Primary-school-age children who are out of school by world region in Burkina Faso
Burkina Faso: Primary-school-age children who are out of school by world region was 1.36 million children in 2024. ▬ Flat
Latest (2024)
1.36 million children
Change on year
down 17.2%
World rank
11th
of 196 countries
All-time high
1.65 million children
in 2023
All-time low
856,576 children
in 2018
Years of data
36
1986–2024
Primary-school-age children who are out of school by world region in Burkina Faso, 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 Burkina Faso stood at 1.36 million children.
The figure is down 17.2% on the previous year and up 31.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, primary-school-age children who are out of school by world region in Burkina Faso peaked at 1.65 million children in 2023 and was at its lowest, 856,576 children, in 2018.
Burkina Faso ranks 11th of 196 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
Primary-school-age children who are out of school by world region in Burkina Faso, year by year
| Year | children | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1986 | 997,332 children | — |
| 1987 | 1.02 million children | +2.1% |
| 1988 | 1.05 million children | +3.4% |
| 1989 | 1.09 million children | +3.6% |
| 1991 | 1.16 million children | +6.0% |
| 1992 | 1.19 million children | +2.7% |
| 1993 | 1.21 million children | +2.0% |
| 1994 | 1.23 million children | +1.5% |
| 1995 | 1.24 million children | +0.8% |
| 1998 | 1.28 million children | +3.1% |
| 1999 | 1.29 million children | +1.3% |
| 2000 | 1.29 million children | +0.1% |
| 2001 | 1.30 million children | +0.4% |
| 2002 | 1.35 million children | +3.6% |
| 2003 | 1.33 million children | -1.4% |
| 2004 | 1.31 million children | -1.1% |
| 2005 | 1.24 million children | -5.6% |
| 2006 | 1.19 million children | -3.9% |
| 2007 | 1.10 million children | -7.5% |
| 2008 | 989,914 children | -10.1% |
| 2009 | 946,050 children | -4.4% |
| 2010 | 1.10 million children | +16.2% |
| 2011 | 1.01 million children | -8.2% |
| 2012 | 1.02 million children | +0.8% |
| 2013 | 1.03 million children | +1.0% |
| 2014 | 1.04 million children | +0.8% |
| 2015 | 1.03 million children | -0.3% |
| 2016 | 895,083 children | -13.4% |
| 2017 | 896,835 children | +0.2% |
| 2018 | 856,576 children | -4.5% |
| 2019 | 929,223 children | +8.5% |
| 2020 | 1.05 million children | +13.4% |
| 2021 | 1.10 million children | +4.2% |
| 2022 | 1.24 million children | +13.3% |
| 2023 | 1.65 million children | +32.3% |
| 2024 | 1.36 million children | -17.2% |
Burkina Faso compared with similar countries
- Burkina Faso's 1.36 million children is above the median for low income countries, which is 581,845 children, 2.3× the median. (19 countries reporting)
- Burkina Faso's 1.36 million children is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 235,313 children, 5.8× 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 Burkina Faso 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | +32.3% | 1.24 million children | 1.65 million children |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 1.04 million children | 997,332 children | 1.09 million children | 4 |
| 1990s | 1.23 million children | 1.16 million children | 1.29 million children | 7 |
| 2000s | 1.21 million children | 946,050 children | 1.35 million children | 10 |
| 2010s | 979,988 children | 856,576 children | 1.10 million children | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.28 million children | 1.05 million children | 1.65 million children | 5 |
Countries ranked near Burkina Faso
- 8 Niger 1.88 million children compare
- 9 Philippines 1.62 million children compare
- 10 Yemen 1.55 million children compare
- 12 Mali 1.19 million children compare
- 13 United States 965,853 children compare
- 14 Bangladesh 918,575 children compare
More education data for Burkina Faso
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 68,557 (2024)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 105,439 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 78,072 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 75,598 (2024)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 1.19 million (2024)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 3.07 million (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 8.2 % change on previous year (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.1303 units per person (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is primary-school-age children who are out of school by world region in Burkina Faso?
- Primary-school-age children who are out of school by world region in Burkina Faso was 1.36 million 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 Burkina Faso?
- The highest recorded value was 1.65 million children in 2023.
- What is the lowest primary-school-age children who are out of school by world region recorded in Burkina Faso?
- The lowest recorded value was 856,576 children in 2018.
- How does Burkina Faso rank for primary-school-age children who are out of school by world region?
- Burkina Faso ranks 11th 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 Burkina Faso?
- Over the last ten years it is up 31.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Burkina Faso 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.