Children out of school in Jamaica
Jamaica: Children out of school was 4.3% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Children out of school in Jamaica, 1975–2024
Source: Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Measured in % of primary school age.
Analysis
In 2024, children out of school in Jamaica stood at 4.3%.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 65.0% on the previous year and down 59.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, children out of school in Jamaica peaked at 15.0% in 2021 and was at its lowest, 0.8%, in 1975.
That places Jamaica 91st 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 Jamaica, year by year
| Year | % of primary school age | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1975 | 0.8% | — |
| 1976 | 2.1% | +177.7% |
| 1977 | 2.6% | +21.5% |
| 1979 | 0.9% | -66.5% |
| 1980 | 1.5% | +73.7% |
| 1981 | 2.1% | +44.1% |
| 1983 | 1.4% | -33.3% |
| 1984 | 3.2% | +123.7% |
| 1985 | 4.7% | +46.4% |
| 1986 | 5.2% | +10.1% |
| 1987 | 4.2% | -19.0% |
| 1988 | 7.6% | +82.0% |
| 1989 | 4.1% | -45.8% |
| 1990 | 4.5% | +8.8% |
| 1991 | 5.6% | +24.1% |
| 1993 | 8.6% | +55.5% |
| 1999 | 11.9% | +37.5% |
| 2000 | 10.9% | -8.0% |
| 2001 | 11.2% | +2.0% |
| 2002 | 12.3% | +9.9% |
| 2003 | 13.1% | +7.2% |
| 2004 | 10.1% | -23.1% |
| 2005 | 10.1% | +0.2% |
| 2013 | 8.8% | -13.4% |
| 2014 | 10.7% | +21.8% |
| 2015 | 10.5% | -1.9% |
| 2016 | 11.1% | +5.8% |
| 2017 | 10.5% | -5.3% |
| 2018 | 10.4% | -1.3% |
| 2019 | 9.2% | -11.3% |
| 2020 | 12.6% | +36.7% |
| 2021 | 15.0% | +19.4% |
| 2022 | 6.7% | -55.1% |
| 2023 | 12.4% | +83.9% |
| 2024 | 4.3% | -65.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 1.6% | 0.8% | 2.6% | 4 |
| 1980s | 3.8% | 1.4% | 7.6% | 9 |
| 1990s | 7.6% | 4.5% | 11.9% | 4 |
| 2000s | 11.3% | 10.1% | 13.1% | 6 |
| 2010s | 10.2% | 8.8% | 11.1% | 7 |
| 2020s | 10.2% | 4.3% | 15.0% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Jamaica
- 88 Libya 4.5% compare
- 89 Belarus 4.5% compare
- 90 Costa Rica 4.5% compare
- 92 Tajikistan 4.2% compare
- 93 Uganda 4.1% compare
- 94 French Polynesia 4.1% compare
More education data for Jamaica
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 11,043 (2024)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 4,597 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 52,983 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 51,265 (2024)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 177,095 (2024)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 211,097 (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 8.14 % change on previous year (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.0744 units per person (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is children out of school in Jamaica?
- Children out of school in Jamaica was 4.3% in 2024, according to Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
- What is the highest children out of school recorded in Jamaica?
- The highest recorded value was 15.0% in 2021.
- What is the lowest children out of school recorded in Jamaica?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.8% in 1975.
- How does Jamaica rank for children out of school?
- Jamaica ranks 91st out of 196 countries with data for 2024.
- Is children out of school rising or falling in Jamaica?
- Over the last ten years it is down 59.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Jamaica 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.