Out-of-school rate for children and adolescents of primary and lower in Guatemala
Guatemala: Out-of-school rate for children and adolescents of primary and lower was 15.9% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Out-of-school rate for children and adolescents of primary and lower in Guatemala, 1972–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.
Analysis
Guatemala recorded 15.9% for out-of-school rate for children and adolescents of primary and lower in 2024.
That represents a change of down 8.4% on the previous year and up 18.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, out-of-school rate for children and adolescents of primary and lower in Guatemala peaked at 52.8% in 1972 and was at its lowest, 7.5%, in 2011.
Guatemala ranks 35th 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 Guatemala, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1972 | 52.8% | — |
| 1974 | 51.4% | -2.7% |
| 1975 | 50.4% | -1.9% |
| 1999 | 21.6% | -57.2% |
| 2000 | 20.3% | -5.8% |
| 2001 | 19.9% | -2.4% |
| 2002 | 17.7% | -11.0% |
| 2008 | 9.7% | -45.1% |
| 2011 | 7.5% | -22.6% |
| 2012 | 10.6% | +41.8% |
| 2013 | 12.0% | +12.9% |
| 2014 | 13.4% | +11.4% |
| 2015 | 13.9% | +3.9% |
| 2016 | 15.7% | +12.9% |
| 2017 | 16.1% | +2.4% |
| 2018 | 15.3% | -4.8% |
| 2019 | 17.2% | +12.3% |
| 2020 | 16.5% | -3.9% |
| 2021 | 16.0% | -2.8% |
| 2022 | 17.4% | +8.7% |
| 2023 | 17.4% | -0.4% |
| 2024 | 15.9% | -8.4% |
Guatemala compared with similar countries
- Guatemala's 15.9% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 5.0%, 3.2× the median. (49 countries reporting)
- Guatemala's 15.9% is above the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 8.8%, 1.8× the median. (34 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 51.6% | 50.4% | 52.8% | 3 |
| 1990s | 21.6% | 21.6% | 21.6% | 1 |
| 2000s | 16.9% | 9.7% | 20.3% | 4 |
| 2010s | 13.5% | 7.5% | 17.2% | 9 |
| 2020s | 16.7% | 15.9% | 17.4% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Guatemala
More education data for Guatemala
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 122,548 (2024)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 247,917 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 335,306 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 328,468 (2024)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 1.13 million (2024)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 2.42 million (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 0.3948 % change on previous year (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.1317 units per person (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is out-of-school rate for children and adolescents of primary and lower in Guatemala?
- Out-of-school rate for children and adolescents of primary and lower in Guatemala was 15.9% in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest out-of-school rate for children and adolescents of primary and lower recorded in Guatemala?
- The highest recorded value was 52.8% in 1972.
- What is the lowest out-of-school rate for children and adolescents of primary and lower recorded in Guatemala?
- The lowest recorded value was 7.5% in 2011.
- How does Guatemala rank for out-of-school rate for children and adolescents of primary and lower?
- Guatemala ranks 35th out of 169 countries with data for 2024.
- Is out-of-school rate for children and adolescents of primary and lower rising or falling in Guatemala?
- Over the last ten years it is up 18.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Guatemala 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, male (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release