Primary-school-age children who are out of school by world region in Benin
Benin: Primary-school-age children who are out of school by world region was 213,285 children in 2022. ◆ Volatile
Primary-school-age children who are out of school by world region in Benin, 1986–2022
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in children.
Analysis
Benin recorded 213,285 children for primary-school-age children who are out of school by world region in 2022.
The figure is down 18.6% on the previous year and up 209.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, primary-school-age children who are out of school by world region in Benin peaked at 564,677 children in 1990 and was at its lowest, 57,156 children, in 2016.
Benin ranks 36th of 196 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
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 Benin, year by year
| Year | children | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1986 | 416,763 children | — |
| 1988 | 453,666 children | +8.9% |
| 1989 | 468,687 children | +3.3% |
| 1990 | 564,677 children | +20.5% |
| 1992 | 524,209 children | -7.2% |
| 1993 | 503,897 children | -3.9% |
| 1994 | 509,735 children | +1.2% |
| 1995 | 498,878 children | -2.1% |
| 1996 | 490,438 children | -1.7% |
| 1997 | 467,298 children | -4.7% |
| 2003 | 277,823 children | -40.5% |
| 2004 | 244,443 children | -12.0% |
| 2005 | 304,245 children | +24.5% |
| 2006 | 275,461 children | -9.5% |
| 2008 | 228,603 children | -17.0% |
| 2009 | 146,181 children | -36.1% |
| 2010 | 125,380 children | -14.2% |
| 2011 | 113,072 children | -9.8% |
| 2012 | 68,882 children | -39.1% |
| 2013 | 66,445 children | -3.5% |
| 2014 | 62,073 children | -6.6% |
| 2016 | 57,156 children | -7.9% |
| 2017 | 137,769 children | +141.0% |
| 2018 | 198,477 children | +44.1% |
| 2019 | 294,370 children | +48.3% |
| 2020 | 314,551 children | +6.9% |
| 2021 | 261,877 children | -16.7% |
| 2022 | 213,285 children | -18.6% |
Benin compared with similar countries
- Benin's 213,285 children is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 79,507 children, 2.7× the median. (44 countries reporting)
- Benin's 213,285 children is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 235,313 children, 91% of the median. (43 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Primary-school-age children who are out of school by world region in Benin 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | +141.0% | 57,156 children | 137,769 children |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 446,372 children | 416,763 children | 468,687 children | 3 |
| 1990s | 508,447 children | 467,298 children | 564,677 children | 7 |
| 2000s | 246,126 children | 146,181 children | 304,245 children | 6 |
| 2010s | 124,847 children | 57,156 children | 294,370 children | 9 |
| 2020s | 263,238 children | 213,285 children | 314,551 children | 3 |
Countries ranked near Benin
More education data for Benin
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 57,296 (2022)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 209,295 (2022)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 85,495 (2022)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 84,746 (2022)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 929,099 (2022)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 2.40 million (2022)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 5.18 % change on previous year (2022)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2022)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.1743 units per person (2022)
Frequently asked questions
- What is primary-school-age children who are out of school by world region in Benin?
- Primary-school-age children who are out of school by world region in Benin was 213,285 children in 2022, 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 Benin?
- The highest recorded value was 564,677 children in 1990.
- What is the lowest primary-school-age children who are out of school by world region recorded in Benin?
- The lowest recorded value was 57,156 children in 2016.
- How does Benin rank for primary-school-age children who are out of school by world region?
- Benin ranks 36th out of 196 countries with data for 2022.
- Is primary-school-age children who are out of school by world region rising or falling in Benin?
- Over the last ten years it is up 209.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Benin 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.
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About this data
Children in the official primary school age range who are not enrolled in either primary or secondary education.