Children out of school in Cameroon
Cameroon: Children out of school was 3.8% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Children out of school in Cameroon, 1971–2024
Source: Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Measured in % of primary school age.
Analysis
The most recent figure for children out of school in Cameroon is 3.8%, measured in 2024.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 1.4% on the previous year and down 27.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, children out of school in Cameroon peaked at 39.7% in 1974 and was at its lowest, 3.7%, in 2023.
That places Cameroon 100th out of 196 countries with data for 2024, putting it 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 Cameroon, year by year
| Year | % of primary school age | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1971 | 35.8% | — |
| 1972 | 36.3% | +1.6% |
| 1973 | 37.7% | +3.8% |
| 1974 | 39.7% | +5.2% |
| 1975 | 33.1% | -16.6% |
| 1976 | 32.1% | -3.1% |
| 1977 | 33.5% | +4.7% |
| 1978 | 32.4% | -3.5% |
| 1979 | 31.6% | -2.4% |
| 1980 | 31.5% | -0.2% |
| 1988 | 25.1% | -20.5% |
| 1990 | 25.4% | +1.3% |
| 1991 | 27.0% | +6.4% |
| 2008 | 12.7% | -53.2% |
| 2009 | 9.9% | -21.5% |
| 2011 | 8.5% | -13.9% |
| 2012 | 5.8% | -32.0% |
| 2014 | 5.2% | -11.0% |
| 2015 | 4.8% | -7.6% |
| 2016 | 4.3% | -9.3% |
| 2017 | 5.8% | +33.2% |
| 2019 | 7.5% | +29.2% |
| 2021 | 4.4% | -40.8% |
| 2022 | 3.9% | -10.9% |
| 2023 | 3.7% | -5.7% |
| 2024 | 3.8% | +1.4% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 34.7% | 31.6% | 39.7% | 9 |
| 1980s | 28.3% | 25.1% | 31.5% | 2 |
| 1990s | 26.2% | 25.4% | 27.0% | 2 |
| 2000s | 11.3% | 9.9% | 12.7% | 2 |
| 2010s | 6.0% | 4.3% | 8.5% | 7 |
| 2020s | 4.0% | 3.7% | 4.4% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Cameroon
More education data for Cameroon
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 118,092 (2023)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 611,326 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 321,494 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 322,873 (2024)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 2.01 million (2023)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 5.29 million (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 2.6 % change on previous year (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.1816 units per person (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is children out of school in Cameroon?
- Children out of school in Cameroon was 3.8% in 2024, according to Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
- What is the highest children out of school recorded in Cameroon?
- The highest recorded value was 39.7% in 1974.
- What is the lowest children out of school recorded in Cameroon?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.7% in 2023.
- How does Cameroon rank for children out of school?
- Cameroon ranks 100th out of 196 countries with data for 2024.
- Is children out of school rising or falling in Cameroon?
- Over the last ten years it is down 27.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Cameroon 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.