Out-of-school rate for children of primary school age, both sexes in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan
Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan: Out-of-school rate for children of primary school age, both sexes was 5.2% in 2019. ◆ Volatile
Out-of-school rate for children of primary school age, both sexes in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, 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 Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan is 5.2%, measured in 2019.
The figure is up 0.2% on the previous year and down 22.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, out-of-school rate for children of primary school age, both sexes in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan peaked at 39.3% in 1971 and was at its lowest, 4.7%, in 2012.
That places Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan 25th out of 45 groups with data for 2019, 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 Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 39.3% | — |
| 1971 | 39.3% | +0.1% |
| 1972 | 37.0% | -5.8% |
| 1973 | 35.6% | -3.8% |
| 1974 | 34.7% | -2.7% |
| 1975 | 32.3% | -7.0% |
| 1976 | 30.0% | -6.9% |
| 1977 | 28.6% | -4.8% |
| 1978 | 27.4% | -4.1% |
| 1979 | 28.1% | +2.6% |
| 1980 | 25.8% | -8.1% |
| 1981 | 26.1% | +1.2% |
| 1982 | 24.9% | -4.7% |
| 1983 | 24.2% | -3.0% |
| 1984 | 22.8% | -5.6% |
| 1985 | 22.3% | -2.1% |
| 1986 | 21.4% | -4.2% |
| 1987 | 20.4% | -4.6% |
| 1988 | 19.7% | -3.8% |
| 1989 | 19.6% | -0.3% |
| 1990 | 17.8% | -9.3% |
| 1991 | 16.9% | -4.7% |
| 1992 | 19.0% | +12.4% |
| 1993 | 18.7% | -1.7% |
| 1994 | 17.1% | -8.5% |
| 1995 | 18.1% | +5.9% |
| 1996 | 16.3% | -9.8% |
| 1997 | 16.4% | +0.1% |
| 1998 | 16.5% | +1.1% |
| 1999 | 15.9% | -4.1% |
| 2000 | 14.8% | -6.9% |
| 2001 | 12.5% | -15.8% |
| 2002 | 10.7% | -14.2% |
| 2003 | 10.1% | -5.1% |
| 2004 | 9.4% | -7.4% |
| 2005 | 9.3% | -0.5% |
| 2006 | 9.5% | +2.1% |
| 2007 | 8.2% | -13.8% |
| 2008 | 7.5% | -9.0% |
| 2009 | 6.8% | -9.7% |
| 2010 | 5.6% | -17.3% |
| 2011 | 5.6% | +0.1% |
| 2012 | 4.7% | -16.0% |
| 2013 | 5.5% | +16.2% |
| 2014 | 5.8% | +5.9% |
| 2015 | 5.6% | -2.8% |
| 2016 | 5.6% | +0.2% |
| 2017 | 5.4% | -3.7% |
| 2018 | 5.2% | -3.8% |
| 2019 | 5.2% | +0.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 33.2% | 27.4% | 39.3% | 10 |
| 1980s | 22.7% | 19.6% | 26.1% | 10 |
| 1990s | 17.3% | 15.9% | 19.0% | 10 |
| 2000s | 9.9% | 6.8% | 14.8% | 10 |
| 2010s | 5.4% | 4.7% | 5.8% | 10 |
Countries ranked near Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan
More education data for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 1.65 % change on previous year (2024)
- Primary education, teachers, gaps filled 3.29 million (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.113 units per person (2024)
- Population ages 0-14 31.7% (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Secondary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 15-64 63.1% (2025)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 68.09 million (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 91.90 million (2024)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
All data for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan →
Frequently asked questions
- What is out-of-school rate for children of primary school age, both sexes in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan?
- Out-of-school rate for children of primary school age, both sexes in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan was 5.2% 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 Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan?
- The highest recorded value was 39.3% in 1971.
- What is the lowest out-of-school rate for children of primary school age, both sexes recorded in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan?
- The lowest recorded value was 4.7% in 2012.
- How does Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan rank for out-of-school rate for children of primary school age, both sexes?
- Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan ranks 25th 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 Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan?
- Over the last ten years it is down 22.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan 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
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/