Adolescents out of school in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland: Adolescents out of school was 1.3% in 2023. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2023)
1.3%
Change on year
up 38.8%
World rank
145th
of 179 countries
All-time high
5.0%
in 2012
All-time low
0.0%
in 2009
Years of data
23
2000–2023

Adolescents out of school in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, 2000–2023

0123452000201120232000: 0.789 % of lower secondary school age2001: 0.333 % of lower secondary school age2002: 0.306 % of lower secondary school age2003: 0.351 % of lower secondary school age2004: 0.015 % of lower secondary school age2005: 0.073 % of lower secondary school age2006: 1 % of lower secondary school age2007: 3.2 % of lower secondary school age2008: 1.4 % of lower secondary school age2009: 0.006 % of lower secondary school age2010: 0.012 % of lower secondary school age2011: 1.8 % of lower secondary school age2012: 5 % of lower secondary school age2013: 1.1 % of lower secondary school age2014: 1.3 % of lower secondary school age2015: 1.6 % of lower secondary school age2017: 1.3 % of lower secondary school age2018: 1.8 % of lower secondary school age2019: 1.8 % of lower secondary school age2020: 1.1 % of lower secondary school age2021: 1.1 % of lower secondary school age2022: 0.955 % of lower secondary school age2023: 1.3 % of lower secondary school age

Source: Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Measured in % of lower secondary school age.

Analysis

United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland recorded 1.3% for adolescents out of school in 2023.

The figure is up 38.8% on the previous year and up 17.1% over ten years.

Over the whole period, adolescents out of school in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland peaked at 5.0% in 2012 and was at its lowest, 0.0%, in 2009.

That places United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 145th out of 179 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the bottom quarter.

The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.

Adolescents out of school in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, year by year

Annual values for Adolescents out of school (% of lower secondary school age) in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, 2000 to 2023.
Year % of lower secondary school age Change
2000 0.8%
2001 0.3% -57.8%
2002 0.3% -8.1%
2003 0.4% +14.7%
2004 0.0% -95.7%
2005 0.1% +380.8%
2006 1.0% +1305.9%
2007 3.2% +212.4%
2008 1.4% -54.9%
2009 0.0% -99.6%
2010 0.0% +104.3%
2011 1.8% +14718.0%
2012 5.0% +184.5%
2013 1.1% -77.4%
2014 1.3% +11.6%
2015 1.6% +25.6%
2017 1.3% -19.1%
2018 1.8% +39.6%
2019 1.8% -0.6%
2020 1.1% -36.6%
2021 1.1% -3.7%
2022 1.0% -12.1%
2023 1.3% +38.8%

United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland compared with similar countries

  • United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland's 1.3% is below the median for high income countries, which is 1.8%, 74% of the median. (69 countries reporting)
  • United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland's 1.3% is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 1.5%, 86% of the median. (49 countries reporting)

Biggest year-on-year movements

Years where Adolescents out of school in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.

YearChange FromTo
2011 +14718.0% 0.0% 1.8%
2006 +1305.9% 0.1% 1.0%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 0.8% 0.0% 3.2% 10
2010s 1.7% 0.0% 5.0% 9
2020s 1.1% 1.0% 1.3% 4

Countries ranked near United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

  1. 142 Slovenia 1.4% compare
  2. 143 Namibia 1.3% compare
  3. 144 Slovakia 1.3% compare
  4. 146 Finland 1.3% compare
  5. 147 Canada 1.2% compare
  6. 148 Austria 1.2% compare

See the full ranking of 184 places →

More education data for United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

All data for United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland →

Frequently asked questions

What is adolescents out of school in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
Adolescents out of school in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland was 1.3% in 2023, according to Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
What is the highest adolescents out of school recorded in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
The highest recorded value was 5.0% in 2012.
What is the lowest adolescents out of school recorded in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
The lowest recorded value was 0.0% in 2009.
How does United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland rank for adolescents out of school?
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ranks 145th out of 179 countries with data for 2023.
Is adolescents out of school rising or falling in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
Over the last ten years it is up 17.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 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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Adolescents out of school in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Statizoid, drawing on Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Retrieved 13 September 2026, from https://education.statizoid.com/stat/adolescents-out-of-school-percent-of-lower-secondary-school-age/united-kingdom/

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About this data

Indicator
Adolescents out of school (% of lower secondary school age)
Unit
% of lower secondary school age
Source
Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
184 places, 3,292 data points, 1970–2025
Last refreshed

Adolescents out of school are the percentage of lower secondary school age adolescents who are not enrolled in school.