Out-of-school rate for children of primary school age, both sexes in Cameroon
Cameroon: Out-of-school rate for children of primary school age, both sexes was 3.8% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Out-of-school rate for children of primary school age, both sexes in Cameroon, 1971–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2024, out-of-school rate for children of primary school age, both sexes in Cameroon stood at 3.8%.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 1.4% on the previous year and down 27.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, out-of-school rate for children of primary school age, both sexes in Cameroon peaked at 39.7% in 1974 and was at its lowest, 3.7%, in 2023.
Cameroon ranks 105th of 203 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Out-of-school rate for children of primary school age, both sexes in Cameroon, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1971 | 35.8% | — |
| 1972 | 36.3% | +1.6% |
| 1973 | 37.7% | +3.8% |
| 1974 | 39.7% | +5.2% |
| 1975 | 33.1% | -16.6% |
| 1976 | 32.1% | -3.1% |
| 1977 | 33.5% | +4.7% |
| 1978 | 32.4% | -3.5% |
| 1979 | 31.6% | -2.4% |
| 1980 | 31.5% | -0.2% |
| 1988 | 25.1% | -20.5% |
| 1990 | 25.4% | +1.3% |
| 1991 | 27.0% | +6.4% |
| 2008 | 12.7% | -53.2% |
| 2009 | 9.9% | -21.5% |
| 2011 | 8.5% | -13.9% |
| 2012 | 5.8% | -32.0% |
| 2014 | 5.2% | -11.0% |
| 2015 | 4.8% | -7.6% |
| 2016 | 4.3% | -9.3% |
| 2017 | 5.8% | +33.2% |
| 2019 | 7.5% | +29.2% |
| 2021 | 4.4% | -40.8% |
| 2022 | 3.9% | -10.9% |
| 2023 | 3.7% | -5.7% |
| 2024 | 3.8% | +1.4% |
Cameroon compared with similar countries
- Cameroon's 3.8% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 6.9%, 55% of the median. (45 countries reporting)
- Cameroon's 3.8% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 16.9%, 22% of the median. (45 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 34.7% | 31.6% | 39.7% | 9 |
| 1980s | 28.3% | 25.1% | 31.5% | 2 |
| 1990s | 26.2% | 25.4% | 27.0% | 2 |
| 2000s | 11.3% | 9.9% | 12.7% | 2 |
| 2010s | 6.0% | 4.3% | 8.5% | 7 |
| 2020s | 4.0% | 3.7% | 4.4% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Cameroon
More education data for Cameroon
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 118,092 (2023)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 611,326 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 321,494 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 322,873 (2024)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 2.01 million (2023)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 5.29 million (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 2.6 % change on previous year (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.1816 units per person (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is out-of-school rate for children of primary school age, both sexes in Cameroon?
- Out-of-school rate for children of primary school age, both sexes in Cameroon was 3.8% 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 Cameroon?
- The highest recorded value was 39.7% in 1974.
- What is the lowest out-of-school rate for children of primary school age, both sexes recorded in Cameroon?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.7% in 2023.
- How does Cameroon rank for out-of-school rate for children of primary school age, both sexes?
- Cameroon ranks 105th out of 203 countries with data for 2024.
- Is out-of-school rate for children of primary school age, both sexes rising or falling in Cameroon?
- Over the last ten years it is down 27.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Cameroon 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 (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release