Out-of-school rate for children of primary school age, both sexes in OECD members
OECD members: Out-of-school rate for children of primary school age, both sexes was 1.3% in 2019. ◆ Volatile
Out-of-school rate for children of primary school age, both sexes in OECD members, 1971–2019
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 OECD members is 1.3%, measured in 2019.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 1.0% on the previous year and down 23.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, out-of-school rate for children of primary school age, both sexes in OECD members peaked at 12.4% in 1971 and was at its lowest, 1.2%, in 2008.
OECD members ranks 44th of 45 groups on this measure, in the bottom 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 OECD members, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1971 | 12.4% | — |
| 1972 | 12.2% | -1.7% |
| 1973 | 11.5% | -5.4% |
| 1974 | 11.5% | -0.3% |
| 1975 | 11.3% | -1.6% |
| 1976 | 10.6% | -6.1% |
| 1977 | 9.9% | -6.5% |
| 1978 | 9.6% | -3.1% |
| 1979 | 8.8% | -8.7% |
| 1980 | 6.6% | -24.4% |
| 1981 | 6.4% | -3.4% |
| 1982 | 5.9% | -8.0% |
| 1983 | 6.2% | +6.0% |
| 1984 | 6.3% | +1.0% |
| 1985 | 6.4% | +1.2% |
| 1986 | 5.8% | -9.5% |
| 1987 | 5.1% | -12.5% |
| 1988 | 4.6% | -8.2% |
| 1989 | 4.6% | +0.0% |
| 1990 | 4.2% | -10.1% |
| 1991 | 4.2% | +1.1% |
| 1992 | 4.2% | -0.7% |
| 1993 | 4.5% | +7.5% |
| 1994 | 4.8% | +6.7% |
| 1995 | 4.5% | -5.4% |
| 1996 | 4.5% | -1.7% |
| 1997 | 4.4% | -1.3% |
| 1998 | 2.8% | -36.7% |
| 1999 | 2.1% | -25.2% |
| 2000 | 2.0% | -2.6% |
| 2001 | 1.9% | -4.1% |
| 2002 | 2.4% | +23.5% |
| 2003 | 2.4% | -2.0% |
| 2004 | 2.3% | -3.2% |
| 2005 | 1.6% | -31.9% |
| 2006 | 1.5% | -3.8% |
| 2007 | 1.2% | -16.5% |
| 2008 | 1.2% | -0.0% |
| 2009 | 1.7% | +40.0% |
| 2010 | 1.9% | +8.3% |
| 2011 | 2.3% | +22.3% |
| 2012 | 2.3% | -1.0% |
| 2013 | 2.3% | -0.6% |
| 2014 | 2.1% | -7.9% |
| 2015 | 1.7% | -18.3% |
| 2016 | 1.4% | -17.9% |
| 2017 | 1.3% | -5.1% |
| 2018 | 1.3% | +1.2% |
| 2019 | 1.3% | -1.0% |
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Out-of-school rate for children of primary school age, both sexes in OECD members 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | +40.0% | 1.2% | 1.7% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 10.9% | 8.8% | 12.4% | 9 |
| 1980s | 5.8% | 4.6% | 6.6% | 10 |
| 1990s | 4.0% | 2.1% | 4.8% | 10 |
| 2000s | 1.8% | 1.2% | 2.4% | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.8% | 1.3% | 2.3% | 10 |
Countries ranked near OECD members
More education data for OECD members
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 116.41 million (2024)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 91.38 million (2024)
- Primary education, teachers, gaps filled 6.28 million (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate -0.2049 % change on previous year (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.0654 units per person (2024)
- Secondary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 0-14 16.4% (2025)
- Population ages 15-64 64.5% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is out-of-school rate for children of primary school age, both sexes in OECD members?
- Out-of-school rate for children of primary school age, both sexes in OECD members was 1.3% 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 OECD members?
- The highest recorded value was 12.4% in 1971.
- What is the lowest out-of-school rate for children of primary school age, both sexes recorded in OECD members?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.2% in 2008.
- How does OECD members rank for out-of-school rate for children of primary school age, both sexes?
- OECD members ranks 44th 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 OECD members?
- Over the last ten years it is down 23.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this OECD members 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/