Out-of-school rate for children of primary school age, both sexes in United States
United States: Out-of-school rate for children of primary school age, both sexes was 2.6% in 2024. ▲ Rising
Out-of-school rate for children of primary school age, both sexes in United States, 2010–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for out-of-school rate for children of primary school age, both sexes in United States is 2.6%, measured in 2024.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 4.3% on the previous year and up 24.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, out-of-school rate for children of primary school age, both sexes in United States peaked at 5.4% in 2020 and was at its lowest, 2.0%, in 2010.
That places United States 30th out of 47 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.
Out-of-school rate for children of primary school age, both sexes in United States, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 2.0% | — |
| 2015 | 2.1% | +6.5% |
| 2016 | 2.1% | +1.7% |
| 2017 | 2.2% | +4.0% |
| 2020 | 5.4% | +141.8% |
| 2021 | 3.1% | -41.4% |
| 2022 | 2.9% | -8.3% |
| 2023 | 2.5% | -13.1% |
| 2024 | 2.6% | +4.3% |
United States compared with similar countries
- United States's 2.6% is above the median for high income countries, which is 1.0%, 2.5× the median. (6 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 2.1% | 2.0% | 2.2% | 4 |
| 2020s | 3.3% | 2.5% | 5.4% | 5 |
Countries ranked near United States
More education data for United States
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 1.74 million (2023)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 419,732 (2023)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 4.34 million (2023)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 4.14 million (2023)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 25.35 million (2023)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 23.83 million (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 1.33 % change on previous year (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.0708 units per person (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is out-of-school rate for children of primary school age, both sexes in United States?
- Out-of-school rate for children of primary school age, both sexes in United States was 2.6% in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest out-of-school rate for children of primary school age, both sexes recorded in United States?
- The highest recorded value was 5.4% in 2020.
- What is the lowest out-of-school rate for children of primary school age, both sexes recorded in United States?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.0% in 2010.
- How does United States rank for out-of-school rate for children of primary school age, both sexes?
- United States ranks 30th out of 47 countries with data for 2024.
- Is out-of-school rate for children of primary school age, both sexes rising or falling in United States?
- Over the last ten years it is up 24.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this United States 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 — 9 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
About this data
February 2026 Data Release