The two pie charts illustrate the proportion of women in Sri Lanka with different levels of education in 1965 and 1995.
Overall, it is clear that women’s educational attainment improved significantly over the 30-year period. The share of females with no formal education fell dramatically, while the proportion of those with higher and postgraduate qualifications rose sharply.
In 1965, nearly one-third of women (33%) had received no schooling, and the majority were limited to only six years of education, at 44%. Meanwhile, just 18% had completed 12 years of schooling, and only a small minority – 4% and 1% respectively – had attained graduate or postgraduate degrees.
By contrast, in 1995, the educational landscape had changed remarkably. The proportion of women without schooling had plunged to 10%, while those completing six years of study had also dropped to 20%. In contrast, the figures for 12-year education and graduates rose to 25% and 30% respectively. Notably, the percentage of postgraduates quintupled, reaching 15%.
In summary, women in Sri Lanka became far better educated between 1965 and 1995, reflecting major social progress and expanded access to higher education.