Education in North Western Province, Sri Lanka: official figures
Government schools in North Western Province had 469,667 pupils and 30,001 teachers in 2025 (provisional), 15.7 pupils per teacher, 5th highest of the 9 provinces (Sri Lanka: 15.5).
How do students in North Western Province do in the O/L exams?
71.5% of North Western Province's 39,405 school candidates who sat the GCE Ordinary Level exam in 2024 (five or more subjects) qualified for Advanced Level, 3rd lowest of the 9 provinces (Sri Lanka: 73.5%; provisional).
Source: Central Bank of Sri Lanka (compiling the named official sources) · saved copyHow many students from North Western Province go to university?
4,646 students from North Western Province were admitted to state universities in 2023/2024, 180 per 100,000 residents, 3rd lowest of the 9 provinces; they were 10.4% of all admissions (2022/2023: 4,756).
Source: Central Bank of Sri Lanka (compiling the named official sources) · saved copyMore figures
- Enrolment in North Western Province's government schools fell by 6.3% between 2019 and 2025 (Sri Lanka: fell by 7.7%). Source: Central Bank of Sri Lanka (compiling the named official sources) · saved copy
- 12.9% of people in North Western Province had passed the GCE Advanced Level or gone further in the 2019 Household Income and Expenditure Survey, 4th highest of the 9 provinces (Sri Lanka: 15.1%). Source: Central Bank of Sri Lanka (compiling the named official sources) · saved copy
How North Western Province compares with other provinces
GCE O/L school candidates qualifying for A/L (2024)
North Western Province ranks 7 of 9, highest first.
| Rank | Region | GCE O/L school candidates qualifying for A/L |
|---|---|---|
| 3 | Eastern Province | 74.3% |
| 4 | Central Province | 73.9% |
| 5 | Sabaragamuwa Province | 73.5% |
| 6 | Uva Province | 73.2% |
| 7 | North Western Province | 71.5% |
| 8 | North Central Province | 70.2% |
| 9 | Northern Province | 69.9% |
Pupils per teacher in government schools (2025)
North Western Province ranks 5 of 9, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Pupils per teacher in government schools |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | North Central Province | 16.8 |
| 3 | Eastern Province | 15.9 |
| 4 | Southern Province | 15.7 |
| 5 | North Western Province | 15.7 |
| 6 | Central Province | 14.9 |
| 7 | Sabaragamuwa Province | 14.7 |
| 8 | Uva Province | 13.8 |
More on North Western Province: overview · economy and jobs · health · poverty and living standards · government budget · Sri Lanka
Sources
- Central Bank of Sri Lanka (compiling the named official sources): Economic and Social Statistics of Sri Lanka 2026, chapter 2: Tables 2.4 (vehicles, Provincial Departments of Motor Traffic), 2.13, 2.16 and 2.18 (HIES 2019, Department of Census and Statistics), 2.20 (Ministry of Education), 2.26 (Department of Examinations), 2.30 (University Grants Commission) and 2.39 (Ministry of Health), read 27 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 babb9cbb27c5…)
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