Out-of-school rate for children of primary school age, both sexes in El Salvador
El Salvador: Out-of-school rate for children of primary school age, both sexes was 15.3% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Out-of-school rate for children of primary school age, both sexes in El Salvador, 1970–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.
Analysis
El Salvador recorded 15.3% for out-of-school rate for children of primary school age, both sexes in 2024.
The figure is up 6.6% on the previous year and up 139.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, out-of-school rate for children of primary school age, both sexes in El Salvador peaked at 34.9% in 1970 and was at its lowest, 5.1%, in 2003.
That places El Salvador 39th out of 203 countries with data for 2024, putting it 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 of primary school age, both sexes in El Salvador, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 34.9% | — |
| 1998 | 20.9% | -40.2% |
| 2000 | 11.3% | -45.8% |
| 2001 | 9.4% | -17.0% |
| 2002 | 6.5% | -31.2% |
| 2003 | 5.1% | -21.4% |
| 2014 | 6.4% | +25.2% |
| 2015 | 7.3% | +14.7% |
| 2016 | 8.2% | +12.5% |
| 2017 | 12.3% | +49.8% |
| 2018 | 11.6% | -5.7% |
| 2019 | 14.2% | +22.7% |
| 2020 | 14.8% | +3.8% |
| 2021 | 15.7% | +6.1% |
| 2022 | 15.6% | -0.5% |
| 2023 | 14.3% | -8.3% |
| 2024 | 15.3% | +6.6% |
El Salvador compared with similar countries
- El Salvador's 15.3% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 3.9%, 3.9× the median. (56 countries reporting)
- El Salvador's 15.3% is above the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 5.1%, 3.0× the median. (38 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 34.9% | 34.9% | 34.9% | 1 |
| 1990s | 20.9% | 20.9% | 20.9% | 1 |
| 2000s | 8.1% | 5.1% | 11.3% | 4 |
| 2010s | 10.0% | 6.4% | 14.2% | 6 |
| 2020s | 15.1% | 14.3% | 15.7% | 5 |
Countries ranked near El Salvador
More education data for El Salvador
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 17,715 (2024)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 21,853 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 100,826 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 100,758 (2024)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 417,193 (2024)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 594,860 (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate -2.27 % change on previous year (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.0939 units per person (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is out-of-school rate for children of primary school age, both sexes in El Salvador?
- Out-of-school rate for children of primary school age, both sexes in El Salvador was 15.3% 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 El Salvador?
- The highest recorded value was 34.9% in 1970.
- What is the lowest out-of-school rate for children of primary school age, both sexes recorded in El Salvador?
- The lowest recorded value was 5.1% in 2003.
- How does El Salvador rank for out-of-school rate for children of primary school age, both sexes?
- El Salvador ranks 39th 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 El Salvador?
- Over the last ten years it is up 139.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this El Salvador 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