Primary-school-age children who are out of school by world region in Malaysia
Malaysia: Primary-school-age children who are out of school by world region was 404,724 children in 2024. ▲ Rising
Primary-school-age children who are out of school by world region in Malaysia, 1994–2024
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 Malaysia stood at 404,724 children.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 31.0% on the previous year and up 76.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, primary-school-age children who are out of school by world region in Malaysia peaked at 419,775 children in 2022 and was at its lowest, 87,056 children, in 2000.
That places Malaysia 24th out of 196 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 28 years of available data.
Primary-school-age children who are out of school by world region in Malaysia, year by year
| Year | children | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1994 | 111,955 children | — |
| 1998 | 121,397 children | +8.4% |
| 1999 | 97,398 children | -19.8% |
| 2000 | 87,056 children | -10.6% |
| 2001 | 154,096 children | +77.0% |
| 2002 | 229,189 children | +48.7% |
| 2003 | 224,818 children | -1.9% |
| 2004 | 142,038 children | -36.8% |
| 2005 | 107,279 children | -24.5% |
| 2006 | 178,184 children | +66.1% |
| 2007 | 146,936 children | -17.5% |
| 2008 | 138,396 children | -5.8% |
| 2009 | 130,737 children | -5.5% |
| 2010 | 151,224 children | +15.7% |
| 2011 | 166,212 children | +9.9% |
| 2012 | 175,024 children | +5.3% |
| 2013 | 179,814 children | +2.7% |
| 2014 | 229,155 children | +27.4% |
| 2015 | 254,960 children | +11.3% |
| 2016 | 258,741 children | +1.5% |
| 2017 | 254,364 children | -1.7% |
| 2018 | 250,219 children | -1.6% |
| 2019 | 354,480 children | +41.7% |
| 2020 | 389,154 children | +9.8% |
| 2021 | 404,416 children | +3.9% |
| 2022 | 419,775 children | +3.8% |
| 2023 | 308,987 children | -26.4% |
| 2024 | 404,724 children | +31.0% |
Malaysia compared with similar countries
- Malaysia's 404,724 children is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 21,241 children, 19.1× the median. (55 countries reporting)
- Malaysia's 404,724 children is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 4,225 children, 95.8× the median. (33 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 110,250 children | 97,398 children | 121,397 children | 3 |
| 2000s | 153,873 children | 87,056 children | 229,189 children | 10 |
| 2010s | 227,419 children | 151,224 children | 354,480 children | 10 |
| 2020s | 385,411 children | 308,987 children | 419,775 children | 5 |
Countries ranked near Malaysia
More education data for Malaysia
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 217,105 (2024)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 0 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 475,967 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 460,041 (2024)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 2.64 million (2024)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 3.06 million (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate -1.2 % change on previous year (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.0859 units per person (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is primary-school-age children who are out of school by world region in Malaysia?
- Primary-school-age children who are out of school by world region in Malaysia was 404,724 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 Malaysia?
- The highest recorded value was 419,775 children in 2022.
- What is the lowest primary-school-age children who are out of school by world region recorded in Malaysia?
- The lowest recorded value was 87,056 children in 2000.
- How does Malaysia rank for primary-school-age children who are out of school by world region?
- Malaysia ranks 24th 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 Malaysia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 76.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Malaysia 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.