Primary-school-age children who are out of school by world region in Costa Rica
Costa Rica: Primary-school-age children who are out of school by world region was 19,701 children in 2024. ▼ Falling
Primary-school-age children who are out of school by world region in Costa Rica, 2011–2024
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 Costa Rica is 19,701 children, measured in 2024.
The figure is down 6.8% on the previous year and down 52.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, primary-school-age children who are out of school by world region in Costa Rica peaked at 45,307 children in 2017 and was at its lowest, 14,145 children, in 2011.
That places Costa Rica 91st out of 196 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 14 years of available data.
Primary-school-age children who are out of school by world region in Costa Rica, year by year
| Year | children | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2011 | 14,145 children | — |
| 2012 | 21,598 children | +52.7% |
| 2013 | 30,022 children | +39.0% |
| 2014 | 41,750 children | +39.1% |
| 2015 | 38,932 children | -6.7% |
| 2016 | 35,333 children | -9.2% |
| 2017 | 45,307 children | +28.2% |
| 2018 | 30,015 children | -33.8% |
| 2019 | 21,545 children | -28.2% |
| 2020 | 24,123 children | +12.0% |
| 2021 | 27,816 children | +15.3% |
| 2022 | 27,179 children | -2.3% |
| 2023 | 21,131 children | -22.3% |
| 2024 | 19,701 children | -6.8% |
Costa Rica compared with similar countries
- Costa Rica's 19,701 children is above the median for high income countries, which is 3,674 children, 5.4× the median. (72 countries reporting)
- Costa Rica's 19,701 children is above the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 17,362 children, 1.1× the median. (37 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 30,961 children | 14,145 children | 45,307 children | 9 |
| 2020s | 23,990 children | 19,701 children | 27,816 children | 5 |
Countries ranked near Costa Rica
More education data for Costa Rica
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 37,015 (2024)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 14,772 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 62,694 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 61,047 (2024)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 464,490 (2024)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 460,126 (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate -3.03 % change on previous year (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.0897 units per person (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is primary-school-age children who are out of school by world region in Costa Rica?
- Primary-school-age children who are out of school by world region in Costa Rica was 19,701 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 Costa Rica?
- The highest recorded value was 45,307 children in 2017.
- What is the lowest primary-school-age children who are out of school by world region recorded in Costa Rica?
- The lowest recorded value was 14,145 children in 2011.
- How does Costa Rica rank for primary-school-age children who are out of school by world region?
- Costa Rica ranks 91st 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 Costa Rica?
- Over the last ten years it is down 52.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Costa Rica 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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CSV · JSON — 14 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.