Children out of school in Bhutan

Bhutan: Children out of school was 10.5% in 2024. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2024)
10.5%
Change on year
down 10.8%
World rank
50th
of 196 countries
All-time high
78.0%
in 1978
All-time low
5.5%
in 2020
Years of data
23
1978–2024

Children out of school in Bhutan, 1978–2024

0204060801978200120241978: 78 % of primary school age1979: 75.3 % of primary school age1998: 44.2 % of primary school age1999: 43.3 % of primary school age2000: 41.1 % of primary school age2001: 38.8 % of primary school age2005: 28.7 % of primary school age2006: 23.7 % of primary school age2008: 16.8 % of primary school age2009: 11.7 % of primary school age2010: 9.4 % of primary school age2011: 8.9 % of primary school age2012: 7.6 % of primary school age2013: 9.1 % of primary school age2015: 10.8 % of primary school age2016: 11.5 % of primary school age2017: 11.7 % of primary school age2018: 9.4 % of primary school age2020: 5.5 % of primary school age2021: 16.1 % of primary school age2022: 10 % of primary school age2023: 11.8 % of primary school age2024: 10.5 % of primary school age

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

Analysis

In 2024, children out of school in Bhutan stood at 10.5%.

Compared with earlier readings it is down 10.8% on the previous year and up 14.9% over ten years.

Over the whole period, children out of school in Bhutan peaked at 78.0% in 1978 and was at its lowest, 5.5%, in 2020.

Bhutan ranks 50th 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 Bhutan, year by year

Annual values for Children out of school (% of primary school age) in Bhutan, 1978 to 2024.
Year % of primary school age Change
1978 78.0%
1979 75.3% -3.4%
1998 44.2% -41.3%
1999 43.3% -2.0%
2000 41.1% -5.1%
2001 38.8% -5.5%
2005 28.7% -26.1%
2006 23.7% -17.4%
2008 16.8% -29.3%
2009 11.7% -30.2%
2010 9.4% -19.5%
2011 8.9% -5.7%
2012 7.6% -14.4%
2013 9.1% +20.1%
2015 10.8% +18.7%
2016 11.5% +5.6%
2017 11.7% +2.2%
2018 9.4% -19.5%
2020 5.5% -42.0%
2021 16.1% +194.8%
2022 10.0% -37.6%
2023 11.8% +17.2%
2024 10.5% -10.8%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1970s 76.7% 75.3% 78.0% 2
1990s 43.8% 43.3% 44.2% 2
2000s 26.8% 11.7% 41.1% 6
2010s 9.8% 7.6% 11.7% 8
2020s 10.8% 5.5% 16.1% 5

Countries ranked near Bhutan

  1. 47 Iraq 10.7% compare
  2. 48 Belize 10.7% compare
  3. 49 Zimbabwe 10.5% compare
  4. 51 Lao People's Democratic Republic 10.4% compare
  5. 52 Benin 9.6% compare
  6. 53 Palestine, State of 9.6% compare

See the full ranking of 201 places →

More education data for Bhutan

All data for Bhutan →

Frequently asked questions

What is children out of school in Bhutan?
Children out of school in Bhutan was 10.5% in 2024, according to Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
What is the highest children out of school recorded in Bhutan?
The highest recorded value was 78.0% in 1978.
What is the lowest children out of school recorded in Bhutan?
The lowest recorded value was 5.5% in 2020.
How does Bhutan rank for children out of school?
Bhutan ranks 50th out of 196 countries with data for 2024.
Is children out of school rising or falling in Bhutan?
Over the last ten years it is up 14.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this Bhutan 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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Children out of school in Bhutan. Statizoid, drawing on Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Retrieved 12 September 2026, from https://education.statizoid.com/stat/children-out-of-school-percent-of-primary-school-age/bhutan/

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About this data

Indicator
Children out of school (% of primary school age)
Unit
% of primary school age
Source
Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
201 places, 4,722 data points, 1970–2025
Last refreshed

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.