Primary-school-age children who are out of school by world region in Jamaica
Jamaica: Primary-school-age children who are out of school by world region was 9,419 children in 2024. ▲ Rising
Primary-school-age children who are out of school by world region in Jamaica, 1986–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in children.
Analysis
In 2024, primary-school-age children who are out of school by world region in Jamaica stood at 9,419 children. That is the lowest value across all 26 years on record.
The figure is down 65.9% on the previous year and down 68.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, primary-school-age children who are out of school by world region in Jamaica peaked at 47,215 children in 2003 and was at its lowest, 9,419 children, in 2024.
Jamaica ranks 107th of 196 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 26 years of available data.
Primary-school-age children who are out of school by world region in Jamaica, year by year
| Year | children | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1986 | 17,330 children | — |
| 1987 | 13,953 children | -19.5% |
| 1988 | 25,329 children | +81.5% |
| 1989 | 13,758 children | -45.7% |
| 1990 | 15,073 children | +9.6% |
| 1991 | 18,871 children | +25.2% |
| 1993 | 29,781 children | +57.8% |
| 1999 | 41,735 children | +40.1% |
| 2000 | 38,811 children | -7.0% |
| 2001 | 39,941 children | +2.9% |
| 2002 | 44,134 children | +10.5% |
| 2003 | 47,215 children | +7.0% |
| 2004 | 35,931 children | -23.9% |
| 2005 | 35,282 children | -1.8% |
| 2013 | 25,218 children | -28.5% |
| 2014 | 30,276 children | +20.1% |
| 2015 | 29,167 children | -3.7% |
| 2016 | 30,166 children | +3.4% |
| 2017 | 27,831 children | -7.7% |
| 2018 | 26,687 children | -4.1% |
| 2019 | 22,970 children | -13.9% |
| 2020 | 30,434 children | +32.5% |
| 2021 | 35,301 children | +16.0% |
| 2022 | 15,425 children | -56.3% |
| 2023 | 27,604 children | +79.0% |
| 2024 | 9,419 children | -65.9% |
Jamaica compared with similar countries
- Jamaica's 9,419 children is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 21,241 children, 44% of the median. (55 countries reporting)
- Jamaica's 9,419 children is below the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 17,362 children, 54% of the median. (37 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 17,592 children | 13,758 children | 25,329 children | 4 |
| 1990s | 26,365 children | 15,073 children | 41,735 children | 4 |
| 2000s | 40,219 children | 35,282 children | 47,215 children | 6 |
| 2010s | 27,474 children | 22,970 children | 30,276 children | 7 |
| 2020s | 23,637 children | 9,419 children | 35,301 children | 5 |
Countries ranked near Jamaica
- 104 Hungary 10,500 children compare
- 105 New Zealand 10,396 children compare
- 106 Ireland 10,313 children compare
- 108 Togo 9,263 children compare
- 109 Trinidad and Tobago 9,223 children compare
- 110 Iran, Islamic Republic of 9,163 children compare
More education data for Jamaica
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 11,043 (2024)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 4,597 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 52,983 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 51,265 (2024)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 177,095 (2024)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 211,097 (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 8.14 % change on previous year (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.0744 units per person (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is primary-school-age children who are out of school by world region in Jamaica?
- Primary-school-age children who are out of school by world region in Jamaica was 9,419 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 Jamaica?
- The highest recorded value was 47,215 children in 2003.
- What is the lowest primary-school-age children who are out of school by world region recorded in Jamaica?
- The lowest recorded value was 9,419 children in 2024.
- How does Jamaica rank for primary-school-age children who are out of school by world region?
- Jamaica ranks 107th 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 Jamaica?
- Over the last ten years it is down 68.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Jamaica 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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About this data
Children in the official primary school age range who are not enrolled in either primary or secondary education.