Children out of school in Guatemala
Guatemala: Children out of school was 8.4% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Children out of school in Guatemala, 1970–2024
Source: Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Measured in % of primary school age.
Analysis
Guatemala recorded 8.4% for children out of school in 2024.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.8% on the previous year and down 11.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, children out of school in Guatemala peaked at 51.9% in 1970 and was at its lowest, 2.4%, in 2011.
Guatemala ranks 59th 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 Guatemala, year by year
| Year | % of primary school age | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 51.9% | — |
| 1971 | 50.6% | -2.4% |
| 1972 | 49.9% | -1.5% |
| 1974 | 48.8% | -2.2% |
| 1975 | 47.6% | -2.4% |
| 1978 | 43.7% | -8.2% |
| 1979 | 42.7% | -2.2% |
| 1980 | 40.4% | -5.4% |
| 1981 | 37.0% | -8.5% |
| 1982 | 39.9% | +7.9% |
| 1983 | 35.8% | -10.3% |
| 1997 | 28.8% | -19.5% |
| 1999 | 17.4% | -39.5% |
| 2000 | 15.2% | -13.1% |
| 2001 | 16.1% | +6.2% |
| 2002 | 12.7% | -21.0% |
| 2004 | 8.0% | -36.8% |
| 2005 | 6.6% | -17.4% |
| 2006 | 5.3% | -20.7% |
| 2007 | 4.2% | -19.9% |
| 2008 | 4.0% | -5.4% |
| 2011 | 2.4% | -39.3% |
| 2012 | 5.2% | +112.3% |
| 2013 | 7.4% | +44.1% |
| 2014 | 9.5% | +28.5% |
| 2015 | 10.2% | +6.9% |
| 2016 | 11.4% | +11.5% |
| 2017 | 10.7% | -5.8% |
| 2018 | 9.7% | -9.8% |
| 2019 | 9.9% | +2.5% |
| 2020 | 9.8% | -1.3% |
| 2021 | 8.5% | -12.6% |
| 2022 | 8.5% | -0.7% |
| 2023 | 8.4% | -1.3% |
| 2024 | 8.4% | +0.8% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 47.9% | 42.7% | 51.9% | 7 |
| 1980s | 38.3% | 35.8% | 40.4% | 4 |
| 1990s | 23.1% | 17.4% | 28.8% | 2 |
| 2000s | 9.0% | 4.0% | 16.1% | 8 |
| 2010s | 8.5% | 2.4% | 11.4% | 9 |
| 2020s | 8.7% | 8.4% | 9.8% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Guatemala
More education data for Guatemala
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 122,548 (2024)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 247,917 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 335,306 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 328,468 (2024)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 1.13 million (2024)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 2.42 million (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 0.3948 % change on previous year (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.1317 units per person (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is children out of school in Guatemala?
- Children out of school in Guatemala was 8.4% in 2024, according to Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
- What is the highest children out of school recorded in Guatemala?
- The highest recorded value was 51.9% in 1970.
- What is the lowest children out of school recorded in Guatemala?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.4% in 2011.
- How does Guatemala rank for children out of school?
- Guatemala ranks 59th out of 196 countries with data for 2024.
- Is children out of school rising or falling in Guatemala?
- Over the last ten years it is down 11.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Guatemala 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.