Out-of-school children of primary school age, both sexes in Kenya
Kenya: Out-of-school children of primary school age, both sexes was 468,923 in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Out-of-school children of primary school age, both sexes in Kenya, 1999–2023
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
The most recent figure for out-of-school children of primary school age, both sexes in Kenya is 468,923, measured in 2023.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 82.7% on the previous year and down 62.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, out-of-school children of primary school age, both sexes in Kenya peaked at 3.00 million in 2021 and was at its lowest, 311,609, in 2007.
Kenya ranks 23rd of 204 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
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 Kenya, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1999 | 1.96 million | — |
| 2000 | 1.87 million | -4.9% |
| 2001 | 1.47 million | -21.3% |
| 2002 | 1.61 million | +9.8% |
| 2003 | 837,525 | -48.1% |
| 2004 | 908,635 | +8.5% |
| 2005 | 861,156 | -5.2% |
| 2006 | 914,574 | +6.2% |
| 2007 | 311,609 | -65.9% |
| 2008 | 601,767 | +93.1% |
| 2009 | 505,601 | -16.0% |
| 2012 | 1.25 million | +147.0% |
| 2021 | 3.00 million | +139.9% |
| 2022 | 2.70 million | -9.8% |
| 2023 | 468,923 | -82.7% |
Kenya compared with similar countries
- Kenya's 468,923 is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 76,741, 6.1× the median. (45 countries reporting)
- Kenya's 468,923 is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 224,299, 2.1× the median. (46 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Out-of-school children of primary school age, both sexes in Kenya 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | +147.0% | 505,601 | 1.25 million |
| 2021 | +139.9% | 1.25 million | 3.00 million |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 1.96 million | 1.96 million | 1.96 million | 1 |
| 2000s | 989,257 | 311,609 | 1.87 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.25 million | 1.25 million | 1.25 million | 1 |
| 2020s | 2.06 million | 468,923 | 3.00 million | 3 |
Countries ranked near Kenya
More education data for Kenya
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 168,396 (2023)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 235,728 (2016)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 1.44 million (2023)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 1.44 million (2023)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 6.74 million (2023)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 8.04 million (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate -0.7181 % change on previous year (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.1453 units per person (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is out-of-school children of primary school age, both sexes in Kenya?
- Out-of-school children of primary school age, both sexes in Kenya was 468,923 in 2023, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest out-of-school children of primary school age, both sexes recorded in Kenya?
- The highest recorded value was 3.00 million in 2021.
- What is the lowest out-of-school children of primary school age, both sexes recorded in Kenya?
- The lowest recorded value was 311,609 in 2007.
- How does Kenya rank for out-of-school children of primary school age, both sexes?
- Kenya ranks 23rd out of 204 countries with data for 2023.
- Is out-of-school children of primary school age, both sexes rising or falling in Kenya?
- Over the last ten years it is down 62.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Kenya 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 — 15 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
About this data
February 2026 Data Release