Out-of-school children of primary school age, both sexes in Australia
Australia: Out-of-school children of primary school age, both sexes was 2,833 in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Out-of-school children of primary school age, both sexes in Australia, 2000–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
The most recent figure for out-of-school children of primary school age, both sexes in Australia is 2,833, measured in 2024.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 40.0% on the previous year and up 91.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, out-of-school children of primary school age, both sexes in Australia peaked at 88,304 in 2000 and was at its lowest, 168, in 2016.
That places Australia 145th out of 204 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 of primary school age, both sexes in Australia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 88,304 | — |
| 2001 | 8,978 | -89.8% |
| 2002 | 6,248 | -30.4% |
| 2003 | 26,000 | +316.1% |
| 2004 | 20,966 | -19.4% |
| 2005 | 10,716 | -48.9% |
| 2006 | 9,023 | -15.8% |
| 2007 | 4,896 | -45.7% |
| 2008 | 5,589 | +14.2% |
| 2009 | 5,766 | +3.2% |
| 2010 | 6,179 | +7.2% |
| 2011 | 52,484 | +749.4% |
| 2012 | 45,429 | -13.4% |
| 2013 | 971 | -97.9% |
| 2014 | 1,480 | +52.4% |
| 2015 | 592 | -60.0% |
| 2016 | 168 | -71.6% |
| 2017 | 1,273 | +657.7% |
| 2018 | 4,291 | +237.1% |
| 2019 | 4,836 | +12.7% |
| 2020 | 13,192 | +172.8% |
| 2021 | 8,348 | -36.7% |
| 2022 | 6,721 | -19.5% |
| 2023 | 4,719 | -29.8% |
| 2024 | 2,833 | -40.0% |
Australia compared with similar countries
- Australia's 2,833 is below the median for high income countries, which is 3,450, 82% of the median. (74 countries reporting)
- Australia's 2,833 is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 4,225, 67% of the median. (33 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Out-of-school children of primary school age, both sexes in Australia 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | +749.4% | 6,179 | 52,484 |
| 2017 | +657.7% | 168 | 1,273 |
| 2003 | +316.1% | 6,248 | 26,000 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 18,649 | 4,896 | 88,304 | 10 |
| 2010s | 11,770 | 168 | 52,484 | 10 |
| 2020s | 7,163 | 2,833 | 13,192 | 5 |
Countries ranked near Australia
More education data for Australia
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 104,110 (1992)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 316,638 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 292,593 (2024)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 2.65 million (2024)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 2.27 million (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 0.4362 % change on previous year (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.0835 units per person (2024)
- Secondary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is out-of-school children of primary school age, both sexes in Australia?
- Out-of-school children of primary school age, both sexes in Australia was 2,833 in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest out-of-school children of primary school age, both sexes recorded in Australia?
- The highest recorded value was 88,304 in 2000.
- What is the lowest out-of-school children of primary school age, both sexes recorded in Australia?
- The lowest recorded value was 168 in 2016.
- How does Australia rank for out-of-school children of primary school age, both sexes?
- Australia ranks 145th out of 204 countries with data for 2024.
- Is out-of-school children of primary school age, both sexes rising or falling in Australia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 91.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Australia data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Out-of-school children of primary school age, both sexes (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