The Number of Pupils in Primary Education Keeps Steadily Growing

January 24 marks International Day of Education, a day that celebrates the role played by education in peace and development. As the United Nations underline, education is a human right, a public good and a public responsibility.

According to the UN, youth "make up more than half of the global population and are a powerful engine for innovation, social change and sustainable development. Yet many still face persistent barriers that hold them back from shaping the future they want - from poverty and inequality to limited access to quality education and decent work."

Data collected by the World Bank shows that the number of pupils in primary education has been steadily growing since 2000: they were 655.5 millions that year, compared to close to 781 millions in 2024. The percentage of children who completed primary school has also grown: it stood at 88 percent in 2024, a six percentage point improvement compared to 2000.

When it adopted the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development in 2015, the international community recognized that education is essential for the success of all 17 of its goals. Sustainable Development Goal 4, in particular, aims to “ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all” by 2030.