Children out of school in Mali

Mali: Children out of school was 34.0% in 2023. ▼ Falling

Latest (2023)
34.0%
World rank
13th
of 196 countries
All-time high
83.6%
in 1971
All-time low
34.0%
in 2023
Years of data
23
1971–2023

Children out of school in Mali, 1971–2023

0204060801971199720231971: 83.6 % of primary school age1972: 83 % of primary school age1973: 82.6 % of primary school age1974: 80.2 % of primary school age1977: 80.3 % of primary school age1999: 60 % of primary school age2002: 52.3 % of primary school age2003: 51.9 % of primary school age2004: 51.5 % of primary school age2005: 46.5 % of primary school age2006: 45.3 % of primary school age2007: 43.3 % of primary school age2009: 36.7 % of primary school age2010: 35.9 % of primary school age2011: 35.2 % of primary school age2012: 37.5 % of primary school age2013: 41.6 % of primary school age2014: 40.8 % of primary school age2015: 43.4 % of primary school age2016: 42.1 % of primary school age2017: 37 % of primary school age2018: 45.1 % of primary school age2023: 34 % of primary school age

Source: Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Measured in % of primary school age.

Analysis

Mali recorded 34.0% for children out of school in 2023. That is the lowest value across all 23 years on record.

That represents a change of down 18.2% over ten years.

Over the whole period, children out of school in Mali peaked at 83.6% in 1971 and was at its lowest, 34.0%, in 2023.

That places Mali 13th out of 196 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the top 10%.

The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 23 years of available data.

Children out of school in Mali, year by year

Annual values for Children out of school (% of primary school age) in Mali, 1971 to 2023.
Year % of primary school age Change
1971 83.6%
1972 83.0% -0.7%
1973 82.6% -0.4%
1974 80.2% -2.9%
1977 80.3% +0.1%
1999 60.0% -25.4%
2002 52.3% -12.8%
2003 51.9% -0.8%
2004 51.5% -0.7%
2005 46.5% -9.7%
2006 45.3% -2.7%
2007 43.3% -4.3%
2009 36.7% -15.3%
2010 35.9% -2.3%
2011 35.2% -1.8%
2012 37.5% +6.4%
2013 41.6% +10.8%
2014 40.8% -1.8%
2015 43.4% +6.4%
2016 42.1% -3.1%
2017 37.0% -12.0%
2018 45.1% +21.8%
2023 34.0% -24.5%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1970s 82.0% 80.2% 83.6% 5
1990s 60.0% 60.0% 60.0% 1
2000s 46.8% 36.7% 52.3% 7
2010s 39.9% 35.2% 45.1% 9
2020s 34.0% 34.0% 34.0% 1

Countries ranked near Mali

  1. 10 Central African Republic 37.9% compare
  2. 11 Angola 36.8% compare
  3. 12 Burkina Faso 34.3% compare
  4. 14 Kenya 32.9% compare
  5. 15 Lesotho 32.2% compare
  6. 16 Yemen 30.6% compare

See the full ranking of 201 places →

More education data for Mali

All data for Mali →

Frequently asked questions

What is children out of school in Mali?
Children out of school in Mali was 34.0% in 2023, according to Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
What is the highest children out of school recorded in Mali?
The highest recorded value was 83.6% in 1971.
What is the lowest children out of school recorded in Mali?
The lowest recorded value was 34.0% in 2023.
How does Mali rank for children out of school?
Mali ranks 13th out of 196 countries with data for 2023.
Is children out of school rising or falling in Mali?
Over the last ten years it is down 18.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
Where does this Mali 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 Mali. 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/mali/

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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.