Primary-school-age children who are out of school by world region in Kenya
Kenya: Primary-school-age children who are out of school by world region was 468,923 children in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Primary-school-age children who are out of school by world region in Kenya, 1999–2023
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in children.
Analysis
Kenya recorded 468,923 children for primary-school-age children who are out of school by world region in 2023.
That represents a change of down 82.7% on the previous year and down 62.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, primary-school-age children who are out of school by world region in Kenya peaked at 3.00 million children in 2021 and was at its lowest, 311,609 children, in 2007.
That places Kenya 22nd out of 196 countries with data for 2023, putting it 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 Kenya, year by year
| Year | children | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1999 | 1.96 million children | — |
| 2000 | 1.87 million children | -4.9% |
| 2001 | 1.47 million children | -21.3% |
| 2002 | 1.61 million children | +9.8% |
| 2003 | 837,525 children | -48.1% |
| 2004 | 908,635 children | +8.5% |
| 2005 | 861,156 children | -5.2% |
| 2006 | 914,574 children | +6.2% |
| 2007 | 311,609 children | -65.9% |
| 2008 | 601,767 children | +93.1% |
| 2009 | 505,601 children | -16.0% |
| 2012 | 1.25 million children | +147.0% |
| 2021 | 3.00 million children | +139.9% |
| 2022 | 2.70 million children | -9.8% |
| 2023 | 468,923 children | -82.7% |
Kenya compared with similar countries
- Kenya's 468,923 children is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 79,507 children, 5.9× the median. (44 countries reporting)
- Kenya's 468,923 children is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 235,313 children, 2.0× 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 Kenya 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | +147.0% | 505,601 children | 1.25 million children |
| 2021 | +139.9% | 1.25 million children | 3.00 million children |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 1.96 million children | 1.96 million children | 1.96 million children | 1 |
| 2000s | 989,257 children | 311,609 children | 1.87 million children | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.25 million children | 1.25 million children | 1.25 million children | 1 |
| 2020s | 2.06 million children | 468,923 children | 3.00 million children | 3 |
Countries ranked near Kenya
More education data for Kenya
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 168,396 (2023)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 235,728 (2016)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 1.44 million (2023)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 1.44 million (2023)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 6.74 million (2023)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 8.04 million (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate -0.7181 % change on previous year (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.1453 units per person (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is primary-school-age children who are out of school by world region in Kenya?
- Primary-school-age children who are out of school by world region in Kenya was 468,923 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 Kenya?
- The highest recorded value was 3.00 million children in 2021.
- What is the lowest primary-school-age children who are out of school by world region recorded in Kenya?
- The lowest recorded value was 311,609 children in 2007.
- How does Kenya rank for primary-school-age children who are out of school by world region?
- Kenya ranks 22nd 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 Kenya?
- Over the last ten years it is down 62.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Kenya 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 — 15 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.