Out-of-school rate for children of primary school age, female in South Asia
South Asia: Out-of-school rate for children of primary school age, female was 8.0% in 2019. ◆ Volatile
Out-of-school rate for children of primary school age, female in South Asia, 1970–2019
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.
Analysis
South Asia recorded 8.0% for out-of-school rate for children of primary school age, female in 2019.
That represents a change of up 2.1% on the previous year and down 15.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, out-of-school rate for children of primary school age, female in South Asia peaked at 57.8% in 1971 and was at its lowest, 7.6%, in 2014.
That places South Asia 19th 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, female in South Asia, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 56.7% | — |
| 1971 | 57.8% | +2.0% |
| 1972 | 56.0% | -3.1% |
| 1973 | 51.7% | -7.8% |
| 1974 | 52.1% | +0.8% |
| 1975 | 50.3% | -3.4% |
| 1976 | 49.9% | -0.8% |
| 1977 | 48.0% | -3.9% |
| 1978 | 51.4% | +7.1% |
| 1979 | 51.3% | -0.2% |
| 1980 | 49.9% | -2.7% |
| 1981 | 48.1% | -3.5% |
| 1982 | 48.2% | +0.2% |
| 1983 | 46.4% | -3.8% |
| 1984 | 44.4% | -4.3% |
| 1985 | 44.4% | +0.0% |
| 1986 | 42.4% | -4.6% |
| 1987 | 44.2% | +4.2% |
| 1988 | 41.2% | -6.8% |
| 1989 | 38.0% | -7.8% |
| 1990 | 37.9% | -0.1% |
| 1991 | 37.4% | -1.4% |
| 1992 | 36.3% | -2.9% |
| 1993 | 34.0% | -6.5% |
| 1994 | 32.0% | -5.8% |
| 1995 | 31.5% | -1.6% |
| 1996 | 31.0% | -1.7% |
| 1997 | 30.7% | -0.8% |
| 1998 | 31.6% | +2.8% |
| 1999 | 30.4% | -3.8% |
| 2000 | 27.9% | -8.2% |
| 2001 | 27.3% | -2.2% |
| 2002 | 25.9% | -4.8% |
| 2003 | 18.1% | -30.2% |
| 2004 | 15.4% | -15.1% |
| 2005 | 13.3% | -13.3% |
| 2006 | 12.2% | -8.7% |
| 2007 | 10.0% | -17.6% |
| 2008 | 9.1% | -9.3% |
| 2009 | 9.4% | +3.2% |
| 2010 | 8.9% | -4.8% |
| 2011 | 9.2% | +3.1% |
| 2012 | 8.8% | -4.7% |
| 2013 | 7.8% | -11.0% |
| 2014 | 7.6% | -3.1% |
| 2015 | 8.2% | +7.9% |
| 2016 | 7.8% | -4.0% |
| 2017 | 7.8% | -0.8% |
| 2018 | 7.8% | +0.3% |
| 2019 | 8.0% | +2.1% |
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Out-of-school rate for children of primary school age, female in South Asia 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | -30.2% | 25.9% | 18.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 52.5% | 48.0% | 57.8% | 10 |
| 1980s | 44.7% | 38.0% | 49.9% | 10 |
| 1990s | 33.3% | 30.4% | 37.9% | 10 |
| 2000s | 16.9% | 9.1% | 27.9% | 10 |
| 2010s | 8.2% | 7.6% | 9.2% | 10 |
Countries ranked near South Asia
- 16 Angola 28.5% compare
- 17 Syria 28.4% compare
- 18 Turks and Caicos Islands 27.8% compare
- 19 Nepal 25.2% compare
- 20 Bahamas 22.7% compare
- 21 Burkina Faso 22.4% compare
- 22 Madagascar 21.8% compare
More education data for South Asia
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 4.5 % change on previous year (2024)
- Primary education, teachers, gaps filled 5.84 million (2024)
- Secondary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 0-14 24.6% (2025)
- Population ages 15-64 68.1% (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.0959 units per person (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 160.82 million (2024)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 152.88 million (2024)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is out-of-school rate for children of primary school age, female in South Asia?
- Out-of-school rate for children of primary school age, female in South Asia was 8.0% in 2019, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest out-of-school rate for children of primary school age, female recorded in South Asia?
- The highest recorded value was 57.8% in 1971.
- What is the lowest out-of-school rate for children of primary school age, female recorded in South Asia?
- The lowest recorded value was 7.6% in 2014.
- How does South Asia rank for out-of-school rate for children of primary school age, female?
- South Asia ranks 19th out of 45 groups with data for 2019.
- Is out-of-school rate for children of primary school age, female rising or falling in South Asia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 15.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Asia 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, female (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
The number of female students of the official age for primary education is subtracted from the total female population of the same age. The result is expressed as a percentage of the female population of the official age for primary education. For more information, consult the UNESCO Institute of Statistics website: http://www.uis.unesco.org/Education/