Out-of-school rate for children of primary school age, both sexes in European Union
European Union: Out-of-school rate for children of primary school age, both sexes was 1.8% in 2019. ▼ Falling
Out-of-school rate for children of primary school age, both sexes in European Union, 1970–2019
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 European Union is 1.8%, measured in 2019.
The figure is down 0.7% on the previous year and up 8.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, out-of-school rate for children of primary school age, both sexes in European Union peaked at 5.0% in 1992 and was at its lowest, 1.1%, in 1998.
That places European Union 40th out of 45 groups with data for 2019, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 50 years of available data.
Out-of-school rate for children of primary school age, both sexes in European Union, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 4.0% | — |
| 1971 | 4.0% | -0.1% |
| 1972 | 3.9% | -1.4% |
| 1973 | 4.2% | +6.3% |
| 1974 | 4.0% | -5.2% |
| 1975 | 3.9% | -0.7% |
| 1976 | 3.8% | -2.6% |
| 1977 | 3.9% | +2.2% |
| 1978 | 3.9% | -1.2% |
| 1979 | 3.9% | +0.8% |
| 1980 | 3.8% | -2.5% |
| 1981 | 4.1% | +7.3% |
| 1982 | 4.1% | +1.1% |
| 1983 | 4.6% | +10.9% |
| 1984 | 4.7% | +2.1% |
| 1985 | 4.9% | +4.4% |
| 1986 | 4.4% | -9.4% |
| 1987 | 4.1% | -7.4% |
| 1988 | 4.0% | -1.9% |
| 1989 | 4.2% | +3.7% |
| 1990 | 4.4% | +5.2% |
| 1991 | 4.7% | +6.9% |
| 1992 | 5.0% | +6.0% |
| 1993 | 4.4% | -10.4% |
| 1994 | 4.0% | -10.8% |
| 1995 | 3.6% | -10.1% |
| 1996 | 3.0% | -15.0% |
| 1997 | 2.5% | -17.3% |
| 1998 | 1.1% | -56.1% |
| 1999 | 1.5% | +34.4% |
| 2000 | 1.5% | +3.6% |
| 2001 | 1.6% | +1.4% |
| 2002 | 2.1% | +33.6% |
| 2003 | 2.1% | +2.3% |
| 2004 | 2.3% | +6.0% |
| 2005 | 1.7% | -25.0% |
| 2006 | 1.7% | +0.1% |
| 2007 | 1.7% | +1.2% |
| 2008 | 1.5% | -10.3% |
| 2009 | 1.7% | +8.5% |
| 2010 | 1.5% | -7.2% |
| 2011 | 1.4% | -7.3% |
| 2012 | 1.4% | +1.0% |
| 2013 | 1.4% | -5.5% |
| 2014 | 1.6% | +18.1% |
| 2015 | 1.5% | -9.8% |
| 2016 | 1.5% | +0.1% |
| 2017 | 1.6% | +12.0% |
| 2018 | 1.8% | +11.4% |
| 2019 | 1.8% | -0.7% |
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Out-of-school rate for children of primary school age, both sexes in European Union 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | -56.1% | 2.5% | 1.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 4.0% | 3.8% | 4.2% | 10 |
| 1980s | 4.3% | 3.8% | 4.9% | 10 |
| 1990s | 3.4% | 1.1% | 5.0% | 10 |
| 2000s | 1.8% | 1.5% | 2.3% | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.6% | 1.4% | 1.8% | 10 |
Countries ranked near European Union
More education data for European Union
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Population ages 0-14 14.2% (2025)
- Population ages 15-64 63.3% (2025)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 37.39 million (2024)
- Secondary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.0517 units per person (2024)
- Primary education, teachers, gaps filled 1.89 million (2024)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 23.26 million (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is out-of-school rate for children of primary school age, both sexes in European Union?
- Out-of-school rate for children of primary school age, both sexes in European Union was 1.8% in 2019, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest out-of-school rate for children of primary school age, both sexes recorded in European Union?
- The highest recorded value was 5.0% in 1992.
- What is the lowest out-of-school rate for children of primary school age, both sexes recorded in European Union?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.1% in 1998.
- How does European Union rank for out-of-school rate for children of primary school age, both sexes?
- European Union ranks 40th out of 45 groups with data for 2019.
- Is out-of-school rate for children of primary school age, both sexes rising or falling in European Union?
- Over the last ten years it is up 8.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this European Union 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.
Download this data
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About this data
The number of students of the official age for primary education is subtracted from the total population of the same age. The result is expressed as a percentage of the population of the official age for primary education. For more information, consult the UNESCO Institute of Statistics website: http://www.uis.unesco.org/Education/