Out-of-school children, adolescents and youth of primary and in United Kingdom

United Kingdom: Out-of-school children, adolescents and youth of primary and was 203,417 in 2023. ▼ Falling

Latest (2023)
203,417
Change on year
up 14.8%
World rank
65th
of 178 countries
All-time high
468,856
in 2007
All-time low
117,442
in 2017
Years of data
23
2000–2023

Out-of-school children, adolescents and youth of primary and in United Kingdom, 2000–2023

100.0k200.0k300.0k400.0k500.0k2000201120232000: 315.2k2001: 297.8k2002: 228.0k2003: 224.9k2004: 144.2k2005: 145.2k2006: 360.0k2007: 468.9k2008: 322.8k2009: 261.0k2010: 187.5k2011: 332.0k2012: 444.4k2013: 240.1k2014: 128.0k2015: 121.6k2017: 117.4k2018: 161.5k2019: 173.6k2020: 178.9k2021: 167.3k2022: 177.2k2023: 203.4k

Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.

Analysis

United Kingdom recorded 203,417 for out-of-school children, adolescents and youth of primary and in 2023.

Compared with earlier readings it is up 14.8% on the previous year and down 15.3% over ten years.

Over the whole period, out-of-school children, adolescents and youth of primary and in United Kingdom peaked at 468,856 in 2007 and was at its lowest, 117,442, in 2017.

That places United Kingdom 65th out of 178 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.

The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 23 years of available data.

Out-of-school children, adolescents and youth of primary and in United Kingdom, year by year

Annual values for Out-of-school children, adolescents and youth of primary and secondary school age, both sexes (number) in United Kingdom, 2000 to 2023.
Year Value Change
2000 315,234
2001 297,838 -5.5%
2002 228,044 -23.4%
2003 224,869 -1.4%
2004 144,203 -35.9%
2005 145,176 +0.7%
2006 359,981 +148.0%
2007 468,856 +30.2%
2008 322,769 -31.2%
2009 261,020 -19.1%
2010 187,513 -28.2%
2011 332,021 +77.1%
2012 444,381 +33.8%
2013 240,107 -46.0%
2014 127,969 -46.7%
2015 121,551 -5.0%
2017 117,442 -3.4%
2018 161,547 +37.6%
2019 173,591 +7.5%
2020 178,870 +3.0%
2021 167,293 -6.5%
2022 177,229 +5.9%
2023 203,417 +14.8%

United Kingdom compared with similar countries

  • United Kingdom's 203,417 is above the median for high income countries, which is 17,025, 11.9× the median. (68 countries reporting)
  • United Kingdom's 203,417 is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 24,477, 8.3× the median. (49 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 276,799 144,203 468,856 10
2010s 211,791 117,442 444,381 9
2020s 181,702 167,293 203,417 4

Countries ranked near United Kingdom

  1. 62 Tajikistan 230,885 compare
  2. 63 Lesotho 229,618 compare
  3. 64 Nicaragua 216,372 compare
  4. 66 Kazakhstan 190,275 compare
  5. 67 Argentina 188,930 compare
  6. 68 Gambia 182,904 compare

See the full ranking of 178 places →

More education data for United Kingdom

All data for United Kingdom →

Frequently asked questions

What is out-of-school children, adolescents and youth of primary and in United Kingdom?
Out-of-school children, adolescents and youth of primary and in United Kingdom was 203,417 in 2023, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
What is the highest out-of-school children, adolescents and youth of primary and recorded in United Kingdom?
The highest recorded value was 468,856 in 2007.
What is the lowest out-of-school children, adolescents and youth of primary and recorded in United Kingdom?
The lowest recorded value was 117,442 in 2017.
How does United Kingdom rank for out-of-school children, adolescents and youth of primary and?
United Kingdom ranks 65th out of 178 countries with data for 2023.
Is out-of-school children, adolescents and youth of primary and rising or falling in United Kingdom?
Over the last ten years it is down 15.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
Where does this United Kingdom data come from?
The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Out-of-school children, adolescents and youth of primary and secondary school age, both sexes (number). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Out-of-school children, adolescents and youth of primary and in United Kingdom. Statizoid, drawing on UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Retrieved 17 September 2026, from https://education.statizoid.com/stat/out-of-school-children-adolescents-and-youth-of-primary-and-secondary-school-age-both-2/united-kingdom/

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About this data

Indicator
Out-of-school children, adolescents and youth of primary and secondary school age, both sexes (number)
Source
UNESCO Institute for Statistics
Licence
CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics)
Coverage
178 places, 2,946 data points, 1970–2025
Last refreshed

February 2026 Data Release