Out-of-school rate for children of primary school age, both sexes in Kenya
Kenya: Out-of-school rate for children of primary school age, both sexes was 32.9% in 2022. ◆ Volatile
Out-of-school rate for children of primary school age, both sexes in Kenya, 1999–2022
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.
Analysis
Kenya recorded 32.9% for out-of-school rate for children of primary school age, both sexes in 2022.
That represents a change of down 9.3% on the previous year and up 90.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, out-of-school rate for children of primary school age, both sexes in Kenya peaked at 37.2% in 1999 and was at its lowest, 5.0%, in 2007.
Kenya ranks 15th of 203 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
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 Kenya, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1999 | 37.2% | — |
| 2000 | 35.0% | -6.1% |
| 2001 | 27.2% | -22.3% |
| 2002 | 29.4% | +8.1% |
| 2003 | 15.0% | -49.0% |
| 2004 | 15.9% | +6.2% |
| 2005 | 14.7% | -7.6% |
| 2006 | 15.2% | +3.3% |
| 2007 | 5.0% | -67.0% |
| 2008 | 9.4% | +87.1% |
| 2009 | 7.6% | -18.6% |
| 2012 | 17.3% | +126.4% |
| 2021 | 36.3% | +109.9% |
| 2022 | 32.9% | -9.3% |
Kenya compared with similar countries
- Kenya's 32.9% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 6.9%, 4.8× the median. (45 countries reporting)
- Kenya's 32.9% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 16.9%, 1.9× 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 Kenya 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 | +126.4% | 7.6% | 17.3% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 37.2% | 37.2% | 37.2% | 1 |
| 2000s | 17.4% | 5.0% | 35.0% | 10 |
| 2010s | 17.3% | 17.3% | 17.3% | 1 |
| 2020s | 34.6% | 32.9% | 36.3% | 2 |
Countries ranked near Kenya
More education data for Kenya
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 168,396 (2023)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 235,728 (2016)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 1.44 million (2023)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 1.44 million (2023)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 6.74 million (2023)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 8.04 million (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate -0.7181 % change on previous year (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.1453 units per person (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is out-of-school rate for children of primary school age, both sexes in Kenya?
- Out-of-school rate for children of primary school age, both sexes in Kenya was 32.9% in 2022, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest out-of-school rate for children of primary school age, both sexes recorded in Kenya?
- The highest recorded value was 37.2% in 1999.
- What is the lowest out-of-school rate for children of primary school age, both sexes recorded in Kenya?
- The lowest recorded value was 5.0% in 2007.
- How does Kenya rank for out-of-school rate for children of primary school age, both sexes?
- Kenya ranks 15th out of 203 countries with data for 2022.
- Is out-of-school rate for children of primary school age, both sexes rising or falling in Kenya?
- Over the last ten years it is up 90.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Kenya 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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CSV · JSON — 14 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
About this data
February 2026 Data Release