Primary-school-age children who are out of school by world region in Australia
Australia: Primary-school-age children who are out of school by world region was 2,833 children in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Primary-school-age children who are out of school by world region in Australia, 2000–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in children.
Analysis
Australia recorded 2,833 children for primary-school-age children who are out of school by world region 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, primary-school-age children who are out of school by world region in Australia peaked at 88,304 children in 2000 and was at its lowest, 168 children, in 2016.
That places Australia 140th out of 196 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.
Primary-school-age children who are out of school by world region in Australia, year by year
| Year | children | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 88,304 children | — |
| 2001 | 8,978 children | -89.8% |
| 2002 | 6,248 children | -30.4% |
| 2003 | 26,000 children | +316.1% |
| 2004 | 20,966 children | -19.4% |
| 2005 | 10,716 children | -48.9% |
| 2006 | 9,023 children | -15.8% |
| 2007 | 4,896 children | -45.7% |
| 2008 | 5,589 children | +14.2% |
| 2009 | 5,766 children | +3.2% |
| 2010 | 6,179 children | +7.2% |
| 2011 | 52,484 children | +749.4% |
| 2012 | 45,429 children | -13.4% |
| 2013 | 971 children | -97.9% |
| 2014 | 1,480 children | +52.4% |
| 2015 | 592 children | -60.0% |
| 2016 | 168 children | -71.6% |
| 2017 | 1,273 children | +657.7% |
| 2018 | 4,291 children | +237.1% |
| 2019 | 4,836 children | +12.7% |
| 2020 | 13,192 children | +172.8% |
| 2021 | 8,348 children | -36.7% |
| 2022 | 6,721 children | -19.5% |
| 2023 | 4,719 children | -29.8% |
| 2024 | 2,833 children | -40.0% |
Australia compared with similar countries
- Australia's 2,833 children is below the median for high income countries, which is 3,674 children, 77% of the median. (72 countries reporting)
- Australia's 2,833 children is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 4,225 children, 67% of the median. (33 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Primary-school-age children who are out of school by world region 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 children | 52,484 children |
| 2017 | +657.7% | 168 children | 1,273 children |
| 2003 | +316.1% | 6,248 children | 26,000 children |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 18,649 children | 4,896 children | 88,304 children | 10 |
| 2010s | 11,770 children | 168 children | 52,484 children | 10 |
| 2020s | 7,163 children | 2,833 children | 13,192 children | 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 primary-school-age children who are out of school by world region in Australia?
- Primary-school-age children who are out of school by world region in Australia was 2,833 children in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest primary-school-age children who are out of school by world region recorded in Australia?
- The highest recorded value was 88,304 children in 2000.
- What is the lowest primary-school-age children who are out of school by world region recorded in Australia?
- The lowest recorded value was 168 children in 2016.
- How does Australia rank for primary-school-age children who are out of school by world region?
- Australia ranks 140th out of 196 countries with data for 2024.
- Is primary-school-age children who are out of school by world region 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 (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Primary-school-age children who are out of school by world region. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 25 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Children in the official primary school age range who are not enrolled in either primary or secondary education.