Out-of-school children and adolescents of primary and lower secondary in Bhutan
Bhutan: Out-of-school children and adolescents of primary and lower secondary was 2,960 in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Out-of-school children and adolescents of primary and lower secondary in Bhutan, 1998–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
The most recent figure for out-of-school children and adolescents of primary and lower secondary in Bhutan is 2,960, measured in 2024. That is the lowest value across all 20 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 13.8% on the previous year and down 38.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, out-of-school children and adolescents of primary and lower secondary in Bhutan peaked at 39,282 in 1998 and was at its lowest, 2,960, in 2024.
That places Bhutan 121st out of 170 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Out-of-school children and adolescents of primary and lower secondary in Bhutan, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1998 | 39,282 | — |
| 1999 | 38,508 | -2.0% |
| 2000 | 37,066 | -3.7% |
| 2001 | 35,057 | -5.4% |
| 2005 | 25,669 | -26.8% |
| 2006 | 21,240 | -17.3% |
| 2008 | 13,364 | -37.1% |
| 2009 | 9,294 | -30.5% |
| 2010 | 6,190 | -33.4% |
| 2011 | 4,996 | -19.3% |
| 2012 | 3,398 | -32.0% |
| 2013 | 4,830 | +42.1% |
| 2015 | 5,377 | +11.3% |
| 2016 | 5,947 | +10.6% |
| 2017 | 6,225 | +4.7% |
| 2018 | 4,937 | -20.7% |
| 2021 | 6,235 | +26.3% |
| 2022 | 3,164 | -49.3% |
| 2023 | 3,435 | +8.6% |
| 2024 | 2,960 | -13.8% |
Bhutan compared with similar countries
- Bhutan's 2,960 is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 120,860, 2% of the median. (38 countries reporting)
- Bhutan's 2,960 is below the median for South Asia, which is 112,619, 3% of the median. (5 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 38,895 | 38,508 | 39,282 | 2 |
| 2000s | 23,615 | 9,294 | 37,066 | 6 |
| 2010s | 5,238 | 3,398 | 6,225 | 8 |
| 2020s | 3,948 | 2,960 | 6,235 | 4 |
Countries ranked near Bhutan
More education data for Bhutan
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 6,995 (2023)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 9,961 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 6,905 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 6,735 (2024)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 67,821 (2024)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 91,759 (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 3.26 % change on previous year (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.1159 units per person (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is out-of-school children and adolescents of primary and lower secondary in Bhutan?
- Out-of-school children and adolescents of primary and lower secondary in Bhutan was 2,960 in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest out-of-school children and adolescents of primary and lower secondary recorded in Bhutan?
- The highest recorded value was 39,282 in 1998.
- What is the lowest out-of-school children and adolescents of primary and lower secondary recorded in Bhutan?
- The lowest recorded value was 2,960 in 2024.
- How does Bhutan rank for out-of-school children and adolescents of primary and lower secondary?
- Bhutan ranks 121st out of 170 countries with data for 2024.
- Is out-of-school children and adolescents of primary and lower secondary rising or falling in Bhutan?
- Over the last ten years it is down 38.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Bhutan data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Out-of-school children and adolescents of primary and lower secondary school age, female (number). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 20 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
About this data
February 2026 Data Release