Primary-school-age children who are out of school by world region in Colombia
Colombia: Primary-school-age children who are out of school by world region was 289,295 children in 2022. ◆ Volatile
Primary-school-age children who are out of school by world region in Colombia, 2000–2022
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in children.
Analysis
In 2022, primary-school-age children who are out of school by world region in Colombia stood at 289,295 children. That is the highest value across all 20 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 5.2% on the previous year and up 323.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, primary-school-age children who are out of school by world region in Colombia peaked at 289,295 children in 2022 and was at its lowest, 0 children, in 2000.
Colombia ranks 33rd 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 Colombia, year by year
| Year | children | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 0 children | — |
| 2001 | 0 children | — |
| 2002 | 0 children | — |
| 2004 | 17,770 children | — |
| 2005 | 13,941 children | -21.5% |
| 2006 | 7,351 children | -47.3% |
| 2007 | 3,588 children | -51.2% |
| 2008 | 8,397 children | +134.0% |
| 2009 | 9,434 children | +12.3% |
| 2010 | 11,031 children | +16.9% |
| 2011 | 4,332 children | -60.7% |
| 2012 | 68,249 children | +1475.5% |
| 2015 | 131,741 children | +93.0% |
| 2016 | 201,303 children | +52.8% |
| 2017 | 156,491 children | -22.3% |
| 2018 | 180,919 children | +15.6% |
| 2019 | 195,829 children | +8.2% |
| 2020 | 239,318 children | +22.2% |
| 2021 | 274,954 children | +14.9% |
| 2022 | 289,295 children | +5.2% |
Colombia compared with similar countries
- Colombia's 289,295 children is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 21,241 children, 13.6× the median. (55 countries reporting)
- Colombia's 289,295 children is above the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 17,362 children, 16.7× the median. (37 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Primary-school-age children who are out of school by world region in Colombia 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | +1475.5% | 4,332 children | 68,249 children |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 6,720 children | 0 children | 17,770 children | 9 |
| 2010s | 118,737 children | 4,332 children | 201,303 children | 8 |
| 2020s | 267,856 children | 239,318 children | 289,295 children | 3 |
Countries ranked near Colombia
More education data for Colombia
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 190,940 (2022)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 234,939 (2022)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 963,182 (2022)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 937,684 (2022)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 4.85 million (2022)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 4.14 million (2022)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate -1.2 % change on previous year (2022)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2022)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.08 units per person (2022)
Frequently asked questions
- What is primary-school-age children who are out of school by world region in Colombia?
- Primary-school-age children who are out of school by world region in Colombia was 289,295 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 Colombia?
- The highest recorded value was 289,295 children in 2022.
- What is the lowest primary-school-age children who are out of school by world region recorded in Colombia?
- The lowest recorded value was 0 children in 2000.
- How does Colombia rank for primary-school-age children who are out of school by world region?
- Colombia ranks 33rd 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 Colombia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 323.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Colombia 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 — 20 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.