Primary-school-age children who are out of school by world region by country

Children in the official primary school age range who are not enrolled in either primary or secondary education.

Countries reporting
196
Highest
9.07 million children
Nigeria
Lowest
3.92 children
Turks and Caicos Islands
Median
15,946 children
Years covered
40
1986–2025
Data points
4,008

What the numbers show

Primary-school-age children who are out of school by world region is currently reported for 196 countries. The highest value is 9.07 million children in Nigeria; the lowest is 3.92 children in Turks and Caicos Islands.

The median across all reporting countries is 15,946 children, and the mean is 295,877 children.

Over the past decade 104 countries rose and 90 fell. The largest increase was in Türkiye (up 7,822.9%), and the largest decrease in United Arab Emirates (down 99.6%).

Primary-school-age children who are out of school by world region: full country ranking

#Country LatestYear 10-year changeTrend
1 Nigeria 9.07 million children 2023 down 11.9% rising
2 China 8.25 million children 1997 up 114.8% rising
3 Congo, Democratic Republic of the 5.23 million children 1999 up 157.7% rising
4 Ethiopia 4.24 million children 2024 up 31.0% falling
5 Sudan 3.17 million children 2019 up 14.8% flat
6 Angola 2.28 million children 2023 up 371.7% volatile
7 Tanzania, United Republic of 2.01 million children 2024 up 20.1% falling
8 Niger 1.88 million children 2024 up 41.9% rising
9 Philippines 1.62 million children 2024 up 17.7% rising
10 Yemen 1.55 million children 2016 up 21.8% falling
11 Burkina Faso 1.36 million children 2024 up 31.6% flat
12 Mali 1.19 million children 2023 down 2.2% rising
13 United States of America 965,853 children 2022 up 35.7% volatile
14 Bangladesh 918,575 children 2024 up 71.3% volatile
15 Chad 855,041 children 2024 up 49.7% rising
16 Senegal 675,615 children 2024 up 23.6% falling
17 Burundi 661,724 children 2025 up 234.4% volatile
18 Côte d'Ivoire 650,800 children 2024 down 42.0% falling
19 Syrian Arab Republic 581,845 children 2024 down 24.1% volatile
20 Egypt 559,709 children 2024 down 67.6% falling
21 Iraq 498,693 children 2007 down 45.7% rising
22 Kenya 468,923 children 2023 down 62.5% volatile
23 South Africa 448,146 children 2023 down 33.8% falling
24 Malaysia 404,724 children 2024 up 76.6% rising
25 Honduras 346,452 children 2024 up 24.9% rising
26 Zimbabwe 332,314 children 2024 up 18.3% rising
27 Liberia 327,280 children 2022 up 1,137.9% rising
28 Brazil 316,818 children 2024 down 52.7% falling
29 Uganda 310,010 children 2013 volatile
30 Guinea 308,947 children 2020 down 35.3% falling
31 Central African Republic 306,334 children 2012 down 26.2% rising
32 Mauritania 291,098 children 2024 up 64.6% rising
33 Colombia 289,295 children 2022 up 323.9% volatile
34 Indonesia 250,575 children 2025 down 73.9% volatile
35 Ghana 235,313 children 2024 down 40.1% volatile
36 Benin 213,285 children 2022 up 209.6% volatile
37 Guatemala 201,342 children 2024 down 8.1% falling
38 Ukraine 193,775 children 2024 down 3.0% rising
39 Russian Federation 187,975 children 2023 up 2.4% volatile
40 Eritrea 179,166 children 2022 up 32.7% rising
41 Cameroon 173,924 children 2024 down 6.4% falling
42 Congo 171,125 children 2023 up 111.0% falling
43 Romania 160,246 children 2023 up 202.2% volatile
44 Sri Lanka 157,499 children 2023 up 3,184.8% volatile
45 Lebanon 146,896 children 2024 down 8.7% rising
46 Viet Nam 144,562 children 2024 up 507.3% volatile
47 Zambia 136,539 children 2024 down 49.7% falling
48 Bolivia, Plurinational State of 136,027 children 2024 down 12.6% volatile
49 Madagascar 135,621 children 2024 up 99.3% volatile
50 India 134,967 children 2025 down 97.3% volatile
51 Equatorial Guinea 128,846 children 2015 up 153.1% rising
52 Kazakhstan 128,155 children 2025 up 22.0% volatile
53 Canada 127,666 children 2023 up 837.7% volatile
54 Lesotho 124,175 children 2024 up 129.5% falling
55 Paraguay 105,859 children 2024 up 875.6% volatile
56 El Salvador 101,024 children 2024 up 118.0% falling
57 Ecuador 86,090 children 2023 up 121.4% volatile
58 Lao People's Democratic Republic 82,273 children 2025 up 129.1% volatile
59 Algeria 78,683 children 2025 up 434.5% volatile
60 Cambodia 76,741 children 2024 down 53.8% volatile
61 Gambia 74,577 children 2025 down 27.9% falling
62 Malawi 70,758 children 2022 up 202.8% volatile
63 Myanmar 65,967 children 2010 down 80.9% falling
64 Mozambique 64,247 children 2022 down 80.3% volatile
65 Dominican Republic 56,334 children 2024 down 35.6% volatile
66 Palestine, State of 53,793 children 2023 up 80.1% rising
67 Nicaragua 53,481 children 2023 up 55.4% volatile
68 Papua New Guinea 53,289 children 2021 down 84.3% volatile
69 Italy 52,117 children 2023 up 108.1% volatile
70 Mexico 46,859 children 2024 up 10.5% rising
71 Solomon Islands 36,440 children 2024 up 1,300.5% volatile
72 Thailand 36,067 children 2025 down 76.9% volatile
73 Panama 35,837 children 2024 up 4.8% volatile
74 Mongolia 35,209 children 2024 up 170.2% volatile
75 Spain 34,050 children 2024 down 54.9% volatile
76 Tajikistan 33,418 children 2017 down 24.5% rising
77 Cuba 33,328 children 2024 up 118.1% volatile
78 Argentina 32,816 children 2023 up 1,029.7% volatile
79 Türkiye 32,563 children 2023 up 7,822.9% volatile
80 Chile 31,779 children 2024 down 25.5% falling
81 Israel 28,644 children 2024 up 652.8% volatile
82 Cape Verde 24,851 children 2022 up 587.1% volatile
83 Oman 21,922 children 2024 up 258.3% volatile
84 Puerto Rico 21,785 children 2024 up 58.0% falling
85 Comoros 21,743 children 2024 up 226.6% volatile
86 Jordan 21,351 children 2024 down 67.0% volatile
87 Georgia 21,241 children 2024 up 176.2% volatile
88 Kuwait 21,183 children 2016 up 310.9% volatile
89 Nepal 21,146 children 2025 down 22.7% volatile
90 Belarus 20,600 children 2024 up 257.7% volatile
91 Costa Rica 19,701 children 2024 down 52.8% falling
92 Rwanda 19,504 children 2024 up 33.9% volatile
93 Morocco 18,988 children 2021 down 92.9% volatile
94 Kyrgyzstan 18,854 children 2025 down 17.3% falling
95 Uzbekistan 18,501 children 2025 down 64.2% volatile
96 Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of 17,643 children 2023 down 91.6% falling
97 Saudi Arabia 17,458 children 2024 down 89.5% volatile
98 Guyana 17,362 children 2023 up 5,873.2% volatile
99 Bulgaria 14,529 children 2024 up 71.2% volatile
100 Tunisia 14,015 children 2023 up 80.7% volatile
101 Belgium 13,226 children 2023 down 1.2% rising
102 Timor-Leste 13,085 children 2023 up 5.9% falling
103 Suriname 10,697 children 2024 down 4.2% rising
104 Hungary 10,500 children 2024 down 16.8% volatile
105 New Zealand 10,396 children 2024 up 207.7% rising
106 Ireland 10,313 children 2022 up 3,407.8% volatile
107 Jamaica 9,419 children 2024 down 68.9% rising
108 Togo 9,263 children 2024 down 91.2% volatile
109 Trinidad and Tobago 9,223 children 2024 up 26.5% volatile
110 Iran, Islamic Republic of 9,163 children 2023 down 94.0% volatile
111 Germany 8,820 children 2024 down 74.3% falling
112 Serbia 8,749 children 2024 up 155.6% volatile
113 Qatar 8,638 children 2024 up 14.5% volatile
114 Bhutan 8,385 children 2024 down 6.0% volatile
115 France 8,155 children 2024 down 85.5% volatile
116 Eswatini 7,275 children 2022 down 69.9% falling
117 Finland 6,433 children 2024 up 36.3% rising
118 Norway 6,077 children 2024 up 242.6% volatile
119 Bahrain 5,993 children 2024 up 1,015.3% volatile
120 Netherlands 5,698 children 2023 up 150.6% rising
121 Peru 5,359 children 2019 down 80.3% volatile
122 Austria 5,200 children 2024 up 23.8% falling
123 Belize 4,953 children 2024 up 2,057.5% volatile
124 Czechia 4,700 children 2023 down 3.2% volatile
125 Macau, China 4,608 children 2024 up 314.8% volatile
126 Bahamas 4,585 children 2024 up 331.3% volatile
127 Hong Kong, China 4,491 children 2024 up 85.1% volatile
128 Sweden 4,270 children 2024 down 48.1% volatile
129 Namibia 4,230 children 2024 up 3.8% volatile
130 Japan 4,225 children 2023 down 94.5% volatile
131 North Macedonia 4,151 children 2023 up 7.3% volatile
132 Denmark 3,868 children 2024 up 35.7% volatile
133 Latvia 3,481 children 2024 up 53.9% rising
134 Barbados 3,420 children 2024 up 194.1% volatile
135 United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 3,326 children 2023 down 96.0% volatile
136 Micronesia, Federated States of 3,301 children 2024 up 72.8% rising
137 Estonia 3,091 children 2024 up 59.9% rising
138 Martinique 3,035 children 1996 up 1,497.4% volatile
139 Bosnia and Herzegovina 2,933 children 2023 down 85.5% volatile
140 Australia 2,833 children 2024 up 91.4% volatile
141 Portugal 2,741 children 2023 up 89.8% volatile
142 Croatia 2,642 children 2023 up 28.9% rising
143 Slovakia 2,535 children 2024 down 81.6% rising
144 Fiji 2,471 children 2024 down 71.8% falling
145 Slovenia 1,904 children 2023 down 13.7% falling
146 Botswana 1,869 children 2022 down 93.4% flat
147 Armenia 1,710 children 2024 down 86.3% rising
148 Kiribati 1,596 children 2024 up 2,521.5% volatile
149 Brunei Darussalam 1,438 children 2024 up 200.2% volatile
150 New Caledonia 1,409 children 1991 down 56.0% volatile
151 Poland 1,392 children 2024 down 98.5% volatile
152 Korea 1,383 children 2024 down 98.3% volatile
153 Vanuatu 1,261 children 2024 up 1,676.1% volatile
154 French Polynesia 1,103 children 1996 down 45.1% falling
155 British Virgin Islands 1,080 children 2024 up 377.9% volatile
156 Saint Lucia 1,033 children 2024 down 28.4% falling
157 Sao Tome and Principe 969 children 2017 down 52.0% volatile
158 Switzerland 787 children 2024 up 1,233.9% volatile
159 Malta 738 children 2023 up 202.5% volatile
160 Seychelles 699 children 2024 volatile
161 Samoa 626 children 2024 up 1,041.7% volatile
162 Greece 622 children 2023 down 95.7% volatile
163 Mauritius 618.43 children 2024 down 89.6% volatile
164 Albania 617 children 2024 down 13.1% volatile
165 Iceland 599 children 2023 up 66.9% rising
166 Republic of Moldova 588 children 2024 up 122.9% volatile
167 Grenada 534.64 children 2024 down 1.2% volatile
168 Singapore 504 children 2023 up 1,963.6% volatile
169 Maldives 417.76 children 2024 down 78.6% flat
170 Tonga 354.15 children 2022 down 24.0% volatile
171 Cyprus 247 children 2023 down 72.0% volatile
172 Cayman Islands 234 children 2024 up 165.9% volatile
173 Dominica 230 children 2023 down 6.1% volatile
174 Tokelau 158 children 2025 up 338.9% volatile
175 Lithuania 156 children 2024 up 126.1% volatile
176 Azerbaijan 152 children 2024 down 95.8% volatile
177 Aruba 148 children 2014 down 16.4% volatile
178 Antigua and Barbuda 132.91 children 2023 down 49.5% volatile
179 Naoero 119 children 2025 up 3.5% volatile
180 Luxembourg 111 children 2024 down 89.9% falling
181 Andorra 102 children 2024 down 76.7% falling
182 Uruguay 97.51 children 2023 down 91.7% volatile
183 San Marino 91 children 2024 down 34.1% volatile
184 Montenegro 80 children 2023 down 76.1% volatile
185 Marshall Islands 77.84 children 2024 down 88.7% volatile
186 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 68.03 children 2017 down 75.9% volatile
187 Anguilla 62 children 2011 up 158.3% rising
188 Saint Kitts and Nevis 48 children 2008 down 61.0% volatile
189 Cook Islands 36.05 children 2024 up 0.1% volatile
190 Montserrat 21.26 children 2023 up 32.9% volatile
191 United Arab Emirates 21.01 children 2024 down 99.6% volatile
192 Palau 18.08 children 2024 down 35.4% volatile
193 Liechtenstein 16 children 2021 down 33.3% volatile
194 Niue 10.7 children 2021 down 46.4% falling
195 Tuvalu 7.07 children 2024 down 72.8% volatile
196 Turks and Caicos Islands 3.92 children 2024 down 98.9% volatile

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Primary-school-age children who are out of school by world region by country. Statizoid, drawing on UNESCO Institute for Statistics (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Retrieved 11 September 2026, from https://education.statizoid.com/stat/out-of-school-children-of-primary-school-age-by-world-region/

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About this data

Indicator
Primary-school-age children who are out of school by world region
Unit
children
Source
UNESCO Institute for Statistics (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage
196 places, 4,008 data points, 1986–2025
Last refreshed

Children in the official primary school age range who are not enrolled in either primary or secondary education.