Children out of school in Ghana
Ghana: Children out of school was 4.8% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Children out of school in Ghana, 1999–2024
Source: Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Measured in % of primary school age.
Analysis
Ghana recorded 4.8% for children out of school in 2024.
The figure is down 52.0% on the previous year and down 49.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, children out of school in Ghana peaked at 42.5% in 1999 and was at its lowest, 0.2%, in 2016.
That places Ghana 83rd 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 Ghana, year by year
| Year | % of primary school age | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1999 | 42.5% | — |
| 2000 | 34.5% | -18.9% |
| 2001 | 39.5% | +14.6% |
| 2002 | 35.3% | -10.7% |
| 2003 | 35.3% | -0.0% |
| 2005 | 29.3% | -17.0% |
| 2006 | 26.8% | -8.4% |
| 2007 | 21.6% | -19.3% |
| 2008 | 16.5% | -23.6% |
| 2009 | 16.9% | +2.4% |
| 2011 | 11.3% | -33.3% |
| 2012 | 13.3% | +17.9% |
| 2014 | 9.5% | -28.6% |
| 2016 | 0.2% | -97.5% |
| 2017 | 6.8% | +2726.9% |
| 2018 | 8.2% | +19.4% |
| 2019 | 5.5% | -32.5% |
| 2020 | 10.6% | +91.5% |
| 2021 | 9.9% | -5.9% |
| 2024 | 4.8% | -52.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 42.5% | 42.5% | 42.5% | 1 |
| 2000s | 28.4% | 16.5% | 39.5% | 9 |
| 2010s | 7.8% | 0.2% | 13.3% | 7 |
| 2020s | 8.4% | 4.8% | 10.6% | 3 |
Countries ranked near Ghana
More education data for Ghana
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 174,414 (2024)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 39,902 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 949,095 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 913,117 (2024)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 3.33 million (2024)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 4.98 million (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 0.6567 % change on previous year (2022)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.1448 units per person (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is children out of school in Ghana?
- Children out of school in Ghana was 4.8% in 2024, according to Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
- What is the highest children out of school recorded in Ghana?
- The highest recorded value was 42.5% in 1999.
- What is the lowest children out of school recorded in Ghana?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.2% in 2016.
- How does Ghana rank for children out of school?
- Ghana ranks 83rd out of 196 countries with data for 2024.
- Is children out of school rising or falling in Ghana?
- Over the last ten years it is down 49.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Ghana 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.