Out-of-school rate for children of primary school age, both sexes in Tanzania
Tanzania: Out-of-school rate for children of primary school age, both sexes was 16.4% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Out-of-school rate for children of primary school age, both sexes in Tanzania, 1976–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2024, out-of-school rate for children of primary school age, both sexes in Tanzania stood at 16.4%.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 16.3% on the previous year and down 6.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, out-of-school rate for children of primary school age, both sexes in Tanzania peaked at 51.4% in 1994 and was at its lowest, 3.8%, in 2008.
Tanzania ranks 35th of 203 countries on this measure, 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 Tanzania, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1976 | 49.9% | — |
| 1980 | 30.1% | -39.7% |
| 1981 | 32.0% | +6.4% |
| 1982 | 37.4% | +16.9% |
| 1983 | 39.1% | +4.5% |
| 1984 | 42.8% | +9.4% |
| 1985 | 45.9% | +7.2% |
| 1986 | 47.4% | +3.5% |
| 1987 | 48.9% | +3.1% |
| 1988 | 50.5% | +3.3% |
| 1989 | 50.4% | -0.3% |
| 1990 | 50.8% | +0.8% |
| 1991 | 51.1% | +0.5% |
| 1992 | 50.5% | -1.2% |
| 1993 | 50.7% | +0.4% |
| 1994 | 51.4% | +1.5% |
| 1995 | 51.3% | -0.3% |
| 1996 | 50.9% | -0.8% |
| 1997 | 50.1% | -1.5% |
| 1998 | 50.3% | +0.5% |
| 1999 | 49.7% | -1.3% |
| 2000 | 45.9% | -7.6% |
| 2001 | 41.1% | -10.5% |
| 2002 | 25.9% | -37.1% |
| 2003 | 17.4% | -32.6% |
| 2004 | 13.4% | -23.2% |
| 2005 | 9.3% | -30.1% |
| 2006 | 4.5% | -51.8% |
| 2008 | 3.8% | -16.6% |
| 2010 | 9.8% | +161.1% |
| 2011 | 10.5% | +7.3% |
| 2012 | 13.5% | +27.9% |
| 2013 | 16.2% | +20.5% |
| 2014 | 17.5% | +7.9% |
| 2015 | 19.5% | +11.6% |
| 2016 | 15.5% | -20.9% |
| 2017 | 15.1% | -2.5% |
| 2018 | 16.9% | +12.3% |
| 2019 | 14.3% | -15.3% |
| 2020 | 13.4% | -6.6% |
| 2021 | 12.7% | -5.3% |
| 2022 | 13.0% | +2.5% |
| 2023 | 14.1% | +8.3% |
| 2024 | 16.4% | +16.3% |
Tanzania compared with similar countries
- Tanzania's 16.4% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 6.9%, 2.4× the median. (45 countries reporting)
- Tanzania's 16.4% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 16.9%, 97% 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 Tanzania 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | +161.1% | 3.8% | 9.8% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 49.9% | 49.9% | 49.9% | 1 |
| 1980s | 42.5% | 30.1% | 50.5% | 10 |
| 1990s | 50.7% | 49.7% | 51.4% | 10 |
| 2000s | 20.2% | 3.8% | 45.9% | 8 |
| 2010s | 14.9% | 9.8% | 19.5% | 10 |
| 2020s | 13.9% | 12.7% | 16.4% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Tanzania
More education data for Tanzania
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 106,006 (2020)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 331,605 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 851,911 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 824,648 (2024)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 2.83 million (2021)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 11.39 million (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate -0.3307 % change on previous year (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.1661 units per person (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is out-of-school rate for children of primary school age, both sexes in Tanzania?
- Out-of-school rate for children of primary school age, both sexes in Tanzania was 16.4% 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 Tanzania?
- The highest recorded value was 51.4% in 1994.
- What is the lowest out-of-school rate for children of primary school age, both sexes recorded in Tanzania?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.8% in 2008.
- How does Tanzania rank for out-of-school rate for children of primary school age, both sexes?
- Tanzania ranks 35th 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 Tanzania?
- Over the last ten years it is down 6.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Tanzania 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