Out-of-school rate for children and adolescents of primary and lower in Botswana
Botswana: Out-of-school rate for children and adolescents of primary and lower was 12.9% in 2014. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2014)
12.9%
Change on year
up 41.9%
World rank
42nd
of 169 countries
All-time high
49.7%
in 1971
All-time low
3.6%
in 1991
Years of data
29
1971–2014
Out-of-school rate for children and adolescents of primary and lower in Botswana, 1971–2014
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for out-of-school rate for children and adolescents of primary and lower in Botswana is 12.9%, measured in 2014.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 41.9% on the previous year and up 38.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, out-of-school rate for children and adolescents of primary and lower in Botswana peaked at 49.7% in 1971 and was at its lowest, 3.6%, in 1991.
Botswana ranks 42nd of 169 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Out-of-school rate for children and adolescents of primary and lower in Botswana, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1971 | 49.7% | — |
| 1972 | 48.3% | -2.8% |
| 1973 | 41.8% | -13.4% |
| 1974 | 38.4% | -8.1% |
| 1975 | 32.2% | -16.3% |
| 1976 | 28.3% | -12.0% |
| 1977 | 23.9% | -15.5% |
| 1978 | 22.7% | -5.1% |
| 1979 | 21.2% | -6.6% |
| 1980 | 17.4% | -17.9% |
| 1981 | 16.5% | -5.3% |
| 1984 | 10.5% | -36.2% |
| 1985 | 9.0% | -14.5% |
| 1986 | 12.7% | +41.0% |
| 1989 | 6.4% | -49.5% |
| 1990 | 6.9% | +8.1% |
| 1991 | 3.6% | -47.5% |
| 1992 | 6.6% | +81.3% |
| 1993 | 8.0% | +20.9% |
| 1994 | 9.0% | +12.8% |
| 1995 | 15.4% | +71.6% |
| 1998 | 10.2% | -33.6% |
| 1999 | 12.3% | +19.8% |
| 2000 | 12.4% | +0.8% |
| 2002 | 10.7% | -13.5% |
| 2003 | 9.3% | -13.6% |
| 2012 | 7.5% | -18.6% |
| 2013 | 9.1% | +20.3% |
| 2014 | 12.9% | +41.9% |
Botswana compared with similar countries
- Botswana's 12.9% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 5.8%, 2.2× the median. (49 countries reporting)
- Botswana's 12.9% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 19.1%, 67% of the median. (35 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 34.0% | 21.2% | 49.7% | 9 |
| 1980s | 12.1% | 6.4% | 17.4% | 6 |
| 1990s | 9.0% | 3.6% | 15.4% | 8 |
| 2000s | 10.8% | 9.3% | 12.4% | 3 |
| 2010s | 9.8% | 7.5% | 12.9% | 3 |
Countries ranked near Botswana
- 39 Paraguay 13.9% compare
- 40 Puerto Rico 13.3%
- 41 Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of 13.0% compare
- 43 Philippines 12.6% compare
- 44 Malaysia 12.5% compare
- 45 Barbados 12.4% compare
More education data for Botswana
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 15,284 (2021)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 9,590 (2022)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 20,760 (2022)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 20,779 (2022)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 175,513 (2021)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 381,674 (2022)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 4.49 % change on previous year (2022)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2022)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.1564 units per person (2022)
Frequently asked questions
- What is out-of-school rate for children and adolescents of primary and lower in Botswana?
- Out-of-school rate for children and adolescents of primary and lower in Botswana was 12.9% in 2014, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest out-of-school rate for children and adolescents of primary and lower recorded in Botswana?
- The highest recorded value was 49.7% in 1971.
- What is the lowest out-of-school rate for children and adolescents of primary and lower recorded in Botswana?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.6% in 1991.
- How does Botswana rank for out-of-school rate for children and adolescents of primary and lower?
- Botswana ranks 42nd out of 169 countries with data for 2014.
- Is out-of-school rate for children and adolescents of primary and lower rising or falling in Botswana?
- Over the last ten years it is up 38.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Botswana data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Out-of-school rate for children and adolescents of primary and lower secondary school age, female (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release