Out-of-school rate for children of primary school age, both sexes in Ghana
Ghana: Out-of-school rate for children of primary school age, both sexes was 4.8% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Out-of-school rate for children of primary school age, both sexes in Ghana, 1999–2024
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 Ghana is 4.8%, measured in 2024.
The figure is down 52.0% on the previous year and down 49.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, out-of-school rate for children of primary school age, both sexes in Ghana peaked at 42.5% in 1999 and was at its lowest, 0.2%, in 2016.
That places Ghana 87th out of 203 countries with data for 2024, putting it 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 Ghana, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1999 | 42.5% | — |
| 2000 | 34.5% | -18.9% |
| 2001 | 39.5% | +14.6% |
| 2002 | 35.3% | -10.7% |
| 2003 | 35.3% | -0.0% |
| 2005 | 29.3% | -17.0% |
| 2006 | 26.8% | -8.4% |
| 2007 | 21.6% | -19.3% |
| 2008 | 16.5% | -23.6% |
| 2009 | 16.9% | +2.4% |
| 2011 | 11.3% | -33.3% |
| 2012 | 13.3% | +17.9% |
| 2014 | 9.5% | -28.6% |
| 2016 | 0.2% | -97.5% |
| 2017 | 6.8% | +2726.9% |
| 2018 | 8.2% | +19.4% |
| 2019 | 5.5% | -32.5% |
| 2020 | 10.6% | +91.5% |
| 2021 | 9.9% | -5.9% |
| 2024 | 4.8% | -52.0% |
Ghana compared with similar countries
- Ghana's 4.8% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 6.9%, 69% of the median. (45 countries reporting)
- Ghana's 4.8% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 16.9%, 28% of the median. (45 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Out-of-school rate for children of primary school age, both sexes in Ghana changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | +2726.9% | 0.2% | 6.8% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 42.5% | 42.5% | 42.5% | 1 |
| 2000s | 28.4% | 16.5% | 39.5% | 9 |
| 2010s | 7.8% | 0.2% | 13.3% | 7 |
| 2020s | 8.4% | 4.8% | 10.6% | 3 |
Countries ranked near Ghana
More education data for Ghana
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 174,414 (2024)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 39,902 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 949,095 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 913,117 (2024)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 3.33 million (2024)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 4.98 million (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 0.6567 % change on previous year (2022)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.1448 units per person (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is out-of-school rate for children of primary school age, both sexes in Ghana?
- Out-of-school rate for children of primary school age, both sexes in Ghana was 4.8% 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 Ghana?
- The highest recorded value was 42.5% in 1999.
- What is the lowest out-of-school rate for children of primary school age, both sexes recorded in Ghana?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.2% in 2016.
- How does Ghana rank for out-of-school rate for children of primary school age, both sexes?
- Ghana ranks 87th 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 Ghana?
- Over the last ten years it is down 49.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Ghana 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.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 20 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
About this data
February 2026 Data Release