Out-of-school rate for children of primary school age, both sexes in Tonga
Tonga: Out-of-school rate for children of primary school age, both sexes was 2.3% in 2022. ◆ Volatile
Out-of-school rate for children of primary school age, both sexes in Tonga, 1970–2022
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 Tonga is 2.3%, measured in 2022.
The figure is down 38.3% on the previous year and down 28.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, out-of-school rate for children of primary school age, both sexes in Tonga peaked at 22.4% in 1983 and was at its lowest, 0.0%, in 2019.
Tonga ranks 125th 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 Tonga, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 4.6% | — |
| 1971 | 2.7% | -39.6% |
| 1972 | 1.8% | -34.7% |
| 1974 | 6.1% | +240.7% |
| 1975 | 2.6% | -57.6% |
| 1978 | 2.1% | -19.1% |
| 1982 | 13.3% | +531.6% |
| 1983 | 22.4% | +69.1% |
| 1984 | 12.4% | -44.7% |
| 1985 | 12.8% | +3.2% |
| 1986 | 12.6% | -1.2% |
| 1990 | 13.2% | +4.7% |
| 1993 | 13.3% | +0.4% |
| 1998 | 10.2% | -23.1% |
| 1999 | 8.6% | -16.1% |
| 2004 | 0.4% | -95.5% |
| 2005 | 0.1% | -83.5% |
| 2006 | 0.1% | +43.2% |
| 2012 | 3.2% | +3405.0% |
| 2013 | 3.2% | -0.3% |
| 2015 | 2.3% | -28.6% |
| 2018 | 0.2% | -90.5% |
| 2019 | 0.0% | -89.0% |
| 2020 | 0.3% | +1361.3% |
| 2021 | 3.7% | +970.8% |
| 2022 | 2.3% | -38.3% |
Tonga compared with similar countries
- Tonga's 2.3% is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 3.9%, 59% of the median. (56 countries reporting)
- Tonga's 2.3% is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 2.6%, 87% of the median. (33 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Out-of-school rate for children of primary school age, both sexes in Tonga 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 | +3405.0% | 0.1% | 3.2% |
| 2020 | +1361.3% | 0.0% | 0.3% |
| 2021 | +970.8% | 0.3% | 3.7% |
| 1982 | +531.6% | 2.1% | 13.3% |
| 1974 | +240.7% | 1.8% | 6.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 3.3% | 1.8% | 6.1% | 6 |
| 1980s | 14.7% | 12.4% | 22.4% | 5 |
| 1990s | 11.3% | 8.6% | 13.3% | 4 |
| 2000s | 0.2% | 0.1% | 0.4% | 3 |
| 2010s | 1.8% | 0.0% | 3.2% | 5 |
| 2020s | 2.1% | 0.3% | 3.7% | 3 |
Countries ranked near Tonga
More education data for Tonga
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 1,086 (2015)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 20 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 1,228 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 1,164 (2024)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 16,132 (2024)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 15,644 (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate -2.92 % change on previous year (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.1502 units per person (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is out-of-school rate for children of primary school age, both sexes in Tonga?
- Out-of-school rate for children of primary school age, both sexes in Tonga was 2.3% 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 Tonga?
- The highest recorded value was 22.4% in 1983.
- What is the lowest out-of-school rate for children of primary school age, both sexes recorded in Tonga?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.0% in 2019.
- How does Tonga rank for out-of-school rate for children of primary school age, both sexes?
- Tonga ranks 125th 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 Tonga?
- Over the last ten years it is down 28.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Tonga 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