Children out of school (% of 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
196
Highest
85.3%
Somalia
Lowest
0.0%
United Arab Emirates
Median
3.8%
Years covered
56
1970–2025
Data points
4,722
What the numbers show
Children out of school (% of primary school age) is currently reported for 196 countries. The highest value is 85.3% in Somalia; the lowest is 0.0% in United Arab Emirates.
The median across all reporting countries is 3.8%, and the mean is 8.9%.
The gap between the highest and lowest reporting country is a factor of about 22,035.
Over the past decade 97 countries rose and 95 fell. The largest increase was in Turkey (up 7,048.4%), and the largest decrease in United Arab Emirates (down 99.6%).
Children out of school: full country ranking
| # | Country | Latest | Year | 10-year change | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Somalia | 85.3% | 1980 | — | flat |
| 2 | Equatorial Guinea | 65.6% | 2015 | up 33.5% | rising |
| 3 | Democratic Republic of Congo | 65.3% | 1999 | up 73.5% | rising |
| 4 | Sudan | 43.8% | 2019 | down 2.7% | falling |
| 5 | Cape Verde | 41.8% | 2022 | up 624.6% | volatile |
| 6 | Niger | 40.4% | 2024 | up 1.3% | falling |
| 7 | Eritrea | 40.4% | 2022 | up 20.9% | falling |
| 8 | Haiti | 39.8% | 1997 | down 30.4% | falling |
| 9 | Liberia | 38.3% | 2022 | up 868.8% | volatile |
| 10 | Central African Republic | 37.9% | 2012 | down 34.0% | falling |
| 11 | Angola | 36.8% | 2023 | up 197.6% | volatile |
| 12 | Burkina Faso | 34.3% | 2024 | up 1.6% | falling |
| 13 | Mali | 34.0% | 2023 | down 18.2% | falling |
| 14 | Kenya | 32.9% | 2022 | up 90.4% | volatile |
| 15 | Lesotho | 32.2% | 2024 | up 101.9% | falling |
| 16 | Yemen | 30.6% | 2016 | down 2.5% | falling |
| 17 | Guinea-Bissau | 30.5% | 2010 | down 39.8% | falling |
| 18 | Solomon Islands | 30.1% | 2024 | up 983.9% | volatile |
| 19 | British Virgin Islands | 27.0% | 2024 | up 300.1% | volatile |
| 20 | Honduras | 26.6% | 2024 | up 23.5% | rising |
| 21 | Burundi | 26.5% | 2025 | up 138.5% | volatile |
| 22 | Chad | 24.8% | 2024 | up 3.8% | falling |
| 23 | Senegal | 24.5% | 2024 | up 1.3% | falling |
| 24 | Nigeria | 24.3% | 2023 | down 36.2% | falling |
| 25 | Micronesia (country) | 23.1% | 2024 | up 77.5% | rising |
| 26 | Lebanon | 22.5% | 2024 | down 14.3% | rising |
| 27 | Ethiopia | 22.5% | 2024 | up 17.4% | falling |
| 28 | Syria | 21.8% | 2024 | down 39.2% | volatile |
| 29 | Comoros | 20.6% | 2024 | up 228.7% | volatile |
| 30 | Guyana | 18.0% | 2023 | up 5,454.1% | volatile |
| 31 | Barbados | 17.6% | 2024 | up 232.2% | volatile |
| 32 | Congo | 17.1% | 2023 | up 46.6% | volatile |
| 33 | Gambia | 16.9% | 2025 | down 42.6% | falling |
| 34 | Tanzania | 16.4% | 2024 | down 6.5% | volatile |
| 35 | Suriname | 16.2% | 2024 | down 3.8% | rising |
| 36 | Bahamas | 15.9% | 2024 | up 393.9% | volatile |
| 37 | Romania | 15.6% | 2023 | up 146.5% | volatile |
| 38 | Guinea | 14.7% | 2020 | down 47.7% | falling |
| 39 | Paraguay | 13.3% | 2024 | up 794.8% | volatile |
| 40 | Puerto Rico | 13.3% | 2024 | up 149.3% | rising |
| 41 | Ukraine | 12.9% | 2024 | up 14.2% | rising |
| 42 | Cote d'Ivoire | 12.6% | 2024 | down 57.4% | falling |
| 43 | Malaysia | 12.0% | 2024 | up 70.9% | rising |
| 44 | Philippines | 11.6% | 2024 | up 17.1% | rising |
| 45 | Mauritania | 11.3% | 2024 | down 59.9% | falling |
| 46 | Macao | 10.8% | 2024 | up 120.5% | falling |
| 47 | Iraq | 10.7% | 2007 | down 59.0% | volatile |
| 48 | Belize | 10.7% | 2024 | up 2,042.5% | volatile |
| 49 | Zimbabwe | 10.5% | 2024 | up 1.4% | volatile |
| 50 | Bhutan | 10.5% | 2024 | up 14.9% | volatile |
| 51 | Laos | 10.4% | 2025 | up 114.7% | volatile |
| 52 | Benin | 9.6% | 2022 | up 133.9% | volatile |
| 53 | Palestine | 9.6% | 2023 | up 45.3% | falling |
| 54 | Bolivia | 9.3% | 2024 | down 16.9% | volatile |
| 55 | Sri Lanka | 9.1% | 2023 | up 34.7% | volatile |
| 56 | Kiribati | 8.7% | 2024 | up 2,022.9% | volatile |
| 57 | El Salvador | 8.7% | 2024 | up 35.6% | volatile |
| 58 | Mongolia | 8.6% | 2024 | up 57.5% | volatile |
| 59 | Guatemala | 8.4% | 2024 | down 11.5% | volatile |
| 60 | Kazakhstan | 7.9% | 2025 | down 5.3% | rising |
| 61 | Panama | 7.7% | 2024 | down 3.1% | volatile |
| 62 | Kuwait | 7.5% | 2016 | up 167.1% | volatile |
| 63 | New Caledonia | 7.4% | 1991 | down 24.6% | falling |
| 64 | Colombia | 7.3% | 2022 | up 329.0% | volatile |
| 65 | Trinidad and Tobago | 7.2% | 2024 | up 27.2% | falling |
| 66 | Saint Lucia | 7.0% | 2024 | down 13.2% | volatile |
| 67 | East Timor | 6.9% | 2023 | up 6.3% | falling |
| 68 | Seychelles | 6.8% | 2024 | — | volatile |
| 69 | China | 6.7% | 1997 | up 71.1% | rising |
| 70 | Nicaragua | 6.7% | 2023 | up 49.3% | volatile |
| 71 | Nauru | 6.6% | 2025 | down 17.5% | volatile |
| 72 | Georgia | 6.2% | 2024 | up 108.1% | volatile |
| 73 | San Marino | 6.1% | 2024 | down 25.0% | volatile |
| 74 | South Africa | 6.1% | 2023 | up 23.4% | volatile |
| 75 | Bulgaria | 5.9% | 2024 | up 81.4% | volatile |
| 76 | Bangladesh | 5.9% | 2024 | up 78.8% | volatile |
| 77 | Oman | 5.8% | 2024 | up 200.1% | volatile |
| 78 | Cayman Islands | 5.2% | 2024 | up 135.1% | volatile |
| 79 | Canada | 5.0% | 2023 | up 713.5% | volatile |
| 80 | Grenada | 4.9% | 2024 | up 8.9% | volatile |
| 81 | Russia | 4.9% | 2023 | up 56.7% | volatile |
| 82 | Dominican Republic | 4.9% | 2024 | down 33.9% | volatile |
| 83 | Ghana | 4.8% | 2024 | down 49.8% | volatile |
| 84 | Bahrain | 4.7% | 2024 | up 771.4% | volatile |
| 85 | Ecuador | 4.7% | 2023 | up 139.5% | volatile |
| 86 | Cuba | 4.7% | 2024 | up 127.0% | volatile |
| 87 | Qatar | 4.6% | 2024 | down 27.1% | volatile |
| 88 | Libya | 4.5% | 1983 | down 78.7% | volatile |
| 89 | Belarus | 4.5% | 2024 | up 191.1% | volatile |
| 90 | Costa Rica | 4.5% | 2024 | down 50.9% | falling |
| 91 | Jamaica | 4.3% | 2024 | down 59.4% | volatile |
| 92 | Tajikistan | 4.2% | 2017 | down 34.1% | flat |
| 93 | Uganda | 4.1% | 2013 | — | volatile |
| 94 | French Polynesia | 4.1% | 1996 | down 63.0% | falling |
| 95 | Papua New Guinea | 4.0% | 2021 | down 86.8% | volatile |
| 96 | United States | 4.0% | 2022 | up 37.4% | volatile |
| 97 | Dominica | 4.0% | 2023 | up 16.3% | volatile |
| 98 | Eswatini | 3.8% | 2022 | down 69.1% | falling |
| 99 | North Macedonia | 3.8% | 2023 | up 11.1% | volatile |
| 100 | Cameroon | 3.8% | 2024 | down 27.2% | volatile |
| 101 | Cambodia | 3.7% | 2024 | down 57.7% | falling |
| 102 | Brunei | 3.6% | 2024 | up 198.2% | volatile |
| 103 | Zambia | 3.5% | 2024 | down 62.4% | falling |
| 104 | Egypt | 3.5% | 2024 | down 74.9% | volatile |
| 105 | Bermuda | 3.4% | 2012 | down 25.4% | volatile |
| 106 | Madagascar | 3.4% | 2024 | up 67.6% | volatile |
| 107 | Estonia | 3.4% | 2024 | up 38.7% | rising |
| 108 | Serbia | 3.3% | 2024 | up 174.2% | volatile |
| 109 | Kyrgyzstan | 3.0% | 2025 | down 40.3% | falling |
| 110 | Sao Tome and Principe | 2.9% | 2017 | down 63.5% | volatile |
| 111 | Hungary | 2.8% | 2024 | down 14.0% | volatile |
| 112 | Latvia | 2.7% | 2024 | up 39.1% | rising |
| 113 | Israel | 2.7% | 2024 | up 508.0% | volatile |
| 114 | Malta | 2.6% | 2023 | up 153.7% | volatile |
| 115 | New Zealand | 2.6% | 2024 | up 183.6% | rising |
| 116 | Vanuatu | 2.5% | 2024 | up 1,240.7% | volatile |
| 117 | Andorra | 2.4% | 2024 | down 74.2% | falling |
| 118 | Fiji | 2.4% | 2024 | down 70.2% | falling |
| 119 | Tonga | 2.3% | 2022 | down 28.2% | volatile |
| 120 | Brazil | 2.2% | 2024 | down 50.6% | falling |
| 121 | Chile | 2.1% | 2024 | down 28.3% | falling |
| 122 | Bosnia and Herzegovina | 2.1% | 2023 | down 81.2% | volatile |
| 123 | Malawi | 2.1% | 2022 | up 117.2% | rising |
| 124 | Italy | 2.1% | 2023 | up 132.2% | volatile |
| 125 | Jordan | 1.9% | 2024 | down 72.5% | volatile |
| 126 | Iceland | 1.8% | 2023 | up 51.9% | rising |
| 127 | Ireland | 1.8% | 2022 | up 3,031.3% | volatile |
| 128 | Croatia | 1.8% | 2023 | up 43.8% | rising |
| 129 | Samoa | 1.8% | 2024 | up 870.0% | volatile |
| 130 | Finland | 1.8% | 2024 | up 32.1% | rising |
| 131 | Aruba | 1.8% | 2014 | down 13.9% | volatile |
| 132 | Vietnam | 1.7% | 2024 | up 424.7% | volatile |
| 133 | Antigua and Barbuda | 1.7% | 2023 | down 41.5% | volatile |
| 134 | Belgium | 1.7% | 2023 | down 8.3% | rising |
| 135 | Gibraltar | 1.6% | 2024 | — | volatile |
| 136 | Algeria | 1.6% | 2025 | up 281.4% | volatile |
| 137 | Marshall Islands | 1.5% | 2024 | down 83.5% | volatile |
| 138 | Slovenia | 1.4% | 2023 | down 27.4% | falling |
| 139 | Austria | 1.4% | 2024 | up 10.3% | falling |
| 140 | Myanmar | 1.4% | 2010 | down 80.4% | volatile |
| 141 | Hong Kong | 1.4% | 2024 | up 78.7% | volatile |
| 142 | Norway | 1.4% | 2024 | up 232.6% | volatile |
| 143 | Palau | 1.3% | 2024 | down 30.7% | volatile |
| 144 | Spain | 1.2% | 2024 | down 52.7% | volatile |
| 145 | Tunisia | 1.1% | 2023 | up 41.5% | volatile |
| 146 | Armenia | 1.1% | 2024 | down 86.9% | falling |
| 147 | Slovakia | 1.1% | 2024 | down 83.2% | rising |
| 148 | Mozambique | 1.0% | 2022 | down 85.5% | volatile |
| 149 | Rwanda | 1.0% | 2024 | up 20.6% | volatile |
| 150 | Maldives | 0.9% | 2024 | down 80.2% | rising |
| 151 | Denmark | 0.9% | 2024 | up 44.8% | volatile |
| 152 | Indonesia | 0.9% | 2025 | down 75.2% | volatile |
| 153 | Namibia | 0.9% | 2024 | down 25.2% | volatile |
| 154 | Saint Kitts and Nevis | 0.9% | 2008 | down 57.1% | volatile |
| 155 | Liechtenstein | 0.8% | 2021 | down 34.1% | volatile |
| 156 | Thailand | 0.8% | 2025 | down 75.2% | volatile |
| 157 | Czechia | 0.8% | 2023 | down 17.0% | volatile |
| 158 | Mauritius | 0.8% | 2024 | down 85.7% | volatile |
| 159 | Nepal | 0.8% | 2025 | down 15.9% | volatile |
| 160 | Argentina | 0.7% | 2023 | up 959.0% | volatile |
| 161 | Uzbekistan | 0.7% | 2025 | down 72.0% | volatile |
| 162 | Togo | 0.6% | 2024 | down 93.0% | volatile |
| 163 | Turkey | 0.6% | 2023 | up 7,048.4% | volatile |
| 164 | Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | 0.6% | 2017 | down 68.9% | volatile |
| 165 | Sweden | 0.6% | 2024 | down 55.5% | rising |
| 166 | Venezuela | 0.6% | 2023 | down 90.9% | volatile |
| 167 | Tuvalu | 0.5% | 2024 | down 72.6% | volatile |
| 168 | Botswana | 0.5% | 2022 | down 94.1% | volatile |
| 169 | Saudi Arabia | 0.5% | 2024 | down 91.2% | volatile |
| 170 | Netherlands | 0.5% | 2023 | up 156.9% | rising |
| 171 | Portugal | 0.5% | 2023 | up 123.0% | volatile |
| 172 | Albania | 0.5% | 2024 | up 27.1% | volatile |
| 173 | Morocco | 0.5% | 2021 | down 93.5% | volatile |
| 174 | Moldova | 0.5% | 2024 | up 126.1% | volatile |
| 175 | Cyprus | 0.4% | 2023 | down 73.9% | volatile |
| 176 | Mexico | 0.4% | 2024 | up 15.4% | rising |
| 177 | Germany | 0.3% | 2024 | down 77.8% | falling |
| 178 | Luxembourg | 0.3% | 2024 | down 91.5% | falling |
| 179 | Montenegro | 0.2% | 2023 | down 74.8% | volatile |
| 180 | Singapore | 0.2% | 2023 | up 1,936.7% | volatile |
| 181 | France | 0.2% | 2024 | down 85.0% | volatile |
| 182 | Peru | 0.2% | 2019 | down 80.6% | volatile |
| 183 | Switzerland | 0.1% | 2024 | up 337.4% | volatile |
| 184 | Turks and Caicos Islands | 0.1% | 2024 | down 99.0% | volatile |
| 185 | Lithuania | 0.1% | 2024 | up 98.7% | volatile |
| 186 | Australia | 0.1% | 2024 | up 72.7% | volatile |
| 187 | India | 0.1% | 2025 | down 97.1% | volatile |
| 188 | Greece | 0.1% | 2023 | down 95.2% | volatile |
| 189 | Iran | 0.1% | 2023 | down 95.3% | volatile |
| 190 | Poland | 0.1% | 2024 | down 97.8% | volatile |
| 191 | United Kingdom | 0.1% | 2023 | down 96.3% | volatile |
| 192 | Japan | 0.1% | 2023 | down 94.0% | volatile |
| 193 | South Korea | 0.1% | 2024 | down 98.1% | volatile |
| 194 | Uruguay | 0.0% | 2023 | down 91.0% | volatile |
| 195 | Azerbaijan | 0.0% | 2024 | down 96.4% | volatile |
| 196 | United Arab Emirates | 0.0% | 2024 | down 99.6% | volatile |
Regions and income groups
Aggregates are excluded from the country ranking above so that a region can never outrank a country.
- Low income 24.1%
- Middle income 11.3%
- Lower middle income 8.3%
- Upper middle income 4.0%
- 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.