Children out of school, female (% of female primary school age) by country
Children out of school are the percentage of primary-school-age children who are not enrolled in primary or secondary school. Children in the official primary age group that are in preprimary education should be considered out of school.
Countries reporting
177
Highest
88.8%
Somalia
Lowest
0.0%
France
Median
4.9%
Years covered
56
1970–2025
Data points
3,665
What the numbers show
Children out of school, female (% of female primary school age) is currently reported for 177 countries. The highest value is 88.8% in Somalia; the lowest is 0.0% in France.
The median across all reporting countries is 4.9%, and the mean is 10.6%.
The gap between the highest and lowest reporting country is a factor of about 3,473.
Over the past decade 83 countries rose and 83 fell. The largest increase was in Serbia (up 1,730.6%), and the largest decrease in France (down 99.3%).
Children out of school, female: full country ranking
| # | Country | Latest | Year | 10-year change | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Somalia | 88.8% | 1980 | — | flat |
| 2 | Democratic Republic of Congo | 66.3% | 1999 | up 45.9% | rising |
| 3 | Equatorial Guinea | 65.2% | 2015 | up 26.3% | rising |
| 4 | Cape Verde | 51.3% | 2022 | up 963.7% | volatile |
| 5 | Central African Republic | 44.4% | 2012 | down 30.3% | falling |
| 6 | Eritrea | 43.5% | 2022 | up 12.8% | falling |
| 7 | Sudan | 41.9% | 2019 | down 13.3% | falling |
| 8 | Niger | 41.7% | 2024 | down 7.1% | falling |
| 9 | Haiti | 41.0% | 1997 | down 28.4% | falling |
| 10 | British Virgin Islands | 40.8% | 2024 | up 524.6% | volatile |
| 11 | Liberia | 37.3% | 2022 | up 455.4% | volatile |
| 12 | Mali | 37.2% | 2023 | down 11.5% | falling |
| 13 | Angola | 36.9% | 2023 | up 62.6% | falling |
| 14 | Yemen | 34.9% | 2016 | down 14.2% | falling |
| 15 | Burkina Faso | 33.7% | 2024 | down 4.4% | falling |
| 16 | Kenya | 31.9% | 2022 | up 101.6% | flat |
| 17 | Lesotho | 31.8% | 2024 | up 118.1% | falling |
| 18 | Guinea-Bissau | 31.7% | 2010 | down 46.1% | falling |
| 19 | Solomon Islands | 30.8% | 2024 | up 801.8% | volatile |
| 20 | Chad | 30.6% | 2024 | down 8.9% | falling |
| 21 | Honduras | 25.6% | 2024 | up 22.5% | rising |
| 22 | Nigeria | 25.5% | 2023 | down 42.0% | falling |
| 23 | Ethiopia | 25.1% | 2024 | up 17.0% | falling |
| 24 | Burundi | 24.9% | 2025 | up 161.3% | volatile |
| 25 | Lebanon | 22.4% | 2024 | down 16.5% | rising |
| 26 | Micronesia (country) | 21.6% | 2024 | up 39.1% | rising |
| 27 | Syria | 21.4% | 2024 | down 41.1% | volatile |
| 28 | Guinea | 21.1% | 2020 | down 38.6% | falling |
| 29 | Comoros | 20.5% | 2024 | up 182.2% | volatile |
| 30 | Guyana | 18.5% | 2023 | up 217.3% | rising |
| 31 | Barbados | 17.4% | 2024 | up 210.6% | volatile |
| 32 | Congo | 16.9% | 2023 | up 113.2% | volatile |
| 33 | Suriname | 16.8% | 2024 | up 4.0% | rising |
| 34 | Iraq | 16.8% | 2007 | down 46.0% | volatile |
| 35 | Bahamas | 16.3% | 2024 | up 738.4% | volatile |
| 36 | Romania | 15.7% | 2023 | up 138.6% | volatile |
| 37 | Senegal | 15.4% | 2024 | down 26.3% | volatile |
| 38 | El Salvador | 14.0% | 2024 | up 158.3% | volatile |
| 39 | Turks and Caicos Islands | 14.0% | 2015 | up 56.0% | volatile |
| 40 | Albania | 13.8% | 2023 | up 305.0% | volatile |
| 41 | Zambia | 13.8% | 2017 | up 75.0% | falling |
| 42 | Tanzania | 13.5% | 2024 | down 15.0% | volatile |
| 43 | Paraguay | 13.4% | 2024 | up 859.5% | volatile |
| 44 | Cote d'Ivoire | 13.2% | 2024 | down 58.5% | volatile |
| 45 | Philippines | 12.8% | 2024 | up 44.3% | rising |
| 46 | Ukraine | 12.6% | 2024 | up 18.2% | rising |
| 47 | Benin | 12.4% | 2022 | up 5.4% | volatile |
| 48 | Cameroon | 12.3% | 2019 | down 17.3% | falling |
| 49 | Puerto Rico | 12.2% | 2024 | up 232.1% | rising |
| 50 | Tonga | 12.1% | 1999 | down 6.0% | rising |
| 51 | Botswana | 11.4% | 2014 | up 0.6% | volatile |
| 52 | Venezuela | 11.4% | 2017 | up 153.9% | rising |
| 53 | Malaysia | 11.1% | 2024 | up 83.4% | volatile |
| 54 | Macao | 10.6% | 2024 | up 279.0% | falling |
| 55 | Kiribati | 10.6% | 2024 | — | volatile |
| 56 | Laos | 10.4% | 2025 | up 80.9% | volatile |
| 57 | Mauritania | 10.3% | 2024 | down 63.0% | falling |
| 58 | Belize | 10.2% | 2024 | up 459.4% | volatile |
| 59 | Gambia | 10.2% | 2025 | down 61.2% | volatile |
| 60 | Palestine | 9.9% | 2023 | up 30.4% | falling |
| 61 | Zimbabwe | 9.6% | 2024 | down 0.6% | volatile |
| 62 | Indonesia | 9.6% | 2018 | up 215.9% | volatile |
| 63 | Bolivia | 9.3% | 2024 | down 19.5% | falling |
| 64 | Kazakhstan | 8.7% | 2025 | up 1.3% | rising |
| 65 | Sri Lanka | 8.6% | 2023 | up 21.6% | rising |
| 66 | Guatemala | 8.4% | 2024 | down 17.5% | volatile |
| 67 | Mongolia | 7.8% | 2024 | up 39.4% | volatile |
| 68 | New Caledonia | 7.6% | 1991 | down 21.7% | falling |
| 69 | Panama | 7.2% | 2024 | down 7.8% | volatile |
| 70 | Colombia | 6.8% | 2022 | up 295.3% | rising |
| 71 | China | 6.6% | 1997 | down 18.8% | falling |
| 72 | Bhutan | 6.6% | 2024 | up 10.7% | volatile |
| 73 | Tajikistan | 6.6% | 2017 | up 40.6% | rising |
| 74 | Nicaragua | 6.5% | 2023 | up 42.8% | volatile |
| 75 | Seychelles | 6.5% | 2024 | — | volatile |
| 76 | Saint Lucia | 6.4% | 2024 | down 15.0% | flat |
| 77 | Trinidad and Tobago | 6.2% | 2024 | up 11.6% | falling |
| 78 | South Africa | 5.9% | 2023 | up 64.7% | volatile |
| 79 | Dominica | 5.9% | 2023 | up 121.0% | falling |
| 80 | Serbia | 5.9% | 2024 | up 1,730.6% | volatile |
| 81 | Georgia | 5.9% | 2024 | — | volatile |
| 82 | Bulgaria | 5.8% | 2024 | up 119.0% | rising |
| 83 | Oman | 5.6% | 2024 | up 234.5% | volatile |
| 84 | Belarus | 5.5% | 2024 | up 152.8% | volatile |
| 85 | Armenia | 5.1% | 2023 | down 33.4% | falling |
| 86 | Libya | 5.1% | 1983 | down 82.5% | volatile |
| 87 | Fiji | 4.9% | 2016 | down 46.2% | falling |
| 88 | San Marino | 4.9% | 2024 | down 44.2% | rising |
| 89 | Canada | 4.9% | 2023 | up 731.7% | volatile |
| 90 | Costa Rica | 4.8% | 2024 | down 49.3% | falling |
| 91 | Mozambique | 4.8% | 2018 | down 65.8% | volatile |
| 92 | Dominican Republic | 4.8% | 2024 | down 39.8% | falling |
| 93 | Uzbekistan | 4.7% | 2023 | down 8.6% | falling |
| 94 | East Timor | 4.7% | 2023 | down 6.9% | falling |
| 95 | Grenada | 4.6% | 2021 | down 5.1% | falling |
| 96 | Eswatini | 4.6% | 2022 | down 65.9% | falling |
| 97 | Nauru | 4.6% | 2025 | down 51.8% | volatile |
| 98 | Cambodia | 4.6% | 2024 | down 48.7% | volatile |
| 99 | French Polynesia | 4.5% | 1996 | down 60.5% | falling |
| 100 | Togo | 4.5% | 2021 | down 72.1% | volatile |
| 101 | Jamaica | 4.3% | 2024 | down 59.4% | volatile |
| 102 | Cuba | 4.3% | 2024 | up 71.7% | falling |
| 103 | Russia | 4.2% | 2023 | up 61.9% | volatile |
| 104 | Ghana | 4.1% | 2024 | down 60.0% | volatile |
| 105 | Cayman Islands | 4.1% | 2024 | up 39.5% | falling |
| 106 | Bahrain | 4.1% | 2024 | up 270.2% | volatile |
| 107 | Papua New Guinea | 4.0% | 2020 | down 87.8% | volatile |
| 108 | Greece | 4.0% | 2021 | up 79.5% | falling |
| 109 | United States | 3.8% | 2022 | up 20.5% | volatile |
| 110 | Sao Tome and Principe | 3.7% | 2017 | down 46.4% | volatile |
| 111 | Qatar | 3.6% | 2024 | down 46.6% | volatile |
| 112 | North Macedonia | 3.5% | 2023 | up 0.4% | volatile |
| 113 | Egypt | 3.5% | 2024 | down 76.4% | volatile |
| 114 | Brunei | 3.4% | 2024 | — | volatile |
| 115 | Estonia | 3.4% | 2024 | up 42.6% | rising |
| 116 | Uganda | 3.4% | 2013 | — | volatile |
| 117 | Ecuador | 3.2% | 2023 | up 250.5% | volatile |
| 118 | Samoa | 3.0% | 2024 | up 107.8% | volatile |
| 119 | Chile | 3.0% | 2024 | down 7.6% | falling |
| 120 | Andorra | 2.9% | 2024 | down 69.3% | falling |
| 121 | Morocco | 2.8% | 2019 | down 77.3% | volatile |
| 122 | Kyrgyzstan | 2.7% | 2025 | down 50.1% | volatile |
| 123 | Hungary | 2.7% | 2024 | down 21.3% | rising |
| 124 | Malta | 2.7% | 2023 | up 88.5% | rising |
| 125 | Israel | 2.6% | 2024 | up 401.7% | volatile |
| 126 | Hong Kong | 2.5% | 2007 | down 38.2% | falling |
| 127 | New Zealand | 2.5% | 2024 | up 170.7% | rising |
| 128 | Bangladesh | 2.4% | 2018 | down 80.7% | volatile |
| 129 | Latvia | 2.2% | 2024 | up 35.6% | rising |
| 130 | Peru | 2.2% | 2003 | down 79.1% | volatile |
| 131 | Italy | 2.2% | 2023 | up 150.8% | rising |
| 132 | Kuwait | 2.1% | 2016 | up 11.7% | volatile |
| 133 | Vanuatu | 2.0% | 2024 | — | volatile |
| 134 | Montenegro | 1.9% | 2016 | down 64.4% | volatile |
| 135 | Rwanda | 1.9% | 2019 | — | volatile |
| 136 | Brazil | 1.8% | 2024 | down 60.9% | falling |
| 137 | Maldives | 1.8% | 2023 | up 36.0% | volatile |
| 138 | Iceland | 1.8% | 2023 | up 41.7% | flat |
| 139 | Finland | 1.7% | 2024 | up 38.7% | rising |
| 140 | Belgium | 1.7% | 2023 | down 8.5% | rising |
| 141 | Jordan | 1.6% | 2024 | down 75.9% | volatile |
| 142 | India | 1.6% | 2023 | up 41.2% | volatile |
| 143 | Algeria | 1.6% | 2022 | up 9.3% | volatile |
| 144 | Germany | 1.5% | 2022 | up 96.1% | falling |
| 145 | Iran | 1.5% | 2020 | down 67.6% | volatile |
| 146 | Austria | 1.5% | 2024 | down 0.4% | falling |
| 147 | Nepal | 1.5% | 2025 | — | falling |
| 148 | Poland | 1.4% | 2020 | down 49.2% | rising |
| 149 | Norway | 1.4% | 2024 | up 215.1% | volatile |
| 150 | Mauritius | 1.3% | 2023 | down 73.2% | volatile |
| 151 | Slovenia | 1.3% | 2023 | down 28.3% | falling |
| 152 | Namibia | 1.3% | 2012 | down 84.8% | falling |
| 153 | Spain | 1.3% | 2024 | down 47.8% | falling |
| 154 | Portugal | 1.3% | 2019 | up 58.1% | rising |
| 155 | Thailand | 1.3% | 2025 | — | volatile |
| 156 | South Korea | 1.2% | 2022 | down 7.6% | volatile |
| 157 | Bosnia and Herzegovina | 1.1% | 2023 | down 89.4% | volatile |
| 158 | Slovakia | 1.0% | 2024 | down 84.1% | rising |
| 159 | Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | 0.8% | 2007 | up 310.2% | volatile |
| 160 | Czechia | 0.8% | 2023 | up 21.0% | volatile |
| 161 | Denmark | 0.8% | 2024 | up 98.7% | volatile |
| 162 | Uruguay | 0.6% | 2015 | up 35.8% | volatile |
| 163 | Myanmar | 0.6% | 2009 | down 90.6% | volatile |
| 164 | Sweden | 0.6% | 2024 | down 55.7% | falling |
| 165 | Turkey | 0.5% | 2017 | — | volatile |
| 166 | Tunisia | 0.5% | 2023 | down 80.9% | volatile |
| 167 | Luxembourg | 0.4% | 2023 | down 81.2% | falling |
| 168 | Netherlands | 0.4% | 2023 | up 166.2% | volatile |
| 169 | Cyprus | 0.3% | 2017 | down 29.8% | volatile |
| 170 | Saudi Arabia | 0.3% | 2024 | down 91.3% | volatile |
| 171 | United Kingdom | 0.3% | 2018 | down 46.5% | volatile |
| 172 | Switzerland | 0.1% | 2024 | up 430.4% | volatile |
| 173 | Madagascar | 0.1% | 2018 | down 36.8% | volatile |
| 174 | United Arab Emirates | 0.1% | 2023 | down 89.6% | volatile |
| 175 | Australia | 0.1% | 2023 | down 94.7% | volatile |
| 176 | Azerbaijan | 0.0% | 2024 | down 99.2% | volatile |
| 177 | France | 0.0% | 2016 | down 99.3% | volatile |
Regions and income groups
Aggregates are excluded from the country ranking above so that a region can never outrank a country.
- Low income 25.5%
- Middle income 11.3%
- Lower middle income 8.2%
- Upper middle income 3.7%
- High income 2.5%
About this data
Children out of school are the percentage of primary-school-age children who are not enrolled in primary or secondary school. Children in the official primary age group that are in preprimary education should be considered out of school.