Primary-school-age children who are out of school by world region in Ethiopia
Ethiopia: Primary-school-age children who are out of school by world region was 4.24 million children in 2024. ▼ Falling
Primary-school-age children who are out of school by world region in Ethiopia, 1987–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in children.
Analysis
Ethiopia recorded 4.24 million children for primary-school-age children who are out of school by world region in 2024.
That represents a change of down 4.2% on the previous year and up 31.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, primary-school-age children who are out of school by world region in Ethiopia peaked at 6.99 million children in 2003 and was at its lowest, 1.83 million children, in 2017.
That places Ethiopia 4th out of 196 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 28 years of available data.
Primary-school-age children who are out of school by world region in Ethiopia, year by year
| Year | children | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1987 | 4.77 million children | — |
| 1988 | 4.91 million children | +3.1% |
| 1989 | 5.18 million children | +5.3% |
| 1994 | 6.77 million children | +30.8% |
| 1995 | 6.83 million children | +0.8% |
| 1996 | 6.78 million children | -0.7% |
| 1998 | 6.83 million children | +0.8% |
| 1999 | 6.96 million children | +1.8% |
| 2000 | 6.89 million children | -1.0% |
| 2001 | 6.75 million children | -2.0% |
| 2002 | 6.81 million children | +0.9% |
| 2003 | 6.99 million children | +2.6% |
| 2004 | 6.88 million children | -1.6% |
| 2005 | 5.69 million children | -17.3% |
| 2006 | 5.18 million children | -9.0% |
| 2007 | 4.53 million children | -12.5% |
| 2008 | 3.80 million children | -16.2% |
| 2009 | 3.94 million children | +3.7% |
| 2010 | 4.34 million children | +10.2% |
| 2011 | 4.57 million children | +5.3% |
| 2012 | 3.83 million children | -16.1% |
| 2014 | 3.23 million children | -15.7% |
| 2015 | 3.48 million children | +7.7% |
| 2017 | 1.83 million children | -47.5% |
| 2021 | 4.68 million children | +156.3% |
| 2022 | 4.52 million children | -3.5% |
| 2023 | 4.42 million children | -2.1% |
| 2024 | 4.24 million children | -4.2% |
Ethiopia compared with similar countries
- Ethiopia's 4.24 million children is above the median for low income countries, which is 581,845 children, 7.3× the median. (19 countries reporting)
- Ethiopia's 4.24 million children is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 235,313 children, 18.0× 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 Ethiopia 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | +156.3% | 1.83 million children | 4.68 million children |
| 2017 | -47.5% | 3.48 million children | 1.83 million children |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 4.95 million children | 4.77 million children | 5.18 million children | 3 |
| 1990s | 6.83 million children | 6.77 million children | 6.96 million children | 5 |
| 2000s | 5.75 million children | 3.80 million children | 6.99 million children | 10 |
| 2010s | 3.55 million children | 1.83 million children | 4.57 million children | 6 |
| 2020s | 4.47 million children | 4.24 million children | 4.68 million children | 4 |
Countries ranked near Ethiopia
More education data for Ethiopia
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 272,545 (2024)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 900,151 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 2.32 million (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 2.16 million (2024)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 5.03 million (2015)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 15.93 million (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 2.45 % 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 0.1206 units per person (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is primary-school-age children who are out of school by world region in Ethiopia?
- Primary-school-age children who are out of school by world region in Ethiopia was 4.24 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 Ethiopia?
- The highest recorded value was 6.99 million children in 2003.
- What is the lowest primary-school-age children who are out of school by world region recorded in Ethiopia?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.83 million children in 2017.
- How does Ethiopia rank for primary-school-age children who are out of school by world region?
- Ethiopia ranks 4th 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 Ethiopia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 31.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Ethiopia 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
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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.