Primary-school-age children who are out of school by world region in Belgium
Belgium: Primary-school-age children who are out of school by world region was 13,226 children in 2023. ▲ Rising
Primary-school-age children who are out of school by world region in Belgium, 2001–2023
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in children.
Analysis
The most recent figure for primary-school-age children who are out of school by world region in Belgium is 13,226 children, measured in 2023.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 35.4% on the previous year and down 1.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, primary-school-age children who are out of school by world region in Belgium peaked at 15,271 children in 2011 and was at its lowest, 654 children, in 2002.
That places Belgium 101st out of 196 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 23 years of available data.
Primary-school-age children who are out of school by world region in Belgium, year by year
| Year | children | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 870 children | — |
| 2002 | 654 children | -24.8% |
| 2003 | 873 children | +33.5% |
| 2004 | 4,279 children | +390.1% |
| 2005 | 3,938 children | -8.0% |
| 2006 | 5,449 children | +38.4% |
| 2007 | 6,624 children | +21.6% |
| 2008 | 7,844 children | +18.4% |
| 2009 | 8,792 children | +12.1% |
| 2010 | 9,272 children | +5.5% |
| 2011 | 15,271 children | +64.7% |
| 2012 | 13,766 children | -9.9% |
| 2013 | 13,387 children | -2.8% |
| 2014 | 13,738 children | +2.6% |
| 2015 | 14,170 children | +3.1% |
| 2016 | 14,994 children | +5.8% |
| 2017 | 10,963 children | -26.9% |
| 2018 | 10,723 children | -2.2% |
| 2019 | 10,858 children | +1.3% |
| 2020 | 9,921 children | -8.6% |
| 2021 | 11,848 children | +19.4% |
| 2022 | 9,771 children | -17.5% |
| 2023 | 13,226 children | +35.4% |
Belgium compared with similar countries
- Belgium's 13,226 children is above the median for high income countries, which is 3,674 children, 3.6× the median. (72 countries reporting)
- Belgium's 13,226 children is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 4,210 children, 3.1× the median. (50 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Primary-school-age children who are out of school by world region in Belgium 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | +390.1% | 873 children | 4,279 children |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 4,369 children | 654 children | 8,792 children | 9 |
| 2010s | 12,714 children | 9,272 children | 15,271 children | 10 |
| 2020s | 11,192 children | 9,771 children | 13,226 children | 4 |
Countries ranked near Belgium
More education data for Belgium
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 137,795 (2023)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 17,384 (2022)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 221,494 (2023)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 210,503 (2023)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 1.18 million (2023)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 814,388 (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate -0.1356 % change on previous year (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.0691 units per person (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is primary-school-age children who are out of school by world region in Belgium?
- Primary-school-age children who are out of school by world region in Belgium was 13,226 children in 2023, 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 Belgium?
- The highest recorded value was 15,271 children in 2011.
- What is the lowest primary-school-age children who are out of school by world region recorded in Belgium?
- The lowest recorded value was 654 children in 2002.
- How does Belgium rank for primary-school-age children who are out of school by world region?
- Belgium ranks 101st out of 196 countries with data for 2023.
- Is primary-school-age children who are out of school by world region rising or falling in Belgium?
- Over the last ten years it is down 1.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Belgium 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 — 23 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.