Children out of school in Canada

Canada: Children out of school was 5.0% in 2023. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2023)
5.0%
Change on year
down 5.2%
World rank
79th
of 196 countries
All-time high
5.3%
in 2022
All-time low
0.3%
in 2015
Years of data
13
2000–2023

Children out of school in Canada, 2000–2023

0123452000201120232000: 0.588 % of primary school age2012: 0.509 % of primary school age2013: 0.613 % of primary school age2014: 0.475 % of primary school age2015: 0.293 % of primary school age2016: 1.4 % of primary school age2017: 1.4 % of primary school age2018: 1.3 % of primary school age2019: 2.8 % of primary school age2020: 3.1 % of primary school age2021: 4.8 % of primary school age2022: 5.3 % of primary school age2023: 5 % of primary school age

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 Canada is 5.0%, measured in 2023.

That represents a change of down 5.2% on the previous year and up 713.5% over ten years.

Over the whole period, children out of school in Canada peaked at 5.3% in 2022 and was at its lowest, 0.3%, in 2015.

Canada ranks 79th 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 Canada, year by year

Annual values for Children out of school (% of primary school age) in Canada, 2000 to 2023.
Year % of primary school age Change
2000 0.6%
2012 0.5% -13.3%
2013 0.6% +20.5%
2014 0.5% -22.6%
2015 0.3% -38.2%
2016 1.4% +394.3%
2017 1.4% -5.7%
2018 1.3% -2.2%
2019 2.8% +110.2%
2020 3.1% +9.9%
2021 4.8% +54.3%
2022 5.3% +10.4%
2023 5.0% -5.2%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 0.6% 0.6% 0.6% 1
2010s 1.1% 0.3% 2.8% 8
2020s 4.5% 3.1% 5.3% 4

Countries ranked near Canada

  1. 76 Bangladesh 5.9% compare
  2. 77 Oman 5.8% compare
  3. 78 Cayman Islands 5.2% compare
  4. 80 Grenada 4.9% compare
  5. 81 Russian Federation 4.9% compare
  6. 82 Dominican Republic 4.9% compare

See the full ranking of 201 places →

More education data for Canada

All data for Canada →

Frequently asked questions

What is children out of school in Canada?
Children out of school in Canada was 5.0% in 2023, according to Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
What is the highest children out of school recorded in Canada?
The highest recorded value was 5.3% in 2022.
What is the lowest children out of school recorded in Canada?
The lowest recorded value was 0.3% in 2015.
How does Canada rank for children out of school?
Canada ranks 79th out of 196 countries with data for 2023.
Is children out of school rising or falling in Canada?
Over the last ten years it is up 713.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this Canada 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 Canada. Statizoid, drawing on Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Retrieved 09 September 2026, from https://education.statizoid.com/stat/children-out-of-school-percent-of-primary-school-age/canada/

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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.