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 13.4% in 2019. ◆ Volatile
Out-of-school rate for children of primary school age, both sexes in Tanzania, 1976–2019
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.
Analysis
Tanzania recorded 13.4% for out-of-school rate for children of primary school age, both sexes in 2019.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 24.3% on the previous year and up 1,380.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, out-of-school rate for children of primary school age, both sexes in Tanzania peaked at 51.6% in 1976 and was at its lowest, 0.9%, in 2008.
That places Tanzania 35th out of 188 countries with data for 2019, putting it 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 | 51.6% | — |
| 1980 | 29.7% | -42.4% |
| 1981 | 30.9% | +4.1% |
| 1982 | 35.7% | +15.7% |
| 1983 | 36.9% | +3.3% |
| 1984 | 40.1% | +8.6% |
| 1985 | 42.9% | +7.1% |
| 1986 | 44.2% | +3.0% |
| 1987 | 45.6% | +3.2% |
| 1988 | 47.3% | +3.5% |
| 1989 | 47.3% | +0.1% |
| 1990 | 48.0% | +1.3% |
| 1991 | 48.6% | +1.4% |
| 1992 | 48.5% | -0.2% |
| 1993 | 49.3% | +1.6% |
| 1994 | 50.6% | +2.5% |
| 1995 | 50.7% | +0.2% |
| 1996 | 50.5% | -0.3% |
| 1997 | 50.1% | -0.9% |
| 1998 | 50.6% | +0.9% |
| 1999 | 50.1% | -0.9% |
| 2000 | 46.4% | -7.3% |
| 2001 | 41.8% | -9.9% |
| 2002 | 26.9% | -35.8% |
| 2003 | 18.3% | -31.8% |
| 2004 | 13.8% | -24.9% |
| 2005 | 9.0% | -34.5% |
| 2006 | 3.1% | -65.7% |
| 2008 | 0.9% | -70.9% |
| 2010 | 7.4% | +718.4% |
| 2012 | 12.5% | +69.3% |
| 2013 | 15.0% | +19.9% |
| 2014 | 16.7% | +11.3% |
| 2016 | 15.4% | -7.4% |
| 2017 | 15.4% | -0.0% |
| 2018 | 17.6% | +14.3% |
| 2019 | 13.4% | -24.3% |
Tanzania compared with similar countries
- Tanzania's 13.4% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 6.0%, 2.2× the median. (45 countries reporting)
- Tanzania's 13.4% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 13.4%, 1.0× 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 | +718.4% | 0.9% | 7.4% |
| 2008 | -70.9% | 3.1% | 0.9% |
| 2012 | +69.3% | 7.4% | 12.5% |
| 2006 | -65.7% | 9.0% | 3.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 51.6% | 51.6% | 51.6% | 1 |
| 1980s | 40.1% | 29.7% | 47.3% | 10 |
| 1990s | 49.7% | 48.0% | 50.7% | 10 |
| 2000s | 20.0% | 0.9% | 46.4% | 8 |
| 2010s | 14.2% | 7.4% | 17.6% | 8 |
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 13.4% 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 Tanzania?
- The highest recorded value was 51.6% in 1976.
- What is the lowest out-of-school rate for children of primary school age, both sexes recorded in Tanzania?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.9% in 2008.
- How does Tanzania rank for out-of-school rate for children of primary school age, both sexes?
- Tanzania ranks 35th out of 188 countries with data for 2019.
- 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 up 1,380.9%. 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
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/