Out-of-school rate for children of primary school age, both sexes in Gambia
Gambia: Out-of-school rate for children of primary school age, both sexes was 25.0% in 2023. ▼ Falling
Latest (2023)
25.0%
Change on year
up 35.2%
World rank
6th
of 47 countries
All-time high
31.1%
in 2006
All-time low
18.5%
in 2018
Years of data
6
2006–2023
Out-of-school rate for children of primary school age, both sexes in Gambia, 2006–2023
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2023, out-of-school rate for children of primary school age, both sexes in Gambia stood at 25.0%.
The figure is up 35.2% on the previous year and down 7.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, out-of-school rate for children of primary school age, both sexes in Gambia peaked at 31.1% in 2006 and was at its lowest, 18.5%, in 2018.
Gambia ranks 6th of 47 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
Out-of-school rate for children of primary school age, both sexes in Gambia, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2006 | 31.1% | — |
| 2010 | 29.7% | -4.6% |
| 2013 | 26.9% | -9.5% |
| 2018 | 18.5% | -31.2% |
| 2020 | 18.5% | +0.0% |
| 2023 | 25.0% | +35.2% |
Gambia compared with similar countries
- Gambia's 25.0% is above the median for low income countries, which is 14.5%, 1.7× the median. (9 countries reporting)
- Gambia's 25.0% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 14.5%, 1.7× the median. (21 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 31.1% | 31.1% | 31.1% | 1 |
| 2010s | 25.0% | 18.5% | 29.7% | 3 |
| 2020s | 21.7% | 18.5% | 25.0% | 2 |
Countries ranked near Gambia
More education data for Gambia
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 12,452 (2021)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 16,389 (2025)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 71,238 (2025)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 77,061 (2025)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 369,783 (2021)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 442,901 (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 2.4 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0.0002 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.1569 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is out-of-school rate for children of primary school age, both sexes in Gambia?
- Out-of-school rate for children of primary school age, both sexes in Gambia was 25.0% in 2023, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest out-of-school rate for children of primary school age, both sexes recorded in Gambia?
- The highest recorded value was 31.1% in 2006.
- What is the lowest out-of-school rate for children of primary school age, both sexes recorded in Gambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 18.5% in 2018.
- How does Gambia rank for out-of-school rate for children of primary school age, both sexes?
- Gambia ranks 6th out of 47 countries with data for 2023.
- Is out-of-school rate for children of primary school age, both sexes rising or falling in Gambia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 7.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Gambia data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Out-of-school rate for children of primary school age, both sexes (household survey data) (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 6 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
About this data
February 2026 Data Release