Children out of school in Tanzania, United Republic of

Tanzania, United Republic of: Children out of school was 16.4% in 2024. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2024)
16.4%
Change on year
up 16.3%
World rank
34th
of 196 countries
All-time high
51.4%
in 1994
All-time low
3.8%
in 2008
Years of data
44
1976–2024

Children out of school in Tanzania, United Republic of, 1976–2024

010203040501976200020241976: 49.9 % of primary school age1980: 30.1 % of primary school age1981: 32 % of primary school age1982: 37.4 % of primary school age1983: 39.1 % of primary school age1984: 42.8 % of primary school age1985: 45.9 % of primary school age1986: 47.4 % of primary school age1987: 48.9 % of primary school age1988: 50.5 % of primary school age1989: 50.4 % of primary school age1990: 50.8 % of primary school age1991: 51.1 % of primary school age1992: 50.5 % of primary school age1993: 50.7 % of primary school age1994: 51.4 % of primary school age1995: 51.3 % of primary school age1996: 50.9 % of primary school age1997: 50.1 % of primary school age1998: 50.3 % of primary school age1999: 49.7 % of primary school age2000: 45.9 % of primary school age2001: 41.1 % of primary school age2002: 25.9 % of primary school age2003: 17.4 % of primary school age2004: 13.4 % of primary school age2005: 9.3 % of primary school age2006: 4.5 % of primary school age2008: 3.8 % of primary school age2010: 9.8 % of primary school age2011: 10.5 % of primary school age2012: 13.5 % of primary school age2013: 16.2 % of primary school age2014: 17.5 % of primary school age2015: 19.5 % of primary school age2016: 15.5 % of primary school age2017: 15.1 % of primary school age2018: 16.9 % of primary school age2019: 14.3 % of primary school age2020: 13.4 % of primary school age2021: 12.7 % of primary school age2022: 13 % of primary school age2023: 14.1 % of primary school age2024: 16.4 % of primary school age

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 Tanzania, United Republic of is 16.4%, measured in 2024.

Compared with earlier readings it is up 16.3% on the previous year and down 6.5% over ten years.

Over the whole period, children out of school in Tanzania, United Republic of peaked at 51.4% in 1994 and was at its lowest, 3.8%, in 2008.

That places Tanzania, United Republic of 34th out of 196 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top quarter.

The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.

Children out of school in Tanzania, United Republic of, year by year

Annual values for Children out of school (% of primary school age) in Tanzania, United Republic of, 1976 to 2024.
Year % of primary school age Change
1976 49.9%
1980 30.1% -39.7%
1981 32.0% +6.4%
1982 37.4% +16.9%
1983 39.1% +4.5%
1984 42.8% +9.4%
1985 45.9% +7.2%
1986 47.4% +3.5%
1987 48.9% +3.1%
1988 50.5% +3.3%
1989 50.4% -0.3%
1990 50.8% +0.8%
1991 51.1% +0.5%
1992 50.5% -1.2%
1993 50.7% +0.4%
1994 51.4% +1.5%
1995 51.3% -0.3%
1996 50.9% -0.8%
1997 50.1% -1.5%
1998 50.3% +0.5%
1999 49.7% -1.3%
2000 45.9% -7.6%
2001 41.1% -10.5%
2002 25.9% -37.1%
2003 17.4% -32.6%
2004 13.4% -23.2%
2005 9.3% -30.1%
2006 4.5% -51.8%
2008 3.8% -16.6%
2010 9.8% +161.1%
2011 10.5% +7.3%
2012 13.5% +27.9%
2013 16.2% +20.5%
2014 17.5% +7.9%
2015 19.5% +11.6%
2016 15.5% -20.9%
2017 15.1% -2.5%
2018 16.9% +12.3%
2019 14.3% -15.3%
2020 13.4% -6.6%
2021 12.7% -5.3%
2022 13.0% +2.5%
2023 14.1% +8.3%
2024 16.4% +16.3%

Tanzania, United Republic of compared with similar countries

  • Tanzania, United Republic of's 16.4% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 6.9%, 2.4× the median. (45 countries reporting)
  • Tanzania, United Republic of's 16.4% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 16.9%, 97% of the median. (45 countries reporting)

Biggest year-on-year movements

Years where Children out of school in Tanzania, United Republic of changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.

YearChange FromTo
2010 +161.1% 3.8% 9.8%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1970s 49.9% 49.9% 49.9% 1
1980s 42.5% 30.1% 50.5% 10
1990s 50.7% 49.7% 51.4% 10
2000s 20.2% 3.8% 45.9% 8
2010s 14.9% 9.8% 19.5% 10
2020s 13.9% 12.7% 16.4% 5

Countries ranked near Tanzania, United Republic of

  1. 31 Barbados 17.6% compare
  2. 32 Congo 17.1% compare
  3. 33 Gambia 16.9% compare
  4. 35 Suriname 16.2% compare
  5. 36 Bahamas 15.9% compare
  6. 37 Romania 15.6% compare

See the full ranking of 201 places →

More education data for Tanzania, United Republic of

All data for Tanzania, United Republic of →

Frequently asked questions

What is children out of school in Tanzania, United Republic of?
Children out of school in Tanzania, United Republic of was 16.4% in 2024, according to Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
What is the highest children out of school recorded in Tanzania, United Republic of?
The highest recorded value was 51.4% in 1994.
What is the lowest children out of school recorded in Tanzania, United Republic of?
The lowest recorded value was 3.8% in 2008.
How does Tanzania, United Republic of rank for children out of school?
Tanzania, United Republic of ranks 34th out of 196 countries with data for 2024.
Is children out of school rising or falling in Tanzania, United Republic of?
Over the last ten years it is down 6.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this Tanzania, United Republic of 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 Tanzania, United Republic of. Statizoid, drawing on Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Retrieved 14 September 2026, from https://education.statizoid.com/stat/children-out-of-school-percent-of-primary-school-age/tanzania/

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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.