Children out of school, primary in Kenya
Kenya: Children out of school, primary was 468,923 in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Children out of school, primary in Kenya, 1999–2023
Source: Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
Analysis
In 2023, children out of school, primary in Kenya stood at 468,923.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 82.7% on the previous year and down 62.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, children out of school, primary in Kenya peaked at 3.00 million in 2021 and was at its lowest, 311,609, in 2007.
That places Kenya 23rd out of 197 countries with data for 2023, 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, primary in Kenya, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1999 | 1.96 million | — |
| 2000 | 1.87 million | -4.9% |
| 2001 | 1.47 million | -21.3% |
| 2002 | 1.61 million | +9.8% |
| 2003 | 837,525 | -48.1% |
| 2004 | 908,635 | +8.5% |
| 2005 | 861,156 | -5.2% |
| 2006 | 914,574 | +6.2% |
| 2007 | 311,609 | -65.9% |
| 2008 | 601,767 | +93.1% |
| 2009 | 505,601 | -16.0% |
| 2012 | 1.25 million | +147.0% |
| 2021 | 3.00 million | +139.9% |
| 2022 | 2.70 million | -9.8% |
| 2023 | 468,923 | -82.7% |
Kenya compared with similar countries
- Kenya's 468,923 is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 76,741, 6.1× the median. (45 countries reporting)
- Kenya's 468,923 is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 224,299, 2.1× the median. (46 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Children out of school, primary in Kenya 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | +147.0% | 505,601 | 1.25 million |
| 2021 | +139.9% | 1.25 million | 3.00 million |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 1.96 million | 1.96 million | 1.96 million | 1 |
| 2000s | 989,257 | 311,609 | 1.87 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.25 million | 1.25 million | 1.25 million | 1 |
| 2020s | 2.06 million | 468,923 | 3.00 million | 3 |
Countries ranked near Kenya
More education data for Kenya
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 168,396 (2023)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 235,728 (2016)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 1.44 million (2023)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 1.44 million (2023)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 6.74 million (2023)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 8.04 million (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate -0.7181 % change on previous year (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.1453 units per person (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is children out of school, primary in Kenya?
- Children out of school, primary in Kenya was 468,923 in 2023, according to Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
- What is the highest children out of school, primary recorded in Kenya?
- The highest recorded value was 3.00 million in 2021.
- What is the lowest children out of school, primary recorded in Kenya?
- The lowest recorded value was 311,609 in 2007.
- How does Kenya rank for children out of school, primary?
- Kenya ranks 23rd out of 197 countries with data for 2023.
- Is children out of school, primary rising or falling in Kenya?
- Over the last ten years it is down 62.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Kenya data come from?
- The figures come from Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), published as part of Children out of school, primary. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Children out of school are the number of primary-school-age children not enrolled in primary or secondary school.