Out-of-school rate for adolescents of lower secondary school age in Kenya
Kenya: Out-of-school rate for adolescents of lower secondary school age was 3.9% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Out-of-school rate for adolescents of lower secondary school age in Kenya, 2003–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for out-of-school rate for adolescents of lower secondary school age in Kenya is 3.9%, measured in 2024.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 5.6% on the previous year and up 5.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, out-of-school rate for adolescents of lower secondary school age in Kenya peaked at 12.9% in 2003 and was at its lowest, 0.7%, in 2020.
That places Kenya 29th out of 46 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.
Out-of-school rate for adolescents of lower secondary school age in Kenya, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2003 | 12.9% | — |
| 2008 | 7.6% | -41.1% |
| 2014 | 3.7% | -51.3% |
| 2019 | 2.2% | -40.8% |
| 2020 | 0.7% | -69.3% |
| 2021 | 3.8% | +464.2% |
| 2022 | 4.1% | +8.9% |
| 2024 | 3.9% | -5.6% |
Kenya compared with similar countries
- Kenya's 3.9% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 10.9%, 36% of the median. (18 countries reporting)
- Kenya's 3.9% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 12.7%, 31% of the median. (21 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 10.3% | 7.6% | 12.9% | 2 |
| 2010s | 3.0% | 2.2% | 3.7% | 2 |
| 2020s | 3.1% | 0.7% | 4.1% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Kenya
- 26 Nepal 4.9% compare
- 27 Malawi 4.7% compare
- 28 Egypt 4.6% compare
- 30 South Africa 3.5% compare
- 31 Kyrgyzstan 3.2% compare
- 32 El Salvador 3.2% compare
More education data for Kenya
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 168,396 (2023)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 235,728 (2016)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 1.44 million (2023)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 1.44 million (2023)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 6.74 million (2023)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 8.04 million (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate -0.7181 % change on previous year (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.1453 units per person (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is out-of-school rate for adolescents of lower secondary school age in Kenya?
- Out-of-school rate for adolescents of lower secondary school age in Kenya was 3.9% in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest out-of-school rate for adolescents of lower secondary school age recorded in Kenya?
- The highest recorded value was 12.9% in 2003.
- What is the lowest out-of-school rate for adolescents of lower secondary school age recorded in Kenya?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.7% in 2020.
- How does Kenya rank for out-of-school rate for adolescents of lower secondary school age?
- Kenya ranks 29th out of 46 countries with data for 2024.
- Is out-of-school rate for adolescents of lower secondary school age rising or falling in Kenya?
- Over the last ten years it is up 5.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Kenya data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Out-of-school rate for adolescents of lower secondary school age, urban, female (household survey data) (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release