Out-of-school children and adolescents of primary and lower secondary in Botswana
Botswana: Out-of-school children and adolescents of primary and lower secondary was 29,507 in 2014. ▼ Falling
Out-of-school children and adolescents of primary and lower secondary in Botswana, 1971–2014
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
The most recent figure for out-of-school children and adolescents of primary and lower secondary in Botswana is 29,507, measured in 2014.
That represents a change of up 46.2% on the previous year and up 48.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, out-of-school children and adolescents of primary and lower secondary in Botswana peaked at 37,993 in 1972 and was at its lowest, 6,031, in 1991.
That places Botswana 72nd out of 170 countries with data for 2014, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 29 years of available data.
Out-of-school children and adolescents of primary and lower secondary in Botswana, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1971 | 37,953 | — |
| 1972 | 37,993 | +0.1% |
| 1973 | 35,314 | -7.1% |
| 1974 | 33,771 | -4.4% |
| 1975 | 29,336 | -13.1% |
| 1976 | 26,821 | -8.6% |
| 1977 | 23,568 | -12.1% |
| 1978 | 23,254 | -1.3% |
| 1979 | 22,835 | -1.8% |
| 1980 | 19,569 | -14.3% |
| 1981 | 18,330 | -6.3% |
| 1984 | 13,123 | -28.4% |
| 1985 | 11,686 | -11.0% |
| 1986 | 18,816 | +61.0% |
| 1989 | 9,907 | -47.3% |
| 1990 | 11,108 | +12.1% |
| 1991 | 6,031 | -45.7% |
| 1992 | 11,315 | +87.6% |
| 1993 | 14,104 | +24.6% |
| 1994 | 16,361 | +16.0% |
| 1995 | 28,887 | +76.6% |
| 1998 | 21,777 | -24.6% |
| 1999 | 26,263 | +20.6% |
| 2000 | 26,645 | +1.5% |
| 2002 | 23,144 | -13.1% |
| 2003 | 19,829 | -14.3% |
| 2012 | 16,258 | -18.0% |
| 2013 | 20,182 | +24.1% |
| 2014 | 29,507 | +46.2% |
Botswana compared with similar countries
- Botswana's 29,507 is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 21,560, 1.4× the median. (49 countries reporting)
- Botswana's 29,507 is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 286,094, 10% of the median. (35 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 30,094 | 22,835 | 37,993 | 9 |
| 1980s | 15,238 | 9,907 | 19,569 | 6 |
| 1990s | 16,981 | 6,031 | 28,887 | 8 |
| 2000s | 23,206 | 19,829 | 26,645 | 3 |
| 2010s | 21,982 | 16,258 | 29,507 | 3 |
Countries ranked near Botswana
More education data for Botswana
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 15,284 (2021)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 9,590 (2022)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 20,760 (2022)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 20,779 (2022)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 175,513 (2021)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 381,674 (2022)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 4.49 % change on previous year (2022)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2022)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.1564 units per person (2022)
Frequently asked questions
- What is out-of-school children and adolescents of primary and lower secondary in Botswana?
- Out-of-school children and adolescents of primary and lower secondary in Botswana was 29,507 in 2014, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest out-of-school children and adolescents of primary and lower secondary recorded in Botswana?
- The highest recorded value was 37,993 in 1972.
- What is the lowest out-of-school children and adolescents of primary and lower secondary recorded in Botswana?
- The lowest recorded value was 6,031 in 1991.
- How does Botswana rank for out-of-school children and adolescents of primary and lower secondary?
- Botswana ranks 72nd out of 170 countries with data for 2014.
- Is out-of-school children and adolescents of primary and lower secondary rising or falling in Botswana?
- Over the last ten years it is up 48.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Botswana 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.
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release