Out-of-school children and adolescents of primary and lower secondary in Jamaica
Jamaica: Out-of-school children and adolescents of primary and lower secondary was 16,533 in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Out-of-school children and adolescents of primary and lower secondary in Jamaica, 1976–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
In 2024, out-of-school children and adolescents of primary and lower secondary in Jamaica stood at 16,533.
The figure is down 35.3% on the previous year and down 27.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, out-of-school children and adolescents of primary and lower secondary in Jamaica peaked at 56,487 in 2022 and was at its lowest, 938, in 1983.
That places Jamaica 90th 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 Jamaica, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1976 | 7,448 | — |
| 1977 | 2,796 | -62.5% |
| 1981 | 2,864 | +2.4% |
| 1983 | 938 | -67.2% |
| 1984 | 3,845 | +309.9% |
| 1985 | 6,478 | +68.5% |
| 1986 | 7,157 | +10.5% |
| 1999 | 28,984 | +305.0% |
| 2000 | 30,539 | +5.4% |
| 2001 | 32,454 | +6.3% |
| 2002 | 32,868 | +1.3% |
| 2003 | 34,399 | +4.7% |
| 2004 | 26,099 | -24.1% |
| 2005 | 27,670 | +6.0% |
| 2013 | 22,563 | -18.5% |
| 2014 | 22,664 | +0.4% |
| 2015 | 17,625 | -22.2% |
| 2016 | 23,705 | +34.5% |
| 2017 | 26,154 | +10.3% |
| 2018 | 24,283 | -7.2% |
| 2019 | 22,799 | -6.1% |
| 2021 | 29,839 | +30.9% |
| 2022 | 56,487 | +89.3% |
| 2023 | 25,556 | -54.8% |
| 2024 | 16,533 | -35.3% |
Jamaica compared with similar countries
- Jamaica's 16,533 is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 21,560, 77% of the median. (49 countries reporting)
- Jamaica's 16,533 is below the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 16,822, 98% of the median. (34 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Out-of-school children and adolescents of primary and lower secondary in Jamaica 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1984 | +309.9% | 938 | 3,845 |
| 1999 | +305.0% | 7,157 | 28,984 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 5,122 | 2,796 | 7,448 | 2 |
| 1980s | 4,256 | 938 | 7,157 | 5 |
| 1990s | 28,984 | 28,984 | 28,984 | 1 |
| 2000s | 30,672 | 26,099 | 34,399 | 6 |
| 2010s | 22,828 | 17,625 | 26,154 | 7 |
| 2020s | 32,104 | 16,533 | 56,487 | 4 |
Countries ranked near Jamaica
- 87 Costa Rica 18,997 compare
- 88 Puerto Rico 17,112 compare
- 89 Serbia 16,710 compare
- 91 Guyana 15,161 compare
- 92 Kyrgyzstan 15,061 compare
- 93 Bulgaria 13,320 compare
More education data for Jamaica
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 11,043 (2024)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 4,597 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 52,983 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 51,265 (2024)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 177,095 (2024)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 211,097 (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 8.14 % change on previous year (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.0744 units per person (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is out-of-school children and adolescents of primary and lower secondary in Jamaica?
- Out-of-school children and adolescents of primary and lower secondary in Jamaica was 16,533 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 Jamaica?
- The highest recorded value was 56,487 in 2022.
- What is the lowest out-of-school children and adolescents of primary and lower secondary recorded in Jamaica?
- The lowest recorded value was 938 in 1983.
- How does Jamaica rank for out-of-school children and adolescents of primary and lower secondary?
- Jamaica ranks 90th out of 170 countries with data for 2024.
- Is out-of-school children and adolescents of primary and lower secondary rising or falling in Jamaica?
- Over the last ten years it is down 27.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Jamaica 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 — 25 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
About this data
February 2026 Data Release