Children out of school in Bangladesh
Bangladesh: Children out of school was 5.9% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Children out of school in Bangladesh, 1970–2024
Source: Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Measured in % of primary school age.
Analysis
In 2024, children out of school in Bangladesh stood at 5.9%.
That represents a change of down 14.9% on the previous year and up 78.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, children out of school in Bangladesh peaked at 51.1% in 1970 and was at its lowest, 3.3%, in 2017.
Bangladesh ranks 76th of 196 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Children out of school in Bangladesh, year by year
| Year | % of primary school age | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 51.1% | — |
| 1973 | 30.8% | -39.6% |
| 1976 | 25.8% | -16.3% |
| 1977 | 31.2% | +20.8% |
| 1978 | 33.1% | +6.1% |
| 1981 | 39.2% | +18.6% |
| 1983 | 42.0% | +7.2% |
| 1984 | 42.7% | +1.6% |
| 1985 | 43.8% | +2.6% |
| 1986 | 44.2% | +0.9% |
| 1987 | 44.8% | +1.3% |
| 1988 | 35.0% | -21.9% |
| 1989 | 35.1% | +0.4% |
| 1990 | 32.6% | -7.3% |
| 2005 | 6.8% | -79.0% |
| 2006 | 7.5% | +10.5% |
| 2008 | 13.1% | +73.5% |
| 2009 | 12.9% | -1.2% |
| 2010 | 9.8% | -24.6% |
| 2017 | 3.3% | -66.4% |
| 2018 | 3.4% | +2.4% |
| 2022 | 7.3% | +117.0% |
| 2023 | 6.9% | -5.5% |
| 2024 | 5.9% | -14.9% |
Bangladesh compared with similar countries
- Bangladesh's 5.9% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 6.9%, 85% of the median. (45 countries reporting)
- Bangladesh's 5.9% is above the median for South Asia, which is 3.4%, 1.7× the median. (6 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Children out of school in Bangladesh 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.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | +117.0% | 3.4% | 7.3% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 34.4% | 25.8% | 51.1% | 5 |
| 1980s | 40.9% | 35.0% | 44.8% | 8 |
| 1990s | 32.6% | 32.6% | 32.6% | 1 |
| 2000s | 10.1% | 6.8% | 13.1% | 4 |
| 2010s | 5.5% | 3.3% | 9.8% | 3 |
| 2020s | 6.7% | 5.9% | 7.3% | 3 |
Countries ranked near Bangladesh
- 73 San Marino 6.1% compare
- 74 South Africa 6.1% compare
- 75 Bulgaria 5.9% compare
- 77 Oman 5.8% compare
- 78 Cayman Islands 5.2% compare
- 79 Canada 5.0% compare
More education data for Bangladesh
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 571,690 (2024)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 387,056 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 1.73 million (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 1.77 million (2024)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 15.07 million (2024)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 16.69 million (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 2.67 % change on previous year (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.0961 units per person (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is children out of school in Bangladesh?
- Children out of school in Bangladesh was 5.9% in 2024, according to Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
- What is the highest children out of school recorded in Bangladesh?
- The highest recorded value was 51.1% in 1970.
- What is the lowest children out of school recorded in Bangladesh?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.3% in 2017.
- How does Bangladesh rank for children out of school?
- Bangladesh ranks 76th out of 196 countries with data for 2024.
- Is children out of school rising or falling in Bangladesh?
- Over the last ten years it is up 78.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Bangladesh data come from?
- The figures come from Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), published as part of Children out of school (% of primary school age). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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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.