Primary-school-age children who are out of school by world region in Italy

Italy: Primary-school-age children who are out of school by world region was 52,117 children in 2023. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2023)
52,117 children
Change on year
down 19.7%
World rank
69th
of 196 countries
All-time high
64,907 children
in 2022
All-time low
5,185 children
in 2004
Years of data
23
2001–2023

Primary-school-age children who are out of school by world region in Italy, 2001–2023

020.0k40.0k60.0k2001201220232001: 6.0k children2002: 5.6k children2003: 7.6k children2004: 5.2k children2005: 9.9k children2006: 10.3k children2007: 11.0k children2008: 11.4k children2009: 8.5k children2010: 6.1k children2011: 8.3k children2012: 9.5k children2013: 25.1k children2014: 35.0k children2015: 42.5k children2016: 47.2k children2017: 46.2k children2018: 43.8k children2019: 44.0k children2020: 39.9k children2021: 55.6k children2022: 64.9k children2023: 52.1k children

Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in children.

Analysis

Italy recorded 52,117 children for primary-school-age children who are out of school by world region in 2023.

The figure is down 19.7% on the previous year and up 108.1% over ten years.

Over the whole period, primary-school-age children who are out of school by world region in Italy peaked at 64,907 children in 2022 and was at its lowest, 5,185 children, in 2004.

Italy ranks 69th of 196 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.

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 Italy, year by year

Annual values for Primary-school-age children who are out of school by world region in Italy, 2001 to 2023.
Year children Change
2001 6,006 children
2002 5,632 children -6.2%
2003 7,617 children +35.2%
2004 5,185 children -31.9%
2005 9,911 children +91.1%
2006 10,258 children +3.5%
2007 11,020 children +7.4%
2008 11,421 children +3.6%
2009 8,458 children -25.9%
2010 6,072 children -28.2%
2011 8,257 children +36.0%
2012 9,482 children +14.8%
2013 25,050 children +164.2%
2014 34,972 children +39.6%
2015 42,524 children +21.6%
2016 47,236 children +11.1%
2017 46,243 children -2.1%
2018 43,832 children -5.2%
2019 43,971 children +0.3%
2020 39,912 children -9.2%
2021 55,640 children +39.4%
2022 64,907 children +16.7%
2023 52,117 children -19.7%

Italy compared with similar countries

  • Italy's 52,117 children is above the median for high income countries, which is 3,674 children, 14.2× the median. (72 countries reporting)
  • Italy's 52,117 children is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 4,210 children, 12.4× the median. (50 countries reporting)

Biggest year-on-year movements

Years where Primary-school-age children who are out of school by world region in Italy 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.

YearChange FromTo
2013 +164.2% 9,482 children 25,050 children

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 8,390 children 5,185 children 11,421 children 9
2010s 30,764 children 6,072 children 47,236 children 10
2020s 53,144 children 39,912 children 64,907 children 4

Countries ranked near Italy

  1. 66 Palestine, State of 53,793 children compare
  2. 67 Nicaragua 53,481 children compare
  3. 68 Papua New Guinea 53,289 children compare
  4. 70 Mexico 46,859 children compare
  5. 71 Solomon Islands 36,440 children compare
  6. 72 Thailand 36,067 children compare

See the full ranking of 196 places →

More education data for Italy

All data for Italy →

Frequently asked questions

What is primary-school-age children who are out of school by world region in Italy?
Primary-school-age children who are out of school by world region in Italy was 52,117 children in 2023, 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 Italy?
The highest recorded value was 64,907 children in 2022.
What is the lowest primary-school-age children who are out of school by world region recorded in Italy?
The lowest recorded value was 5,185 children in 2004.
How does Italy rank for primary-school-age children who are out of school by world region?
Italy ranks 69th out of 196 countries with data for 2023.
Is primary-school-age children who are out of school by world region rising or falling in Italy?
Over the last ten years it is up 108.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this Italy 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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Primary-school-age children who are out of school by world region in Italy. Statizoid, drawing on UNESCO Institute for Statistics (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Retrieved 15 September 2026, from https://education.statizoid.com/stat/out-of-school-children-of-primary-school-age-by-world-region/italy/

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About this data

Indicator
Primary-school-age children who are out of school by world region
Unit
children
Source
UNESCO Institute for Statistics (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage
196 places, 4,008 data points, 1986–2025
Last refreshed

Children in the official primary school age range who are not enrolled in either primary or secondary education.