Primary-school-age children who are out of school by world region in Cameroon
Cameroon: Primary-school-age children who are out of school by world region was 173,924 children in 2024. ▼ Falling
Primary-school-age children who are out of school by world region in Cameroon, 1988–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in children.
Analysis
Cameroon recorded 173,924 children for primary-school-age children who are out of school by world region in 2024.
That represents a change of up 4.1% on the previous year and down 6.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, primary-school-age children who are out of school by world region in Cameroon peaked at 538,421 children in 1991 and was at its lowest, 165,693 children, in 2016.
Cameroon ranks 41st of 196 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 16 years of available data.
Primary-school-age children who are out of school by world region in Cameroon, year by year
| Year | children | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1988 | 451,789 children | — |
| 1990 | 490,692 children | +8.6% |
| 1991 | 538,421 children | +9.7% |
| 2008 | 376,363 children | -30.1% |
| 2009 | 303,800 children | -19.3% |
| 2011 | 278,416 children | -8.4% |
| 2012 | 195,511 children | -29.8% |
| 2014 | 185,722 children | -5.0% |
| 2015 | 177,176 children | -4.6% |
| 2016 | 165,693 children | -6.5% |
| 2017 | 226,734 children | +36.8% |
| 2019 | 307,267 children | +35.5% |
| 2021 | 189,769 children | -38.2% |
| 2022 | 172,874 children | -8.9% |
| 2023 | 167,116 children | -3.3% |
| 2024 | 173,924 children | +4.1% |
Cameroon compared with similar countries
- Cameroon's 173,924 children is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 79,507 children, 2.2× the median. (44 countries reporting)
- Cameroon's 173,924 children is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 235,313 children, 74% of the median. (43 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 451,789 children | 451,789 children | 451,789 children | 1 |
| 1990s | 514,556 children | 490,692 children | 538,421 children | 2 |
| 2000s | 340,082 children | 303,800 children | 376,363 children | 2 |
| 2010s | 219,503 children | 165,693 children | 307,267 children | 7 |
| 2020s | 175,921 children | 167,116 children | 189,769 children | 4 |
Countries ranked near Cameroon
More education data for Cameroon
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 118,092 (2023)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 611,326 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 321,494 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 322,873 (2024)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 2.01 million (2023)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 5.29 million (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 2.6 % 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 0.1816 units per person (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is primary-school-age children who are out of school by world region in Cameroon?
- Primary-school-age children who are out of school by world region in Cameroon was 173,924 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 Cameroon?
- The highest recorded value was 538,421 children in 1991.
- What is the lowest primary-school-age children who are out of school by world region recorded in Cameroon?
- The lowest recorded value was 165,693 children in 2016.
- How does Cameroon rank for primary-school-age children who are out of school by world region?
- Cameroon ranks 41st 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 Cameroon?
- Over the last ten years it is down 6.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Cameroon 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.