Out-of-school rate for children of primary school age, both sexes in United Kingdom
United Kingdom: Out-of-school rate for children of primary school age, both sexes was 0.7% in 2018. ◆ Volatile
Out-of-school rate for children of primary school age, both sexes in United Kingdom, 1971–2018
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2018, out-of-school rate for children of primary school age, both sexes in United Kingdom stood at 0.7%.
That represents a change of up 54.1% on the previous year and down 35.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, out-of-school rate for children of primary school age, both sexes in United Kingdom peaked at 6.4% in 1985 and was at its lowest, 0.0%, in 2005.
That places United Kingdom 142nd out of 188 countries with data for 2018, putting it 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 United Kingdom, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1971 | 1.8% | — |
| 1972 | 2.7% | +47.8% |
| 1973 | 3.6% | +35.6% |
| 1974 | 4.1% | +13.5% |
| 1975 | 4.2% | +2.0% |
| 1976 | 4.1% | -2.2% |
| 1977 | 3.8% | -7.7% |
| 1978 | 3.7% | -1.9% |
| 1979 | 3.6% | -4.5% |
| 1980 | 2.2% | -38.0% |
| 1981 | 2.3% | +5.8% |
| 1982 | 3.3% | +40.9% |
| 1983 | 4.9% | +48.1% |
| 1984 | 5.4% | +9.6% |
| 1985 | 6.4% | +20.1% |
| 1986 | 4.8% | -25.1% |
| 1987 | 2.0% | -58.7% |
| 1988 | 0.3% | -83.9% |
| 1989 | 0.3% | -10.3% |
| 1990 | 0.2% | -26.8% |
| 1991 | 1.8% | +760.9% |
| 1992 | 3.3% | +84.3% |
| 1998 | 0.1% | -98.2% |
| 1999 | 0.0% | -49.6% |
| 2000 | 0.0% | +28.5% |
| 2001 | 0.1% | +62.7% |
| 2002 | 0.2% | +178.2% |
| 2003 | 0.1% | -48.5% |
| 2004 | 0.6% | +547.1% |
| 2005 | 0.0% | -99.7% |
| 2006 | 0.4% | +17381.6% |
| 2007 | 2.2% | +517.8% |
| 2008 | 1.0% | -53.8% |
| 2009 | 1.8% | +79.3% |
| 2010 | 1.6% | -12.6% |
| 2011 | 1.7% | +3.4% |
| 2012 | 1.5% | -9.7% |
| 2013 | 0.3% | -81.7% |
| 2014 | 0.1% | -63.5% |
| 2015 | 0.1% | -34.7% |
| 2016 | 0.3% | +429.8% |
| 2017 | 0.4% | +23.7% |
| 2018 | 0.7% | +54.1% |
United Kingdom compared with similar countries
- United Kingdom's 0.7% is below the median for high income countries, which is 1.1%, 62% of the median. (69 countries reporting)
- United Kingdom's 0.7% is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 0.7%, 96% of the median. (49 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Out-of-school rate for children of primary school age, both sexes in United Kingdom 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | +17381.6% | 0.0% | 0.4% |
| 1991 | +760.9% | 0.2% | 1.8% |
| 2004 | +547.1% | 0.1% | 0.6% |
| 2007 | +517.8% | 0.4% | 2.2% |
| 2016 | +429.8% | 0.1% | 0.3% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 3.5% | 1.8% | 4.2% | 9 |
| 1980s | 3.2% | 0.3% | 6.4% | 10 |
| 1990s | 1.1% | 0.0% | 3.3% | 5 |
| 2000s | 0.6% | 0.0% | 2.2% | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.7% | 0.1% | 1.7% | 9 |
Countries ranked near United Kingdom
- 139 North Macedonia 0.7% compare
- 140 Antigua and Barbuda 0.7% compare
- 141 Germany 0.7% compare
- 143 Georgia 0.6% compare
- 144 Uzbekistan 0.6% compare
- 145 French Polynesia 0.6% compare
More education data for United Kingdom
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 388,714 (2023)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 0 (2012)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 830,495 (2023)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 790,556 (2023)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 6.40 million (2023)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 4.86 million (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate -0.0111 % change on previous year (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.071 units per person (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is out-of-school rate for children of primary school age, both sexes in United Kingdom?
- Out-of-school rate for children of primary school age, both sexes in United Kingdom was 0.7% in 2018, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest out-of-school rate for children of primary school age, both sexes recorded in United Kingdom?
- The highest recorded value was 6.4% in 1985.
- What is the lowest out-of-school rate for children of primary school age, both sexes recorded in United Kingdom?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.0% in 2005.
- How does United Kingdom rank for out-of-school rate for children of primary school age, both sexes?
- United Kingdom ranks 142nd out of 188 countries with data for 2018.
- Is out-of-school rate for children of primary school age, both sexes rising or falling in United Kingdom?
- Over the last ten years it is down 35.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this United Kingdom 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/