023)
• Primary education, teachers (% female) — 80.55% (2023)
• Pupil-teacher ratio, primary — 14.69 (2017)

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 Singapore's primary education, pupils?

238,816 in 2023, according to the World Bank (World Development Indicators).

How has it changed since 1970?

It is down 34.3% from 363,518 in 1970 (0.79% a year on average, compounded). The highest value was 363,518 in 1970 and the lowest 232,810 in 2020.

How does Singapore rank?

31st highest of 44 economies with data for 2023.

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

In 2023, Singapore's primary education, pupils rose 1.4% on 2022 (from 235,516 to 238,816). Across the 30 yearly changes before that (1975 to 2022), the average change was −0.8% and a typical year strayed about 2% from that (the standard deviation). This year's change was 1.1 standard deviations above 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.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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