Children out of school, primary in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland: Children out of school, primary was 3,326 in 2023. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2023)
3,326
Change on year
down 3.8%
World rank
140th
of 197 countries
All-time high
101,041
in 2007
All-time low
1,175
in 2002
Years of data
24
2000–2023

Children out of school, primary in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, 2000–2023

020.0k40.0k60.0k80.0k100.0k2000201120232000: 2.4k2001: 2.2k2002: 1.2k2003: 1.9k2004: 26.0k2005: 3.5k2006: 44.9k2007: 101.0k2008: 16.4k2009: 31.4k2010: 23.4k2011: 46.3k2012: 81.8k2013: 83.8k2014: 75.0k2015: 66.9k2016: 59.7k2017: 37.1k2018: 14.9k2019: 2.5k2020: 1.3k2021: 1.6k2022: 3.5k2023: 3.3k

Source: Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).

Analysis

In 2023, children out of school, primary in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland stood at 3,326.

Compared with earlier readings it is down 3.8% on the previous year and down 96.0% over ten years.

Over the whole period, children out of school, primary in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland peaked at 101,041 in 2007 and was at its lowest, 1,175, in 2002.

United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ranks 140th of 197 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.

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

Children out of school, primary in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, year by year

Annual values for Children out of school, primary in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, 2000 to 2023.
Year Value Change
2000 2,385
2001 2,186 -8.3%
2002 1,175 -46.2%
2003 1,887 +60.6%
2004 25,967 +1276.1%
2005 3,486 -86.6%
2006 44,924 +1188.7%
2007 101,041 +124.9%
2008 16,367 -83.8%
2009 31,426 +92.0%
2010 23,362 -25.7%
2011 46,270 +98.1%
2012 81,776 +76.7%
2013 83,792 +2.5%
2014 75,047 -10.4%
2015 66,907 -10.8%
2016 59,716 -10.7%
2017 37,098 -37.9%
2018 14,916 -59.8%
2019 2,533 -83.0%
2020 1,260 -50.3%
2021 1,601 +27.1%
2022 3,458 +116.0%
2023 3,326 -3.8%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 23,084 1,175 101,041 10
2010s 49,142 2,533 83,792 10
2020s 2,411 1,260 3,458 4

Countries ranked near United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

  1. 137 Haiti 3,719 compare
  2. 138 Latvia 3,481 compare
  3. 139 Barbados 3,420 compare
  4. 141 Micronesia, Federated States of 3,301 compare
  5. 142 Estonia 3,091 compare
  6. 143 Bosnia and Herzegovina 2,933 compare

See the full ranking of 202 places →

More education data for United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

All data for United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland →

Frequently asked questions

What is children out of school, primary in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
Children out of school, primary in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland was 3,326 in 2023, according to Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
What is the highest children out of school, primary recorded in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
The highest recorded value was 101,041 in 2007.
What is the lowest children out of school, primary recorded in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
The lowest recorded value was 1,175 in 2002.
How does United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland rank for children out of school, primary?
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ranks 140th out of 197 countries with data for 2023.
Is children out of school, primary rising or falling in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
Over the last ten years it is down 96.0%. 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, primary. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Children out of school, primary in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Statizoid, drawing on Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Retrieved 25 August 2026, from https://education.statizoid.com/stat/children-out-of-school-primary/united-kingdom/

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About this data

Indicator
Children out of school, primary
Source
Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
202 places, 4,752 data points, 1970–2025
Last refreshed

Children out of school are the number of primary-school-age children not enrolled in primary or secondary school.