Primary-school-age children who are out of school by world region in Palestine
Palestine: Primary-school-age children who are out of school by world region was 53,793 children in 2023. ▲ Rising
Primary-school-age children who are out of school by world region in Palestine, 1999–2023
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in children.
Analysis
In 2023, primary-school-age children who are out of school by world region in Palestine stood at 53,793 children. That is the highest value across all 25 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 2.7% on the previous year and up 80.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, primary-school-age children who are out of school by world region in Palestine peaked at 53,793 children in 2023 and was at its lowest, 18,286 children, in 2017.
Palestine ranks 66th of 196 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 25 years of available data.
Primary-school-age children who are out of school by world region in Palestine, year by year
| Year | children | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1999 | 39,479 children | — |
| 2000 | 30,037 children | -23.9% |
| 2001 | 32,623 children | +8.6% |
| 2002 | 27,903 children | -14.5% |
| 2003 | 27,650 children | -0.9% |
| 2004 | 29,594 children | +7.0% |
| 2005 | 41,192 children | +39.2% |
| 2006 | 47,080 children | +14.3% |
| 2007 | 51,885 children | +10.2% |
| 2008 | 45,526 children | -12.3% |
| 2009 | 40,965 children | -10.0% |
| 2010 | 37,435 children | -8.6% |
| 2011 | 37,547 children | +0.3% |
| 2012 | 39,279 children | +4.6% |
| 2013 | 29,864 children | -24.0% |
| 2014 | 25,322 children | -15.2% |
| 2015 | 24,957 children | -1.4% |
| 2016 | 23,310 children | -6.6% |
| 2017 | 18,286 children | -21.6% |
| 2018 | 23,505 children | +28.5% |
| 2019 | 28,806 children | +22.6% |
| 2020 | 34,346 children | +19.2% |
| 2021 | 44,449 children | +29.4% |
| 2022 | 52,382 children | +17.8% |
| 2023 | 53,793 children | +2.7% |
Palestine compared with similar countries
- Palestine's 53,793 children is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 79,507 children, 68% of the median. (44 countries reporting)
- Palestine's 53,793 children is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 21,351 children, 2.5× the median. (19 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 39,479 children | 39,479 children | 39,479 children | 1 |
| 2000s | 37,446 children | 27,650 children | 51,885 children | 10 |
| 2010s | 28,831 children | 18,286 children | 39,279 children | 10 |
| 2020s | 46,242 children | 34,346 children | 53,793 children | 4 |
Countries ranked near Palestine
- 63 Myanmar 65,967 children compare
- 64 Mozambique 64,247 children compare
- 65 Dominican Republic 56,334 children compare
- 67 Nicaragua 53,481 children compare
- 68 Papua New Guinea 53,289 children compare
- 69 Italy 52,117 children compare
More education data for Palestine
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 50,739 (2023)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 306 (2023)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 86,251 (2023)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 83,420 (2023)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 868,232 (2023)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 514,700 (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 2.15 % change on previous year (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.0996 units per person (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is primary-school-age children who are out of school by world region in Palestine?
- Primary-school-age children who are out of school by world region in Palestine was 53,793 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 Palestine?
- The highest recorded value was 53,793 children in 2023.
- What is the lowest primary-school-age children who are out of school by world region recorded in Palestine?
- The lowest recorded value was 18,286 children in 2017.
- How does Palestine rank for primary-school-age children who are out of school by world region?
- Palestine ranks 66th 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 Palestine?
- Over the last ten years it is up 80.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Palestine 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.