Out-of-school rate for children of primary school age, both sexes in Jamaica
Jamaica: Out-of-school rate for children of primary school age, both sexes was 4.3% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Out-of-school rate for children of primary school age, both sexes in Jamaica, 1975–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.
Analysis
Jamaica recorded 4.3% for out-of-school rate for children of primary school age, both sexes in 2024.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 65.0% on the previous year and down 59.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, out-of-school rate for children of primary school age, both sexes in Jamaica peaked at 15.0% in 2021 and was at its lowest, 0.8%, in 1975.
That places Jamaica 95th 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 Jamaica, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1975 | 0.8% | — |
| 1976 | 2.1% | +177.7% |
| 1977 | 2.6% | +21.5% |
| 1979 | 0.9% | -66.5% |
| 1980 | 1.5% | +73.7% |
| 1981 | 2.1% | +44.1% |
| 1983 | 1.4% | -33.3% |
| 1984 | 3.2% | +123.7% |
| 1985 | 4.7% | +46.4% |
| 1986 | 5.2% | +10.1% |
| 1987 | 4.2% | -19.0% |
| 1988 | 7.6% | +82.0% |
| 1989 | 4.1% | -45.8% |
| 1990 | 4.5% | +8.8% |
| 1991 | 5.6% | +24.1% |
| 1993 | 8.6% | +55.5% |
| 1999 | 11.9% | +37.5% |
| 2000 | 10.9% | -8.0% |
| 2001 | 11.2% | +2.0% |
| 2002 | 12.3% | +9.9% |
| 2003 | 13.1% | +7.2% |
| 2004 | 10.1% | -23.1% |
| 2005 | 10.1% | +0.2% |
| 2013 | 8.8% | -13.4% |
| 2014 | 10.7% | +21.8% |
| 2015 | 10.5% | -1.9% |
| 2016 | 11.1% | +5.8% |
| 2017 | 10.5% | -5.3% |
| 2018 | 10.4% | -1.3% |
| 2019 | 9.2% | -11.3% |
| 2020 | 12.6% | +36.7% |
| 2021 | 15.0% | +19.4% |
| 2022 | 6.7% | -55.1% |
| 2023 | 12.4% | +83.9% |
| 2024 | 4.3% | -65.0% |
Jamaica compared with similar countries
- Jamaica's 4.3% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 3.9%, 1.1× the median. (56 countries reporting)
- Jamaica's 4.3% is below the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 5.1%, 86% of the median. (38 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 1.6% | 0.8% | 2.6% | 4 |
| 1980s | 3.8% | 1.4% | 7.6% | 9 |
| 1990s | 7.6% | 4.5% | 11.9% | 4 |
| 2000s | 11.3% | 10.1% | 13.1% | 6 |
| 2010s | 10.2% | 8.8% | 11.1% | 7 |
| 2020s | 10.2% | 4.3% | 15.0% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Jamaica
More education data for Jamaica
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 11,043 (2024)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 4,597 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 52,983 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 51,265 (2024)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 177,095 (2024)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 211,097 (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 8.14 % change on previous year (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.0744 units per person (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is out-of-school rate for children of primary school age, both sexes in Jamaica?
- Out-of-school rate for children of primary school age, both sexes in Jamaica was 4.3% 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 Jamaica?
- The highest recorded value was 15.0% in 2021.
- What is the lowest out-of-school rate for children of primary school age, both sexes recorded in Jamaica?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.8% in 1975.
- How does Jamaica rank for out-of-school rate for children of primary school age, both sexes?
- Jamaica ranks 95th 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 Jamaica?
- Over the last ten years it is down 59.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Jamaica 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