Primary-school-age children who are out of school by world region in Bangladesh
Bangladesh: Primary-school-age children who are out of school by world region was 918,575 children in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Primary-school-age children who are out of school by world region in Bangladesh, 1986–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in children.
Analysis
In 2024, primary-school-age children who are out of school by world region in Bangladesh stood at 918,575 children.
That represents a change of down 15.3% on the previous year and up 71.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, primary-school-age children who are out of school by world region in Bangladesh peaked at 6.67 million children in 1987 and was at its lowest, 536,211 children, in 2017.
That places Bangladesh 14th out of 196 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top 10%.
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 Bangladesh, year by year
| Year | children | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1986 | 6.45 million children | — |
| 1987 | 6.67 million children | +3.5% |
| 1988 | 5.33 million children | -20.2% |
| 1989 | 5.46 million children | +2.6% |
| 1990 | 5.16 million children | -5.6% |
| 2005 | 1.15 million children | -77.7% |
| 2006 | 1.29 million children | +12.3% |
| 2008 | 2.32 million children | +79.7% |
| 2009 | 2.31 million children | -0.4% |
| 2010 | 2.28 million children | -1.3% |
| 2017 | 536,211 children | -76.5% |
| 2018 | 543,149 children | +1.3% |
| 2022 | 1.16 million children | +113.6% |
| 2023 | 1.09 million children | -6.5% |
| 2024 | 918,575 children | -15.3% |
Bangladesh compared with similar countries
- Bangladesh's 918,575 children is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 79,507 children, 11.6× the median. (44 countries reporting)
- Bangladesh's 918,575 children is above the median for South Asia, which is 78,056 children, 11.8× the median. (6 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Primary-school-age children who are out of school by world region in Bangladesh 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | +113.6% | 543,149 children | 1.16 million children |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 5.98 million children | 5.33 million children | 6.67 million children | 4 |
| 1990s | 5.16 million children | 5.16 million children | 5.16 million children | 1 |
| 2000s | 1.77 million children | 1.15 million children | 2.32 million children | 4 |
| 2010s | 1.12 million children | 536,211 children | 2.28 million children | 3 |
| 2020s | 1.05 million children | 918,575 children | 1.16 million children | 3 |
Countries ranked near Bangladesh
More education data for Bangladesh
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 571,690 (2024)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 387,056 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 1.73 million (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 1.77 million (2024)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 15.07 million (2024)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 16.69 million (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 2.67 % change on previous year (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.0961 units per person (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is primary-school-age children who are out of school by world region in Bangladesh?
- Primary-school-age children who are out of school by world region in Bangladesh was 918,575 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 Bangladesh?
- The highest recorded value was 6.67 million children in 1987.
- What is the lowest primary-school-age children who are out of school by world region recorded in Bangladesh?
- The lowest recorded value was 536,211 children in 2017.
- How does Bangladesh rank for primary-school-age children who are out of school by world region?
- Bangladesh ranks 14th 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 Bangladesh?
- Over the last ten years it is up 71.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Bangladesh 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 — 15 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.