Children out of school in Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe: Children out of school was 10.5% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Children out of school in Zimbabwe, 1982–2024
Source: Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Measured in % of primary school age.
Analysis
Zimbabwe recorded 10.5% for children out of school in 2024.
That represents a change of up 15.2% on the previous year and up 1.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, children out of school in Zimbabwe peaked at 19.4% in 2017 and was at its lowest, 0.1%, in 1982.
That places Zimbabwe 49th 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 Zimbabwe, year by year
| Year | % of primary school age | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1982 | 0.1% | — |
| 1998 | 13.5% | +9319.7% |
| 1999 | 8.9% | -33.8% |
| 2000 | 5.3% | -40.9% |
| 2001 | 1.5% | -72.0% |
| 2002 | 4.3% | +190.2% |
| 2003 | 5.6% | +30.6% |
| 2012 | 8.5% | +51.4% |
| 2013 | 9.9% | +17.0% |
| 2014 | 10.4% | +4.5% |
| 2015 | 18.8% | +80.6% |
| 2016 | 17.7% | -5.7% |
| 2017 | 19.4% | +9.9% |
| 2018 | 18.8% | -3.5% |
| 2019 | 18.4% | -2.0% |
| 2020 | 16.9% | -8.0% |
| 2021 | 9.4% | -44.3% |
| 2022 | 8.2% | -13.3% |
| 2023 | 9.1% | +11.8% |
| 2024 | 10.5% | +15.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 0.1% | 0.1% | 0.1% | 1 |
| 1990s | 11.2% | 8.9% | 13.5% | 2 |
| 2000s | 4.2% | 1.5% | 5.6% | 4 |
| 2010s | 15.2% | 8.5% | 19.4% | 8 |
| 2020s | 10.8% | 8.2% | 16.9% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Zimbabwe
More education data for Zimbabwe
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 42,585 (2013)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 12,514 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 328,055 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 322,698 (2024)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 957,461 (2013)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 2.94 million (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate -0.4866 % change on previous year (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.1767 units per person (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is children out of school in Zimbabwe?
- Children out of school in Zimbabwe was 10.5% in 2024, according to Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
- What is the highest children out of school recorded in Zimbabwe?
- The highest recorded value was 19.4% in 2017.
- What is the lowest children out of school recorded in Zimbabwe?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.1% in 1982.
- How does Zimbabwe rank for children out of school?
- Zimbabwe ranks 49th out of 196 countries with data for 2024.
- Is children out of school rising or falling in Zimbabwe?
- Over the last ten years it is up 1.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Zimbabwe 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.