Children out of school in El Salvador
El Salvador: Children out of school was 8.7% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Children out of school in El Salvador, 1970–2024
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 El Salvador is 8.7%, measured in 2024.
That represents a change of down 39.5% on the previous year and up 35.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, children out of school in El Salvador peaked at 34.9% in 1970 and was at its lowest, 5.1%, in 2003.
That places El Salvador 57th 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 El Salvador, year by year
| Year | % of primary school age | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 34.9% | — |
| 1998 | 20.9% | -40.2% |
| 2000 | 11.3% | -45.8% |
| 2001 | 9.4% | -17.0% |
| 2002 | 6.5% | -31.2% |
| 2003 | 5.1% | -21.4% |
| 2014 | 6.4% | +25.6% |
| 2015 | 7.3% | +14.5% |
| 2016 | 8.2% | +12.4% |
| 2017 | 12.3% | +49.9% |
| 2018 | 11.6% | -5.8% |
| 2019 | 14.4% | +23.6% |
| 2020 | 14.8% | +2.9% |
| 2021 | 15.7% | +6.3% |
| 2022 | 15.6% | -0.7% |
| 2023 | 14.3% | -8.3% |
| 2024 | 8.7% | -39.5% |
El Salvador compared with similar countries
- El Salvador's 8.7% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 3.9%, 2.2× the median. (56 countries reporting)
- El Salvador's 8.7% is above the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 5.1%, 1.7× the median. (38 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 34.9% | 34.9% | 34.9% | 1 |
| 1990s | 20.9% | 20.9% | 20.9% | 1 |
| 2000s | 8.1% | 5.1% | 11.3% | 4 |
| 2010s | 10.0% | 6.4% | 14.4% | 6 |
| 2020s | 13.8% | 8.7% | 15.7% | 5 |
Countries ranked near El Salvador
More education data for El Salvador
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 17,715 (2024)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 21,853 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 100,826 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 100,758 (2024)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 417,193 (2024)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 594,860 (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate -2.27 % change on previous year (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.0939 units per person (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is children out of school in El Salvador?
- Children out of school in El Salvador was 8.7% in 2024, according to Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
- What is the highest children out of school recorded in El Salvador?
- The highest recorded value was 34.9% in 1970.
- What is the lowest children out of school recorded in El Salvador?
- The lowest recorded value was 5.1% in 2003.
- How does El Salvador rank for children out of school?
- El Salvador ranks 57th out of 196 countries with data for 2024.
- Is children out of school rising or falling in El Salvador?
- Over the last ten years it is up 35.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this El Salvador 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.