Out-of-school rate for adolescents of lower secondary school age, both sexes (%) by country
Number of adolescents of official lower secondary school age who are not enrolled in lower secondary school expressed as a percentage of the population of official lower secondary school age.
Countries reporting
150
Highest
64.9%
Niger
Lowest
0.0%
Argentina
Median
4.9%
Years covered
50
1970–2019
Data points
3,656
What the numbers show
Out-of-school rate for adolescents of lower secondary school age, both sexes (%) is currently reported for 150 countries. The highest value is 64.9% in Niger; the lowest is 0.0% in Argentina.
The median across all reporting countries is 4.9%, and the mean is 11.6%.
The gap between the highest and lowest reporting country is a factor of about 8,337.
Over the past decade 52 countries rose and 87 fell. The largest increase was in Latvia (up 22,185.4%), and the largest decrease in Argentina (down 99.7%).
Out-of-school rate for adolescents of lower secondary school age: full country ranking
| # | Country | Latest | Year | 10-year change | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Niger | 64.9% | 2017 | down 17.1% | falling |
| 2 | Chad | 62.2% | 2019 | — | falling |
| 3 | Central African Republic | 55.9% | 2012 | — | falling |
| 4 | Mali | 52.8% | 2018 | down 0.4% | falling |
| 5 | Guinea | 51.2% | 2014 | down 13.4% | falling |
| 6 | Djibouti | 47.7% | 2015 | down 31.3% | falling |
| 7 | Ethiopia | 47.0% | 2015 | down 3.1% | falling |
| 8 | Burkina Faso | 46.1% | 2019 | down 33.6% | falling |
| 9 | Côte d'Ivoire | 44.4% | 2019 | down 11.9% | falling |
| 10 | Mozambique | 43.1% | 2015 | up 0.8% | falling |
| 11 | Syrian Arab Republic | 38.1% | 2013 | up 86.8% | volatile |
| 12 | Honduras | 37.6% | 2019 | up 11.0% | rising |
| 13 | Cameroon | 36.7% | 2016 | — | falling |
| 14 | Eritrea | 36.1% | 2018 | up 12.3% | falling |
| 15 | Pakistan | 35.1% | 2017 | down 40.4% | falling |
| 16 | Burundi | 33.7% | 2019 | down 5.8% | falling |
| 17 | Guatemala | 32.8% | 2018 | up 13.9% | falling |
| 18 | British Virgin Islands | 31.3% | 2018 | up 298.6% | volatile |
| 19 | Tunisia | 30.6% | 1985 | down 20.2% | falling |
| 20 | Jordan | 29.5% | 2019 | up 191.3% | rising |
| 21 | Tuvalu | 29.5% | 2019 | up 62.2% | rising |
| 22 | Bahamas | 29.5% | 2018 | up 450.8% | volatile |
| 23 | Yemen | 28.4% | 2016 | down 27.1% | falling |
| 24 | Mauritania | 28.2% | 2019 | down 47.7% | falling |
| 25 | Iraq | 28.1% | 2007 | down 44.3% | flat |
| 26 | Lao People's Democratic Republic | 27.6% | 2019 | up 15.3% | falling |
| 27 | Togo | 21.4% | 2017 | down 42.6% | falling |
| 28 | Myanmar | 21.0% | 2018 | down 47.6% | falling |
| 29 | Cayman Islands | 19.6% | 2018 | up 35.8% | rising |
| 30 | Turks and Caicos Islands | 19.6% | 2018 | up 212.5% | volatile |
| 31 | Puerto Rico | 19.6% | 2018 | up 65.7% | rising |
| 32 | Malawi | 18.6% | 2019 | down 7.6% | rising |
| 33 | Jamaica | 17.9% | 2019 | up 221.9% | volatile |
| 34 | Lesotho | 17.4% | 2016 | up 72.7% | falling |
| 35 | El Salvador | 17.0% | 2018 | up 100.0% | rising |
| 36 | Indonesia | 16.3% | 2018 | down 22.7% | volatile |
| 37 | Republic of Moldova | 15.5% | 2019 | up 33.0% | rising |
| 38 | Suriname | 15.0% | 2015 | down 50.0% | rising |
| 39 | South Africa | 14.4% | 2018 | up 65.1% | rising |
| 40 | Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of | 14.1% | 2017 | up 122.7% | volatile |
| 41 | Bolivia, Plurinational State of | 13.5% | 2018 | up 270.1% | volatile |
| 42 | Cape Verde | 13.5% | 2018 | up 84.5% | volatile |
| 43 | Saint Kitts and Nevis | 13.4% | 2012 | up 134.3% | volatile |
| 44 | Cambodia | 13.3% | 2015 | down 81.3% | volatile |
| 45 | Malaysia | 13.1% | 2017 | up 46.6% | volatile |
| 46 | Bulgaria | 12.9% | 2018 | up 34.3% | volatile |
| 47 | Nicaragua | 12.3% | 2010 | down 63.5% | falling |
| 48 | Panama | 12.2% | 2017 | down 34.7% | falling |
| 49 | Libya | 12.1% | 1983 | down 56.8% | volatile |
| 50 | Bhutan | 12.0% | 2018 | down 53.8% | falling |
| 51 | Mongolia | 10.9% | 2008 | down 61.8% | volatile |
| 52 | Philippines | 10.7% | 2018 | up 50.9% | volatile |
| 53 | Ghana | 10.6% | 2019 | down 45.5% | falling |
| 54 | Armenia | 10.3% | 2019 | up 400.4% | rising |
| 55 | Cuba | 10.2% | 2019 | up 50.7% | volatile |
| 56 | Timor-Leste | 10.2% | 2019 | down 62.4% | falling |
| 57 | Belize | 10.0% | 2019 | down 21.8% | rising |
| 58 | Paraguay | 10.0% | 2012 | down 35.3% | falling |
| 59 | Saint Lucia | 9.7% | 2019 | up 12.1% | volatile |
| 60 | Sao Tome and Principe | 9.6% | 2015 | down 29.4% | falling |
| 61 | Morocco | 9.4% | 2019 | down 66.4% | falling |
| 62 | Romania | 8.9% | 2018 | up 102.3% | falling |
| 63 | Maldives | 8.6% | 2019 | — | flat |
| 64 | Mexico | 7.8% | 2018 | up 44.5% | volatile |
| 65 | Montenegro | 7.7% | 2019 | — | rising |
| 66 | Aruba | 7.4% | 2009 | up 2,901.3% | volatile |
| 67 | Kuwait | 6.3% | 2015 | up 74.9% | volatile |
| 68 | Türkiye | 6.2% | 2018 | up 77.6% | volatile |
| 69 | Colombia | 5.9% | 2018 | down 11.3% | falling |
| 70 | Tajikistan | 5.8% | 2011 | down 67.3% | volatile |
| 71 | Dominican Republic | 5.6% | 2019 | down 36.7% | volatile |
| 72 | Chile | 5.3% | 2018 | up 21.8% | falling |
| 73 | Qatar | 5.1% | 2019 | up 50.1% | volatile |
| 74 | Barbados | 5.0% | 2019 | down 47.3% | volatile |
| 75 | Tonga | 4.9% | 2015 | down 73.9% | volatile |
| 76 | Namibia | 4.9% | 2007 | down 66.2% | falling |
| 77 | Ecuador | 4.8% | 2018 | down 78.8% | volatile |
| 78 | Iran, Islamic Republic of | 4.7% | 2017 | down 52.5% | falling |
| 79 | Mauritius | 4.7% | 2019 | down 33.3% | volatile |
| 80 | Germany | 4.7% | 2018 | up 89.5% | volatile |
| 81 | Slovakia | 4.7% | 2018 | down 23.6% | rising |
| 82 | Luxembourg | 4.3% | 2018 | up 37.5% | volatile |
| 83 | Liechtenstein | 4.0% | 2018 | down 25.6% | rising |
| 84 | Greece | 4.0% | 2018 | down 27.7% | volatile |
| 85 | Bahrain | 3.7% | 2019 | down 61.9% | volatile |
| 86 | Fiji | 3.7% | 2012 | up 39.7% | volatile |
| 87 | Albania | 3.7% | 2019 | down 31.9% | falling |
| 88 | Ukraine | 3.6% | 2014 | up 53.3% | rising |
| 89 | Thailand | 3.6% | 2009 | — | volatile |
| 90 | Vanuatu | 3.4% | 2015 | down 72.4% | volatile |
| 91 | Grenada | 3.2% | 2014 | up 122.4% | volatile |
| 92 | Hungary | 3.2% | 2018 | down 0.5% | volatile |
| 93 | Brunei Darussalam | 3.1% | 2019 | up 133.2% | volatile |
| 94 | Eswatini | 2.8% | 2015 | down 61.4% | volatile |
| 95 | Korea | 2.7% | 2018 | — | volatile |
| 96 | Palestine, State of | 2.5% | 2019 | down 76.9% | falling |
| 97 | Netherlands | 2.5% | 2018 | up 5.5% | volatile |
| 98 | Australia | 2.5% | 2018 | up 298.1% | volatile |
| 99 | Egypt | 2.4% | 2019 | down 84.5% | volatile |
| 100 | Zimbabwe | 2.3% | 2013 | down 89.5% | volatile |
| 101 | Macau, China | 2.2% | 2019 | down 85.5% | flat |
| 102 | Kyrgyzstan | 2.1% | 2019 | down 71.4% | falling |
| 103 | Poland | 2.1% | 2018 | down 70.8% | rising |
| 104 | Serbia | 2.1% | 2019 | up 34.2% | volatile |
| 105 | Italy | 2.1% | 2018 | up 367.1% | volatile |
| 106 | Oman | 2.0% | 2019 | down 56.6% | volatile |
| 107 | Costa Rica | 1.9% | 2019 | down 77.1% | volatile |
| 108 | Kenya | 1.8% | 2009 | down 86.7% | volatile |
| 109 | Peru | 1.8% | 2018 | up 3.7% | volatile |
| 110 | Botswana | 1.6% | 2003 | down 85.9% | volatile |
| 111 | Slovenia | 1.6% | 2018 | up 76.0% | volatile |
| 112 | Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | 1.5% | 2018 | down 54.1% | volatile |
| 113 | Czechia | 1.3% | 2018 | down 83.5% | volatile |
| 114 | Dominica | 1.3% | 2019 | down 94.2% | volatile |
| 115 | Uzbekistan | 1.2% | 2019 | down 75.1% | falling |
| 116 | Estonia | 1.2% | 2018 | down 71.9% | volatile |
| 117 | New Zealand | 1.2% | 2018 | down 52.5% | volatile |
| 118 | Belarus | 1.1% | 2018 | down 29.1% | volatile |
| 119 | Saudi Arabia | 1.0% | 2019 | down 87.2% | volatile |
| 120 | Latvia | 1.0% | 2018 | up 22,185.4% | volatile |
| 121 | Switzerland | 1.0% | 2018 | up 466.6% | volatile |
| 122 | Croatia | 0.9% | 2018 | up 3.0% | volatile |
| 123 | Belgium | 0.9% | 2018 | down 84.1% | volatile |
| 124 | Malta | 0.9% | 2018 | down 13.4% | volatile |
| 125 | France | 0.8% | 2018 | down 1.3% | volatile |
| 126 | Denmark | 0.6% | 2018 | down 8.3% | volatile |
| 127 | United Arab Emirates | 0.6% | 2017 | — | volatile |
| 128 | Hong Kong, China | 0.6% | 2019 | down 60.5% | volatile |
| 129 | Ireland | 0.5% | 2018 | down 56.0% | volatile |
| 130 | Seychelles | 0.5% | 2019 | — | volatile |
| 131 | Norway | 0.5% | 2018 | down 62.5% | volatile |
| 132 | Spain | 0.4% | 2018 | down 71.6% | volatile |
| 133 | Samoa | 0.3% | 2014 | down 98.7% | volatile |
| 134 | Austria | 0.3% | 2018 | down 84.6% | volatile |
| 135 | United States of America | 0.3% | 2018 | — | volatile |
| 136 | Kazakhstan | 0.3% | 2013 | down 79.4% | volatile |
| 137 | Cyprus | 0.3% | 2018 | up 78.5% | volatile |
| 138 | Uruguay | 0.3% | 2017 | down 96.9% | volatile |
| 139 | Russian Federation | 0.2% | 2018 | down 92.5% | volatile |
| 140 | Iceland | 0.2% | 2018 | down 94.0% | volatile |
| 141 | Azerbaijan | 0.2% | 2019 | down 98.4% | volatile |
| 142 | Sweden | 0.2% | 2015 | down 67.4% | volatile |
| 143 | Lithuania | 0.2% | 2018 | down 19.2% | volatile |
| 144 | Sri Lanka | 0.1% | 2018 | down 98.1% | volatile |
| 145 | United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland | 0.1% | 2018 | down 92.6% | volatile |
| 146 | Portugal | 0.1% | 2018 | up 262.0% | volatile |
| 147 | Canada | 0.1% | 2015 | — | falling |
| 148 | Finland | 0.1% | 2018 | down 96.2% | volatile |
| 149 | Georgia | 0.0% | 2019 | down 98.9% | volatile |
| 150 | Argentina | 0.0% | 2017 | down 99.7% | volatile |
Regions and income groups
Aggregates are excluded from the country ranking above so that a region can never outrank a country.
- Heavily indebted poor countries (HIPC) 39.5%
- Low income 36.9%
- Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income) 36.7%
- Sub-Saharan Africa 36.7%
- Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries) 36.7%
- Pre-demographic dividend 36.2%
- Least developed countries 34.0%
- IDA only 33.7%
- IDA total 32.6%
- IDA blend 27.4%
- Arab World 17.8%
- Lower middle income 17.7%
- IDA & IBRD total 17.3%
- Low & middle income 17.0%
- Other small states 16.2%
- South Asia 15.7%
- South Asia (IDA & IBRD) 15.7%
- Early-demographic dividend 15.6%
- World 15.3%
- Small states 15.2%
- Middle income 13.6%
- Caribbean Small States 13.6%
- Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (IDA & IBRD) 12.0%
- Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (excluding high income) 11.7%
- Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan 10.6%
- IBRD only 9.5%
- East Asia & Pacific (IDA & IBRD countries) 9.4%
- East Asia & Pacific (excluding high income) 9.4%
- East Asia & Pacific 9.2%
- Pacific island small states 8.4%
- Upper middle income 8.0%
- Latin America & Caribbean 6.7%
- Latin America & Caribbean (excluding high income) 6.6%
- Latin America & the Caribbean (IDA & IBRD countries) 6.6%
- Late-demographic dividend 5.3%
- Central Europe and the Baltics 4.5%
- OECD members 3.5%
- Europe & Central Asia (IDA & IBRD countries) 3.1%
- Europe & Central Asia (excluding high income) 2.9%
- Europe & Central Asia 2.6%
About this data
Number of adolescents of official lower secondary school age who are not enrolled in lower secondary school expressed as a percentage of the population of official lower secondary school age.