Primary-school-age children who are out of school by world region in Ghana
Ghana: Primary-school-age children who are out of school by world region was 235,313 children in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Primary-school-age children who are out of school by world region in Ghana, 1999–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in children.
Analysis
Ghana recorded 235,313 children for primary-school-age children who are out of school by world region in 2024.
The figure is down 50.2% on the previous year and down 40.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, primary-school-age children who are out of school by world region in Ghana peaked at 1.34 million children in 1999 and was at its lowest, 10,368 children, in 2016.
Ghana ranks 35th 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 Ghana, year by year
| Year | children | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1999 | 1.34 million children | — |
| 2000 | 1.10 million children | -17.7% |
| 2001 | 1.28 million children | +16.1% |
| 2002 | 1.16 million children | -9.7% |
| 2003 | 1.17 million children | +0.8% |
| 2005 | 988,778 children | -15.3% |
| 2006 | 920,149 children | -6.9% |
| 2007 | 758,718 children | -17.5% |
| 2008 | 593,776 children | -21.7% |
| 2009 | 624,637 children | +5.2% |
| 2011 | 438,204 children | -29.8% |
| 2012 | 529,329 children | +20.8% |
| 2014 | 392,764 children | -25.8% |
| 2016 | 10,368 children | -97.4% |
| 2017 | 299,178 children | +2785.6% |
| 2018 | 364,440 children | +21.8% |
| 2019 | 251,231 children | -31.1% |
| 2020 | 492,043 children | +95.9% |
| 2021 | 472,753 children | -3.9% |
| 2024 | 235,313 children | -50.2% |
Ghana compared with similar countries
- Ghana's 235,313 children is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 79,507 children, 3.0× the median. (44 countries reporting)
- Ghana's 235,313 children is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 235,313 children, 1.0× 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 Ghana 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | +2785.6% | 10,368 children | 299,178 children |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 1.34 million children | 1.34 million children | 1.34 million children | 1 |
| 2000s | 955,188 children | 593,776 children | 1.28 million children | 9 |
| 2010s | 326,502 children | 10,368 children | 529,329 children | 7 |
| 2020s | 400,036 children | 235,313 children | 492,043 children | 3 |
Countries ranked near Ghana
More education data for Ghana
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 174,414 (2024)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 39,902 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 949,095 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 913,117 (2024)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 3.33 million (2024)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 4.98 million (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 0.6567 % change on previous year (2022)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.1448 units per person (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is primary-school-age children who are out of school by world region in Ghana?
- Primary-school-age children who are out of school by world region in Ghana was 235,313 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 Ghana?
- The highest recorded value was 1.34 million children in 1999.
- What is the lowest primary-school-age children who are out of school by world region recorded in Ghana?
- The lowest recorded value was 10,368 children in 2016.
- How does Ghana rank for primary-school-age children who are out of school by world region?
- Ghana ranks 35th 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 Ghana?
- Over the last ten years it is down 40.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Ghana 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.