Adolescents out of school in Malaysia
Malaysia: Adolescents out of school was 18.0% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Adolescents out of school in Malaysia, 1970–2024
Source: Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Measured in % of lower secondary school age.
Analysis
In 2024, adolescents out of school in Malaysia stood at 18.0%.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 3.8% on the previous year and up 26.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, adolescents out of school in Malaysia peaked at 44.5% in 1970 and was at its lowest, 5.1%, in 1998.
That places Malaysia 44th out of 179 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Adolescents out of school in Malaysia, year by year
| Year | % of lower secondary school age | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 44.5% | — |
| 1971 | 40.5% | -9.0% |
| 1972 | 37.9% | -6.4% |
| 1998 | 5.1% | -86.4% |
| 1999 | 9.0% | +74.0% |
| 2000 | 9.6% | +7.1% |
| 2001 | 10.5% | +10.0% |
| 2002 | 12.7% | +20.3% |
| 2003 | 7.0% | -45.2% |
| 2004 | 8.2% | +18.2% |
| 2005 | 13.1% | +59.0% |
| 2006 | 10.9% | -16.5% |
| 2007 | 13.0% | +18.7% |
| 2008 | 12.3% | -5.2% |
| 2009 | 10.9% | -11.2% |
| 2010 | 9.8% | -10.5% |
| 2011 | 9.9% | +1.6% |
| 2012 | 11.4% | +15.3% |
| 2013 | 12.0% | +5.1% |
| 2014 | 14.2% | +18.3% |
| 2015 | 17.3% | +21.8% |
| 2016 | 20.0% | +15.6% |
| 2017 | 21.3% | +6.7% |
| 2018 | 23.1% | +8.1% |
| 2019 | 21.5% | -6.6% |
| 2020 | 20.4% | -5.4% |
| 2021 | 18.2% | -10.5% |
| 2022 | 17.3% | -4.9% |
| 2023 | 17.3% | -0.2% |
| 2024 | 18.0% | +3.8% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 41.0% | 37.9% | 44.5% | 3 |
| 1990s | 7.0% | 5.1% | 9.0% | 2 |
| 2000s | 10.8% | 7.0% | 13.1% | 10 |
| 2010s | 16.0% | 9.8% | 23.1% | 10 |
| 2020s | 18.2% | 17.3% | 20.4% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Malaysia
More education data for Malaysia
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 217,105 (2024)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 0 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 475,967 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 460,041 (2024)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 2.64 million (2024)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 3.06 million (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate -1.2 % change on previous year (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.0859 units per person (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is adolescents out of school in Malaysia?
- Adolescents out of school in Malaysia was 18.0% in 2024, according to Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
- What is the highest adolescents out of school recorded in Malaysia?
- The highest recorded value was 44.5% in 1970.
- What is the lowest adolescents out of school recorded in Malaysia?
- The lowest recorded value was 5.1% in 1998.
- How does Malaysia rank for adolescents out of school?
- Malaysia ranks 44th out of 179 countries with data for 2024.
- Is adolescents out of school rising or falling in Malaysia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 26.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Malaysia data come from?
- The figures come from Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), published as part of Adolescents out of school (% of lower secondary school age). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Adolescents out of school are the percentage of lower secondary school age adolescents who are not enrolled in school.