Tuvalu: Primary education, pupils

Key figures

What the numbers say

In 2024, Tuvalu's primary education, pupils fell 6.1% on 2023 (from 1,418 to 1,332).

Across the 17 yearly changes before that (1987 to 2023), the average change was +1.1% and a typical year strayed about 5.4% from that (the standard deviation). This year's change was 1.3 standard deviations below 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 11.5% in 2000 and the biggest yearly fall was 10.1% 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 2015 to 2024 there is no clear straight-line trend: a straight line explains 1% 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, Tuvalu had the 119th 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 Tuvalu in the 2024 ranking

• British Virgin Islands — 116th of 119: 1,626
• Palau — 117th of 119: 1,449
• San Marino — 118th of 119: 1,388

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 25 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 Tuvalu

• 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)
• Preprimary education, duration (years) — 3 (2025)
• School enrollment, primary (% gross) — 101.14% (2024)
• School enrollment, primary, female (% gross) — 100% (2024)
• School enrollment, primary, male (% gross) — 102.18% (2024)
• School enrollment, primary (gross), gender parity index (GPI) — 0.96 (2021)
• Primary completion rate, female (% of relevant age group)

Reading data like this

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Questions people ask

What is Tuvalu's primary education, pupils?

1,332 in 2024, according to the World Bank (World Development Indicators).

How has it changed since 1984?

It is up 32.14% from 1,008 in 1984 (0.7% a year on average, compounded). The highest value was 1,517 in 2000 and the lowest 1,008 in 1984.

How does Tuvalu rank?

119th highest of 119 economies with data for 2024.

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

In 2024, Tuvalu's primary education, pupils fell 6.1% on 2023 (from 1,418 to 1,332). Across the 17 yearly changes before that (1987 to 2023), the average change was +1.1% and a typical year strayed about 5.4% from that (the standard deviation). This year's change was 1.3 standard deviations below 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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