Out-of-school rate for children of primary school age, both sexes in Guatemala
Guatemala: Out-of-school rate for children of primary school age, both sexes was 8.4% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Out-of-school rate for children of primary school age, both sexes in Guatemala, 1970–2024
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 Guatemala is 8.4%, measured in 2024.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.8% on the previous year and down 11.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, out-of-school rate for children of primary school age, both sexes in Guatemala peaked at 51.9% in 1970 and was at its lowest, 2.4%, in 2011.
Guatemala ranks 61st 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 Guatemala, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 51.9% | — |
| 1971 | 50.6% | -2.4% |
| 1972 | 49.9% | -1.5% |
| 1974 | 48.8% | -2.2% |
| 1975 | 47.6% | -2.4% |
| 1978 | 43.7% | -8.2% |
| 1979 | 42.7% | -2.2% |
| 1980 | 40.4% | -5.4% |
| 1981 | 37.0% | -8.5% |
| 1982 | 39.9% | +7.9% |
| 1983 | 35.8% | -10.3% |
| 1997 | 28.8% | -19.5% |
| 1999 | 17.4% | -39.5% |
| 2000 | 15.2% | -13.1% |
| 2001 | 16.1% | +6.2% |
| 2002 | 12.7% | -21.0% |
| 2004 | 8.0% | -36.8% |
| 2005 | 6.6% | -17.4% |
| 2006 | 5.3% | -20.7% |
| 2007 | 4.2% | -19.9% |
| 2008 | 4.0% | -5.4% |
| 2011 | 2.4% | -39.3% |
| 2012 | 5.2% | +112.3% |
| 2013 | 7.4% | +44.1% |
| 2014 | 9.5% | +28.5% |
| 2015 | 10.2% | +6.9% |
| 2016 | 11.4% | +11.5% |
| 2017 | 10.7% | -5.8% |
| 2018 | 9.7% | -9.8% |
| 2019 | 9.9% | +2.5% |
| 2020 | 9.8% | -1.3% |
| 2021 | 8.5% | -12.6% |
| 2022 | 8.5% | -0.7% |
| 2023 | 8.4% | -1.3% |
| 2024 | 8.4% | +0.8% |
Guatemala compared with similar countries
- Guatemala's 8.4% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 3.9%, 2.2× the median. (56 countries reporting)
- Guatemala's 8.4% is above the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 5.1%, 1.7× the median. (38 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Out-of-school rate for children of primary school age, both sexes in Guatemala 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | +112.3% | 2.4% | 5.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 47.9% | 42.7% | 51.9% | 7 |
| 1980s | 38.3% | 35.8% | 40.4% | 4 |
| 1990s | 23.1% | 17.4% | 28.8% | 2 |
| 2000s | 9.0% | 4.0% | 16.1% | 8 |
| 2010s | 8.5% | 2.4% | 11.4% | 9 |
| 2020s | 8.7% | 8.4% | 9.8% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Guatemala
More education data for Guatemala
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 122,548 (2024)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 247,917 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 335,306 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 328,468 (2024)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 1.13 million (2024)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 2.42 million (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 0.3948 % change on previous year (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.1317 units per person (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is out-of-school rate for children of primary school age, both sexes in Guatemala?
- Out-of-school rate for children of primary school age, both sexes in Guatemala was 8.4% 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 Guatemala?
- The highest recorded value was 51.9% in 1970.
- What is the lowest out-of-school rate for children of primary school age, both sexes recorded in Guatemala?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.4% in 2011.
- How does Guatemala rank for out-of-school rate for children of primary school age, both sexes?
- Guatemala ranks 61st 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 Guatemala?
- Over the last ten years it is down 11.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Guatemala 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