Primary-school-age children who are out of school by world region in Mali
Mali: Primary-school-age children who are out of school by world region was 1.19 million children in 2023. ▲ Rising
Latest (2023)
1.19 million children
World rank
12th
of 196 countries
All-time high
1.39 million children
in 2018
All-time low
909,099 children
in 2009
Years of data
18
1999–2023
Primary-school-age children who are out of school by world region in Mali, 1999–2023
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in children.
Analysis
Mali recorded 1.19 million children for primary-school-age children who are out of school by world region in 2023.
That represents a change of down 2.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, primary-school-age children who are out of school by world region in Mali peaked at 1.39 million children in 2018 and was at its lowest, 909,099 children, in 2009.
Mali ranks 12th of 196 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 18 years of available data.
Primary-school-age children who are out of school by world region in Mali, year by year
| Year | children | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1999 | 1.13 million children | — |
| 2002 | 1.05 million children | -7.0% |
| 2003 | 1.06 million children | +1.5% |
| 2004 | 1.08 million children | +1.8% |
| 2005 | 1.00 million children | -7.4% |
| 2006 | 1.01 million children | +0.2% |
| 2007 | 995,934 children | -1.0% |
| 2009 | 909,099 children | -8.7% |
| 2010 | 925,682 children | +1.8% |
| 2011 | 947,621 children | +2.4% |
| 2012 | 1.05 million children | +11.0% |
| 2013 | 1.21 million children | +15.4% |
| 2014 | 1.24 million children | +2.2% |
| 2015 | 1.37 million children | +10.6% |
| 2016 | 1.38 million children | +0.6% |
| 2017 | 1.26 million children | -8.8% |
| 2018 | 1.39 million children | +10.5% |
| 2023 | 1.19 million children | -14.6% |
Mali compared with similar countries
- Mali's 1.19 million children is above the median for low income countries, which is 581,845 children, 2.0× the median. (19 countries reporting)
- Mali's 1.19 million children is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 235,313 children, 5.0× the median. (43 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 1.13 million children | 1.13 million children | 1.13 million children | 1 |
| 2000s | 1.02 million children | 909,099 children | 1.08 million children | 7 |
| 2010s | 1.20 million children | 925,682 children | 1.39 million children | 9 |
| 2020s | 1.19 million children | 1.19 million children | 1.19 million children | 1 |
Countries ranked near Mali
- 9 Philippines 1.62 million children compare
- 10 Yemen 1.55 million children compare
- 11 Burkina Faso 1.36 million children compare
- 13 United States of America 965,853 children compare
- 14 Bangladesh 918,575 children compare
- 15 Chad 855,041 children compare
More education data for Mali
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 80,395 (2023)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 512,692 (2023)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 82,198 (2023)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 83,509 (2023)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 1.31 million (2023)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 2.97 million (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate -2.42 % change on previous year (2018)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.1251 units per person (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is primary-school-age children who are out of school by world region in Mali?
- Primary-school-age children who are out of school by world region in Mali was 1.19 million 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 Mali?
- The highest recorded value was 1.39 million children in 2018.
- What is the lowest primary-school-age children who are out of school by world region recorded in Mali?
- The lowest recorded value was 909,099 children in 2009.
- How does Mali rank for primary-school-age children who are out of school by world region?
- Mali ranks 12th 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 Mali?
- Over the last ten years it is down 2.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Mali 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
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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.