Children out of school in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland: Children out of school was 0.1% in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Children out of school in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, 2000–2023
Source: Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Measured in % of primary school age.
Analysis
In 2023, children out of school in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland stood at 0.1%.
The figure is down 4.1% on the previous year and down 96.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, children out of school in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland peaked at 2.4% in 2007 and was at its lowest, 0.0%, in 2002.
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ranks 191st of 196 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Children out of school in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, year by year
| Year | % of primary school age | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 0.1% | — |
| 2001 | 0.0% | -7.3% |
| 2002 | 0.0% | -45.7% |
| 2003 | 0.0% | +62.1% |
| 2004 | 0.6% | +1288.6% |
| 2005 | 0.1% | -86.4% |
| 2006 | 1.0% | +1204.0% |
| 2007 | 2.4% | +127.7% |
| 2008 | 0.4% | -83.6% |
| 2009 | 0.8% | +93.5% |
| 2010 | 0.6% | -25.6% |
| 2011 | 1.1% | +96.9% |
| 2012 | 1.9% | +74.0% |
| 2013 | 1.9% | -0.1% |
| 2014 | 1.7% | -12.9% |
| 2015 | 1.5% | -12.8% |
| 2016 | 1.3% | -12.5% |
| 2017 | 0.8% | -38.9% |
| 2018 | 0.3% | -60.2% |
| 2019 | 0.1% | -83.0% |
| 2020 | 0.0% | -49.9% |
| 2021 | 0.0% | +27.9% |
| 2022 | 0.1% | +116.7% |
| 2023 | 0.1% | -4.1% |
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland compared with similar countries
- United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland's 0.1% is below the median for high income countries, which is 1.8%, 4% of the median. (74 countries reporting)
- United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland's 0.1% is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 1.4%, 5% of the median. (51 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Children out of school in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 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.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | +1288.6% | 0.0% | 0.6% |
| 2006 | +1204.0% | 0.1% | 1.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 0.5% | 0.0% | 2.4% | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.1% | 0.1% | 1.9% | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.1% | 0.0% | 0.1% | 4 |
Countries ranked near United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
More education data for United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 388,714 (2023)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 0 (2012)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 830,495 (2023)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 790,556 (2023)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 6.40 million (2023)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 4.86 million (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate -0.0111 % change on previous year (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.071 units per person (2023)
All data for United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland →
Frequently asked questions
- What is children out of school in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
- Children out of school in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland was 0.1% in 2023, according to Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
- What is the highest children out of school recorded in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
- The highest recorded value was 2.4% in 2007.
- What is the lowest children out of school recorded in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.0% in 2002.
- How does United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland rank for children out of school?
- United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ranks 191st out of 196 countries with data for 2023.
- Is children out of school rising or falling in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
- Over the last ten years it is down 96.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 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.
Download this data
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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.