Primary-school-age children who are out of school by world region in Nepal
Nepal: Primary-school-age children who are out of school by world region was 21,146 children in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Primary-school-age children who are out of school by world region in Nepal, 1988–2025
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in children.
Analysis
Nepal recorded 21,146 children for primary-school-age children who are out of school by world region in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 63.2% on the previous year and down 22.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, primary-school-age children who are out of school by world region in Nepal peaked at 1.17 million children in 1999 and was at its lowest, 7,030 children, in 2021.
Nepal ranks 89th 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 Nepal, year by year
| Year | children | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1988 | 850,134 children | — |
| 1999 | 1.17 million children | +38.0% |
| 2000 | 1.02 million children | -12.8% |
| 2003 | 839,999 children | -17.9% |
| 2004 | 768,111 children | -8.6% |
| 2011 | 55,749 children | -92.7% |
| 2012 | 40,697 children | -27.0% |
| 2014 | 32,146 children | -21.0% |
| 2015 | 27,373 children | -14.8% |
| 2016 | 13,020 children | -52.4% |
| 2017 | 38,642 children | +196.8% |
| 2021 | 7,030 children | -81.8% |
| 2022 | 18,195 children | +158.8% |
| 2023 | 57,234 children | +214.6% |
| 2024 | 57,449 children | +0.4% |
| 2025 | 21,146 children | -63.2% |
Nepal compared with similar countries
- Nepal's 21,146 children is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 79,507 children, 27% of the median. (44 countries reporting)
- Nepal's 21,146 children is below the median for South Asia, which is 78,056 children, 27% of the median. (6 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 850,134 children | 850,134 children | 850,134 children | 1 |
| 1990s | 1.17 million children | 1.17 million children | 1.17 million children | 1 |
| 2000s | 877,047 children | 768,111 children | 1.02 million children | 3 |
| 2010s | 34,604 children | 13,020 children | 55,749 children | 6 |
| 2020s | 32,211 children | 7,030 children | 57,449 children | 5 |
Countries ranked near Nepal
More education data for Nepal
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 124,257 (2025)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 263,796 (2025)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 752,326 (2025)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 609,324 (2025)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 3.67 million (2024)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 3.57 million (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 1.31 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.1204 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is primary-school-age children who are out of school by world region in Nepal?
- Primary-school-age children who are out of school by world region in Nepal was 21,146 children in 2025, 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 Nepal?
- The highest recorded value was 1.17 million children in 1999.
- What is the lowest primary-school-age children who are out of school by world region recorded in Nepal?
- The lowest recorded value was 7,030 children in 2021.
- How does Nepal rank for primary-school-age children who are out of school by world region?
- Nepal ranks 89th out of 196 countries with data for 2025.
- Is primary-school-age children who are out of school by world region rising or falling in Nepal?
- Over the last ten years it is down 22.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Nepal 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.